Question

Write a note on the religious beliefs and practices of the Harappan people with reference to:

Worship of Trees and Animals.

Answer 1

The religious beliefs and practices of the Harappan people on the basis of the mentioned heading is described below:

Worship of Trees and Animals: A certain religious seals depict the designs, which show that the people had faith in the doctrine of animism i.e., they worshiped trees and animals. They worshiped the Pipal tree believing it to be a source of wisdom. The bull, the rhinoceros, the tiger, and the crocodile were worshiped. The figure of the deity with a hooded-cobra over its head and a worshiper on either side signifies that some form of Naga-worship was practiced. Some of these animals still figure as the vehicles of the Hindu deities for instance; the bull of Shiva, the lion of Durga, the ram of Brahma, the elephant of Indra, and the wild boar of Gauri.