Pasupati Seal
Title Pasupati Seal
Accession Number DK5175/143
Museum Name National Museum, New Delhi
Gallery Name Pre-History
Object Type Pre-History
Main Material Steatite
Origin Place Harappa
Find Place Harappa
Period / Year of Work Circa 2500 BC
Dimensions 3.4 x 3.4 x 1.4 cm
Brief Description

This rare seal shows a seated figure in yogic posture, probably Shiva-Pashupati. It is usually thought that the figure has three faces but some scholars do not subscribe to it. The legs of the figure are bent double, heel to heel, and toes turned downwards. This is the posture of yoga. His arms are out stretched and hands are resting on his knees. From the wrist to the shoulders the arms are covered with bangles. He is wearing triangular necklaces. Crowning his head is a pair of horns meeting in a tall headdress.

Either side of the god are animals - an elephant, a tiger on his exact right and a rhinoceros, a man and a buffalo on his left. Beneath the throne are two does standing with heads regardent and horns turned to the centre. On the top of the seal is an inscription of seven characters.