Harappan Civilizations & the Aryan Migration (ca. 2300-1750 B.C.E.)
Artist: unknown
Title: Sealing
Material: Terracotta
Site: Mohenjo-Daro, Pakistan
Current Location: unknown
Period/Date: Indus/Harrapa Civilization/ ca. 2300-1750 B.C.E.
Iconography/Iconology: Yogin attended by two human figures with serpent
(naga) hoods. The naga is traditionally symbolic of controlling
the waters and is propitiated to the present day to ensure the coming of
rain.
Stylistic Comments: Another convention that would seem to have continued
to the Harrapan times into the Buddhist period (at least 500 B.C.E. to modern
times) is the yogin, as the central figure, attended by two nagas.
Nagas are often shown in Buddhism as human figures with serpents behind
them or attached to their backs.
