4 Indus Dancing Girls represent Mohini serving Amrita

I think that these four "Dancing Girls" represent Mohini, the only female avatar of
Vishnu. They serve the nectar in the row of the Devas, as described in the myth "The
Churning of the ocean for Nectar."
If this is true then this myth, written in the Mahabharata as well as in the Brahmanda
Purana, was known in the Indus Valley Civilisation, although, for instance, the
Puranas is dated to 4th-century BCE.:
"The Brahmanda Purana is one of the oldest Puranas, but estimates for the composition of
its earliest core vary widely. The early 20th-century Indian scholar Dikshitar, known for his
arguments in favor of more ancient dating of the Puranas, dated the Brahmanda to 4th-
century BCE. Most later scholarship places this text to be from centuries later, in the 4th-
to 6th-century of the common era. Wendy Doniger dates the Brahmanda Purana to have
been composed between 4th to 10th century CE, but she adds that this is approximate and
any attempt to firmly date Puranic texts is a flawed "chimerical pursuit". The text is
generally assumed, states Ludo Rocher, to have achieved its current structure about 1000
CE."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmanda_Purana

And the Indus Valley Civilisation was much older as it lasted from 3300 BCE until
1300 BCE:
The Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) was a Bronze Age civilisation (33001300 BCE; mature
period 26001600 BCE) mainly in the north-western regions of the South Asia, extending
from what today is northeast Afghanistan to Pakistan and northwest India.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Valley_Civilisation#cite_note-FOOTNOTEWright20091-2

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 Number 1

This so called "Dancing Girl" may represent Mohini. In the myth "The Churning of
the ocean for Nectar" she acquires the pot of Amrita from thieving asuras, and gives
it back to the devas, helping them retain their immortality:
"Mohini is the only female avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. She is portrayed as an
enchantress, who maddens lovers, sometimes leading them to their doom. Mohini is
introduced into the Hindu mythology in the narrative epic of the Mahabharata. Here, she
appears as a form of Vishnu, acquires the pot of Amrita (an elixir of immortality) from
thieving asuras (demons), and gives it back to the devas (gods), helping them retain their
immortality."
Published: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohini

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 Number 1

These auspicious bangles may jiggle and tickle, similar to what we read in "The
Manifestation of Mohini:"
17. "She made clicking sounds with her golden ladle. The auspicious bangles jiggled and
tickled. Equipped with beautiful ornaments, she shone like the most exquisite of all fine
arts."
Brahmanda Purana Maha-Shasta part 4
Manifestation of Mohini chapter 10 p. 1066
Translated and annotated by Dr. G.V. Tagare

Number 1

And in het left hand she may hold a ladle (or a bowl) to serve the nectar in the row of
the Devas:
18. "In her beautiful left hand that resembled a lotus, the pot of nectar shone brilliantly. At
the outset, she served the nectar in the row of the Devas by means of her ladle."
Brahmanda Purana Maha-Shasta part 4
Manifestation of Mohini chapter 10 p. 1067
Translated and annotated by Dr. G.V. Tagare

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 Number 1

She wears this necklace, which has three pendants, symbolizing the three steps of
Vishnu. (See below.)

Number 2

This bronze-cast female figurine may also represent Mohini holding a ladle or a
bowl.

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 Number 3

This pottery graffiti of Bhirrana have a posture so similar to Mohenjo-daro's bronze

"dancing girls"
"Pottery graffiti at Bhirrana show "mermaid" type deities and dancing girls; the latter have
a posture so similar to Mohenjo-daro's bronze "dancing girls" that the archaeologist L.S.
Rao stated that "it appears that the craftsman of Bhirrana had first-hand knowledge of the
former. These deities or dancing girls may represent apsaras, or water nymphs, associated
with water rites once widespread in the Indus Valley civilisation."
Published: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhirrana

Number 4

And the person standing on the left may represent Mohini too, serving Amrita to a
Deva.

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And thus these four "Dancing Girls" may represent Mohini serving Amrita.
I reversed the first figurine, and in this way they all hold their right hand on their hip
and hold a ladle or a bowl in their left hand.
Besides that, the fourth "Dancing Girl" may also hold a veil in her right hand.

