[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v1.c17.s6.1 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s6.1 An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s6.1 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c17.s6.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s6.1) The term mother goddess, equivalent to Indian \*mātā\* (\*mātṛ\*, \*mātṛka\*) or \*mātṛ-devī\*, is widely applicable to a variety of female figures symbolizing creativity, birth and fertility. The emphasis in the depiction is on maternal aspects with variable features such as prominent breasts and navel, steatophygia, display of \*yoni\*, a well-marked girdle and an infant on the left side. Unlike Europe Indian Palaeolithic sites have not yielded any mother goddess figurine. The suggestion that the upper Palaeolithic \[4.4\] bone harpoon from the BELAN valley - [Previous: v1.c17.s5.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s5.2) - [Next: v1.c17.s6.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s6.2) - [Up: v1.c17.s6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s6) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s6.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s6.1) · Pramāṇa