Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c7.s1.7

c7.s1.7

The drainage system of the houses and the town gives proof of unusually thoughtful planning. Each street and lane had a good brick-paved channel made of bricks on two sides finely joined with mud-mortar, lime or gypsum, bigger drains (18" wide) generally covered with loose stones and smaller ones with bricks. Tributary drains from each house connected with the street drain. The long drain was provided with man-holes at intervals with wooden covers and the whole system emptied itself in brick culverts (2½ ft. wide 4 or 5 ft. high) to carry away collected rain water. It appears that the cleanliness of the body had become a religious cult with the people. We are reminded of a reference in the Chhāndogya Upanishad mentioning the philosophy of life held by the Asuras believing that the physical body is Ātmā (Self), which should be embellished and provided with provisions, clothes and ornaments after death (असुराणां ह्येपनिषत् प्रेतस्य शरीरं भिक्षया वसनेना-लंकारैणति संस्कृत्वन्ति, Chh. Up. 8.8.5). This fits in squarely with the remains of Harappa culture which most likely belonged to the Asura race.