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 Number 5

The Supreme God Harihara may have been known in the Indus Valley Civilication
too.
He is the fused representation of Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Hara) from the Hindu
tradition. Some of the earliest sculptures of Harihara are found in the cave temples of
India, such as in the cave 1 and cave 3 of the 6th-century Badami cave temples.
"Harihara is the fused representation of Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Hara) from the Hindu
tradition. Also known as Shankaranarayana ("Shankara" is Shiva, and "Narayana" is
Vishnu), Harihara is thus revered by both Vaishnavites and Shaivites as a form of the
Supreme God.
Harihara is also sometimes used as a philosophical term to denote the unity of Vishnu and
Shiva as different aspects of the same Ultimate Reality called Brahman. This concept of
equivalence of various gods as one principle and "oneness of all existence" is discussed as
Harihara in the texts of Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy.Some of the earliest
sculptures of Harihara, with one half of the image as Shiva and other half as Vishnu, are
found in the surviving cave temples of India, such as in the cave 1 and cave 3 of the 6th-
century Badami cave temples.
Published: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harihara

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 Number 6

Nevertheless, this mythical animal may represents the Indus Harihara: Vishnu,
depicted as a tiger, wearing the horns of the Shiva Zebu.

Number 7

This seal depicts three tigers with three feet symbolizing the three footsteps of Vishnu.
They are mentioned in Rigveda hymn number 1-154 in which Vishnu is called some
wild beast, thrice setting down his footstep:
1. I will declare the mighty deeds of Visnu, of him who measured out the earthly regions,
Who propped the highest place of congregation, thrice setting down his footstep, widely
striding.
2 For this his mighty deed is Visnu lauded, like some wild beast, dread, prowling, mountain-
roaming; He within whose three wide-extended paces all living creatures have their
habitation.
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The above seal demonstrates that in the Indua Valley Civilistation a tiger represents
Vishnu.

Number 8

Shiva is indicated by this zebu: nowadays the zebu is the mount of Shiva, but in the
Indus Valley Civilisation it may represent Shiva himself.

Number 9

And thus this mythical animal represents Harihara: Vishnu (tiger) and Shiva (zebu
horns) united.

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 Number 4

The other side of tablet number 4 depicts two tigers: Mohini and Shiva, standing face
to face, rearing on their hind legs. This scene demonstrates that Shiva is represented
by a tiger too.

Number 10

banyan tree Harihara three steps and a "trident"

And thus this mythical tiger woman may represent Harihara as well, as the tiger
represents Shiva and the woman represents Mohini.
In the middle of this cylinder seal three little stripes symbolize the three steps of
Vishnu/Mohini, indicating that the woman represents the Sun goddess.
The trident below is the particular weapon of Shiva, and it indicates that the tiger
represents Shiva. (See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva )

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 Number 11

On this seal a tiger woman may also represent Harihara.

Number 12

And here the same tiger woman may represent Harihara.

On the left stand two characters looking more or less similar to the next Indus stone
knifes or stone saws.

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 Number 13

These two knifes symbolize the nakshatra Krittika, which generates the
next table:
"Krittika translates simply into "The One Who Cuts" or in a plural sense "The
Cutters".
Range: 2640' Aries 1000' Taurus
Symbol: axe, razor, blade, knife, flame, peacock
Deity: Karttikeya, Agni (God of fire)
Mode of Functioning: Active
Caste: priestly or brahminical
Gender: Female
Body parts: hips, loins and the crown of the head
Humor (Ayurvedic Constitution): Kapha
Direction: the arc covering the directions from east, south-east to south
Guna (Essence): Rajas
Tattwa (Element): Earth
Gana (Type): Rakshasa (demonic)
Orientation: Downward
Disposition: Mixed (alternates between sharp and soft)
Ruling Planet: Sun
Sounds: A, Ee, Oo, Ay
Animal symbol: Sheep or Goat
Primary Motivation: Kama
Enemy: Vishakha."
Published: en.vedicencyclopedia.org/wiki/Nakshatra

It tells us that;
1. Knifes symbolize Krittika.
2. The deity of Krittika is Karttikeya.
3. And its ruling planet is the Sun, in other words: is Vishnu alias Mohini.
Besides that:
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 The two knifes indicated that Mohini as well as Shiva passed Krittika.
Put together they symbolized a love affair.
And therefore they also indicated the creation of their son Maha-Shasta in
Krittika.
Now we are able to understand why Shasta is identified with Karttikeya alias Skanda:
"Shasta is identified primarily with two regional deities: Ayyappa from Kerala and the
Tamil Aiyanar. He is also identified with the classical Hindu gods Skanda and Hanuman."
Published: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohini

Karttikeya is the presiding deity of Krittika, and thus it is just a matter of course that
Shasta, who is created in Krittika, is identical to him and that Shasta also fights
against Kesin because of a girl Devasena.

