Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c7.s6.5

c7.s6.5

It appears that the deity of the Indus Valley Pillar was most probably Rudra. Several reasons may be adduced in its favour. Firstly, Rudra-Śiva as Yogī and Paśupati is already seen on the seals. Secondly, the worship of Rudra according to the Rudra Sūkta of Yajurveda prevailed in many parts of the country and in many forms (ये चैनं रुद्रा अभितो दिक्षु श्रिताः सहस्रशः VS. 16.6). Indeed all gods spirits, ghosts and demons were identified with Rudra-Śiva cult, from which he was called Mahādeva and Bhūtapati and even the worship of animal deities came under the cult of Rudra-Śiva as Paśupati. Thirdly, the Mother Goddess (*Ambikā*) worshipped in the Indus Valley was associated with Rudra as his Sister (एष ते रुद्र भागः सह स्वस्साम्बिकया, VS. 3.57). It shows that Rudra and Ambikā were pair deities with cults co-existing. In the fourth place the component parts of the pillar as depicted on the seals point to its affinity with Rudra.