An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s9.30

v1.c9.s9.30

Though not many specimens of stone sculptures have been found, whatever have been are indeed of a high order. In this context may specially be mentioned three figures, one from Mohenjo-daro and two from Harappa. The most outstanding amongst these, however, is the broken (32 cm high) bust of steatite from Mohenjo-daro: the face is bearded but the moustache is shaven; on the low forehead is a fillet; the body is covered with a shawl having typical trefoil design; and the half-closed eyes appear to be focused on the tip of the nose (*nāsāgra*). On the basis of the last-named feature, the figure has been thought to be that of a *yogī* in meditation. Of the two figures from Harappa, one represents a young man with a pronouncedly muscular body. Its another noteworthy feature is the provision of holes for fixing in the arms and the head. The other figure is to be noted for its pose in which one of the legs, though broken, seems to be swinging round, as if in a dance. It has been suggested, though not with unassailable validity, that the figure might be precursor of Śiva-Naṭarāja.