Number 4

Harihara Shasta/Skanda Devasena Kesin

Once again, on this seal three little stripes indicate Vishnu/Mohini.
Shiva is united with Rohini and from his seed Maha-Shasta was born.
Shasta is identified with Skanda.
In the myth "Skanda's birth" (Mahabharata 3,222.) Skanda fights against Kesin
because of the girl Devasena, however, on the above seal Maha-Shasta, instead of
Skanda, fights against Kesin and the girl Devasena stands in between them.

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 Number 14

On this seal a single knife may indicate that both Mohini and Shiva passes Krittika.
Shiva impregnates Mohini and on the right Mohini gives birth to a child.
She is indicated by the knife she is holding in her hand and the child is indicated by
the little stripe beneath her.

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 Number 15

On this seal a single knife may indicate that both Mohini and Shiva passes Krittika.
Shiva impregnates Mohini and Mohini gives birth to Ayyappa.
Ayyappa is born of Vishnu's thigh as Mohini does not have a real womb.
"Shasta is identified primarily with two regional deities: Ayyappa from Kerala and the
Tamil Aiyanar. He is also identified with the classical Hindu gods Skanda and Hanuman. In
the later story of the origin of Ayyappa, Shiva impregnates Mohini, who gives birth to
Ayyappa. They abandon Ayyappa in shame. The legend highlights Vishnu's protests to be
Mohini again and also notes that Ayyappa is born of Vishnu's thigh as Mohini does not
have a real womb."
Published: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohini

And on the above seal Ayyappa, indicated by a little stripe, is born of Vishnu's thigh.

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 Number 11

On this seal a tiger woman represents Harihara.

Shiva is indicated by a trident.
They are united.
About nine months later Mohini gives birth to a child in December/January.
Four stripes, depicted in the middle, represent the front legs and the back legs
of a Funeral Cot,
These legs symbolize the nakshatra's Purva Proshtapada and Uttara
Bhdrapad.
These two nakshatra's indicate December/January.

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 Number 12

On this seal a tiger woman represents Harihara.

The two knifes indicate Shiva and Mohini in Krittika.
They are united.
About nine months later Mohini gives birth to a child in November/December.

Two ears.
This ear character symbolizes the nakshatra Shrona.
Shrona indicates November/December.

Tom van Bakel

Sint Pancras
Nederland
Email: tom.vanbakel@xs4all.nl

The Rig Veda hymns are quoted from: "The Hymns of the Rig Veda, Translated by
Ralph T. H. Griffith, 2nd edition, Kotagiri (Nilgiri) 1896"

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 Birth of Kartikeya
Tales of Shiva
After their marriage, Lord Shiva and Parvati lived happily at Mt. Gandhamadana. Once,
while they were enjoying an intimate moment, a small quantity of Shiva's vital fluid fell on
the ground. Tremendous amount of heat began emanating from it and it threatened to
engulf the entire world in flames. Acting on the advice of Brahma and Vishnu, Agni went
there in the guise of a mendicant and devoured the vital fluid.

Parvati felt insulted. She cursed Agni saying, "From this day thou shall be omnivorous and
eat unclean things. The vital fluid that you have devoured shall cause an unbearable
inflammation on your body." (Note: See this story for an alternate curse for why Agni
became omnivorous.)

Instantly, Agni got unbearable inflammation on his body. He beseeched Lord Shiva for a
way to end his agony. Lord Shiva said, "You will be relieved of this affliction when you
transfer my vital fluid to the womb of a woman."

Agni retired to a desolate place, waiting for a suitable woman to arrive. He beheld the six
Kritikas, all shivering with cold who arrived there. He then transfered Shiva's vital fluid to
their wombs. They became pregnant. When their husbands came to know of this, they cursed
the six women, to be turned into stars in a constellation in the sky. Before the
transformation, the Kritikas aborted their fetuses on the Himalaya mountains. The holy
river Ganga carried the fetuses to a secluded place, called the Sara Vana, which was
covered with reeds. After some time, Lord Kartikeya (also called Skanda) manifested from
those reeds. Since he was born to six mothers, he had six heads. Since he was born in the
Sara Vana, he is also known as Saravana.

