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U.P. Lower Spl. Prelims 2008

Harappan Religious Symbols

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

A horned deity engraved on a terracotta cake has been recovered from-

Solution & Analysis

Answer: B

Concept Harappan religious iconography often utilized common symbols across different media like seals, pottery, and terracotta cakes.

Explanation At Kalibangan (Rajasthan), archaeologists found a terracotta 'cake' with an engraving of a figure with a horned headdress on one side and a figure being led by a rope on the other.

Logical Breakup
Kalibangan (B): Known for its unique fire altars and this specific religious terracotta find.
Logic: The horned deity is often linked to the 'Pashupati' or proto-Shiva figure common in Indus iconography.

Active Recall

Question

What are Harappan 'Terracotta Cakes'?

Answer

They are small, often triangular or circular baked clay objects whose exact use (ritual or industrial) is still debated by scholars.

Core Insight

The horned deity motif at Kalibangan reinforces the idea of a shared, subcontinent-wide religious belief system among the diverse Harappan settlements.

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