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17. SAIVISM
"Seals such as these date from between c.2500-1500 BCE and were found in considerable numbers in sites such as the ancient city of Mohenjo-daro in the Indus Valley. They are inscribed in a still undeciphered local script; figures and animals are carved in intaglio on their surfaces. This one depicts a male figure seated cross-legged in a yoga-like position, surrounded by animals, and wearing a horned hat. The association with animals and the seated position suggest that this is a depiction of a holy person (shaman?) and a precursor of the images of Siva, an important Hindu god who has been worshipped since at least as early as second century CE and whose powers were thought to be procreative."
From: Linduff, K.M., "Siva Seals," in Art Past/ Art Present, by D. Wilkins, B. Schultz, and K. Linduff, New York, 2000, 4th ed.
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