[Note: The Six Kritikas are the stars of the constellation pleiades. In other texts, Agni
carries the six sparks that fell from the third eye of Shiva, not his vital fluid. The sparks are
deposited in a pond in the Sara Vana, where a six babies are born on a lotus each. The
Krittikas who came there, nursed the babies. When Parvati and Shiva came there, Parvati
took all the babies in her arms and made them into one, albeit with six heads.]

The Devas rejoiced at the birth of this child. Lord Shiva and Parvati went to the place where
the child was born. Parvati prayed to Shiva that the child may no her and none other as his
mother. Shiva granted her this boon.

As per a prior prophesy, the child Kartikeya was anointed as the command-in-chief of the
Devas. It had been foretold that only he could kill a a demon named Taraka who had been
plaguing the Devas. However, that incident is part of another story.
Published: http://www.apamnapat.com/articles/030Shiva-BirthOfKartikeya.html

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Number 1
Dancing Girl is a bronze statuette dating around 2500 BC.
Place of Origin: Mohenjodaro
Materials: Bronze
Dimensions: 10.5 x 5 x 2.5 cm.
Acc. No. 5721/195
The statue is displayed at National Museum, New Delhi
Number 2
"An exquisite bronze female figurine from Mohenjo-daro, displayed at the Karachi
Museum."
Mirror: http://tinyurl.com/nzzzmas
Number 3
Red potsherd found at Dancing Girl Bhirrana, with an engraving "Dancing Girl."
Published: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.nl/2016/05/dance-step-as-indus-script-hieroglyph.html

Number 4
Tablet number H-180 (649, NMI 32) is in the collection of the National Museum of India. It
was found in Harappa and Marshall published it (I. tab 12, No.12, Fig 111.)
Published: plus.google.com/photos/109878381697929222636/albums/5521654986070004913?
banner=pwa&authkey=CNbI2L_4yMmnXA

Number 5
"Harihara sculpture, British Museum. The left half represents Shiva (with the Trishula) and
the right half represents Vishnu (with the Chakra and Conch)."
Published: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harihara

Number 6
Epigraphica Sarasvati Slideshow 1/8
Published: https://plus.google.com/photos/109878381697929222636/albums/5187205991360496689?banner=pwa

Number 7
Indus Script Cipher 3/3
Published: https://sites.google.com/site/kalyan97/epigraphica-sarasvati

Number 8
Object type: stamp-seal
British Museum number: 1947,0416.1
Description: Stamp-seal. Carved with a standing bull; inscription in five characters above.
Made of stone (steatite).
Culture/period: Indus Civilisation /
Date: 2600BC-1900BC
Made in: Pakistan (Mohenjo-daro)
Found/Acquired: Asia,South Asia,Pakistan,Sind,Larkana District,Mohenjo-daro.
Materials: steatite
Technique: carved
Dimensions: Width: 1.37 inches
Inscription Script: Indus
Curator's comments
Blurton 1992: Harappan seals, mostly made of steatite, generally bear an inscription of
several characters of the still unread Indus Valley script. Usually an animal is also
depicted, or more rarely a human figure or group of figures involved in some activity which
scholars today interpret as religious; its precise meaning, though, is not known. Considering
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their used it seems likely that these animals - rhinoceros, elephant, and above all, bull -
were thought to possess suitable power to guard that which was being sealed. The fact that
the bull is accorded such an important position (it is the animal mount of the Hindu god
Shiva), perhaps indicates some continuity of religious ideas between the two periods.
The naturalistic and confident manner in which the brahminy bull, with its heavy dewlap
and prominent hump, is depicted, is typical of the lapidary skill of the Indus Valley stone-
cutters.
Number 9
M-1168 a
Number 10
K-65 a
Number 11
K-50 a
Number 12
Indus Script Cipher 3/3
Published: https://sites.google.com/site/kalyan97/epigraphica-sarasvati

Number 13
Stone Tools of Indus Valley Civilisation Stone Saws
Published: heritage.gov.pk

Number 14
Epigraphica Sarasvati Slideshow 7/8
Published: https://sites.google.com/site/kalyan97/epigraphica-sarasvati

Number 15
Epigraphica Sarasvati Slideshow 7/8
Published: https://sites.google.com/site/kalyan97/epigraphica-sarasvati

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