Harappan Civilizations & the Aryan Migration (ca. 2300-1750 B.C.E.)
Artist: unknown
Title: Linga and yoni
Material: Stone
Site: Mahenjo-Daro, Pakistan
Current Location: National Museum of Pakistan (Karachi Museum), Pakistan
Period/Date: Indus/Harrapa Civilization/ ca. 2300-1750 B.C.E.
Iconography/Iconology: Linga (the phallus) and yoni (the vaginal opening).
The linga and yoni are the Saivite religion's primary symbol. The fact that
these objects existed in the Harrapan times argues strongly for a precedent
of a Saivite-like religion having existed at that time. There is obviously
a clear continuity of the use of the symbol to the present day. (Many lay
practitioners of the Saivite religion tend to understand this as an abstract
symbol of prosperity and fecundity).
Stylistic Comments: It is interesting to note that the abstract simplicity
of this nearly 4,000 year old example continues to the present day in the
representation of the linga an yoni.
