Prehistoric Religious Beliefs in India 
(Pre-Vedic Religious Thought or Indus Valley Civilization) 
(lectured by Mr. Jayanta Bogoda, given by ven. Suriya-Mon) 2011

             In 1922, Indian scholar Rakhal Das Banerji from Bengal began to excavate a mound in the Larkhana district in Sind, between the Hindus and an old branch of this river. This city was called Mohenjo-Daro. Again, another ancient city was recovered in Panged. It is called Harappa. Generally, both Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa date back to 5000 BC. It is believed that Aryans invaded India around 3000 BC. If so, it is very clear, that India has prehistoric civilization, called Indus Valley civilization.

                According to archeological findings of Indus Valley Civilization, we can identify following basic religious concepts from Mohenjo-Daro Harappa: the symbol of swastika is a famous religious symbol even among war religions. Especially, swastika is very related symbol to the Hinduism or for Hinduism. There are two kinds of swastika symbols. They are: One is turning its hands to the left side and the other one is turning its hands to the right side. These two contrasting symbols represent life and death. As for Buddhism or according to Buddhism, swastika is the holy mark which is very important one among the thirty-two marks of a great person.

                In the Indus Valley Civilization, Indus people worshiped many kinds of gods, such as animal, Liṅga, Paṣupati (the lord of animals), Horned Mother and Bodhi tree (Ficus Religiosa) and so on.

                (1) Indus people worshiped the animal god. Because animals were found from both cities, especially bull and elephant. But it is surely impossible to say directly that they worshiped animals. However, it is clear, that they respected these animals within a religious mind.

                (2) Indus people worshiped liṅga god. There is very obvious evidence to prove that they worship both liṅga of man and woman. Today, Indus people worship Śiva liṅga to bring prosperity and luck to their lives.

                (3) Indus people worshiped Paṣupati god and Horned God. The image of Horned God is considered to be the god of animals, because he is depicted as surrounded by animals, such as tigers, elephants, bulls and deers or goats. The portion of this image is very important because it is a yogi mudra.

                (4) Indus people worshiped Mother God. The concept of Jagath Mātā or 'Great Mother' is a very common religious concept all over the prehistoric civilization. It is very clear that they also had that concept within their religious beliefs.

                (5) Indus people worshiped the tree god and the Bodhi tree. Thus it is evident, that the people of Indus Valley Civilization worshiped many gods.