The Indus Civilization (Cambridge History of India, Supplementary Volume) c17.129

c17.129

But no doubt arises as to the divinity of a remarkable figure on three seals from the same site.⁴ The figure is represented as seated either on the ground or on a low stool. In two instances the head is three-faced, and in all it bears a horned head-dress with a vertical central feature. The arms are laden with bangles from wrist to shoulder, after the fashion of the left arm of the dancing-girl (above, p. 67), and there is a girdle or waist-cloth. On one of the seals, the figure is flanked on its right by an elephant and a tiger and on its left by a rhinoceros and a buffalo, whilst below the stool are two antelopes or goats( pl. XXIII). Marshall recognizes in the figure a prototype of Śiva in his aspect as Paśupati, Lord of Beasts.