‘Terracotta figurines and seals throw a great light on the religious practices followed by the Harappan people’. Discuss.

Although Terracotta figurines and seals does give us ideas to speculate but overall it is a speculation because archaeologist tend to move from 'known to unknown' or rather from present to past and reconstruction of religion which is done by achaeologist are based on the assumption that later traditions provide parallels with earlier ones. Such assumption could work for stone querns but when we apply same methods to religious symbol it becomes more speculative.

For example the seal which depicts a male in a yogic position, surrounded by animals which is called as ' proto shiva' seal, now Rigveda mentions a god named Rudra who is later known as lord shiva. But we find in Rigveda that Rudra is neither a yogi or is he depicted as Pashupati ( lord of animals and cattle in general). Hence the figure in the seal and the Rudra ( or proto Shiva)does not match. So there is fair chance that he could be a shaman. Or as Ernest Mackay said about the cones made out of lapis lazuli, jasper etc which are thought to be Lingas could also be a pieces for a board games.

Hence it is very hard to know about the religious life of the Harappan with the help of Terracotta figures and seal.

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