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Mohenjodaro 'Dancing Girl' is Parvati, Harappan civilisation worshipped Shiva: ICHR journal

A new research paper published in Itihaas, the Hindi journal of the Indian Council of Historical Research has said that the famous of statue of the ‘Dancing Girl’ of the Mohenjodaro is Goddess Parvati, reports The Indian Express.

In the research paper called ‘Vedic Sabhyata Ka Puratatva (Archaeology of Vedic Civilisation)’, retired professor Thakur Prasad Verma of the Banaras Hindu University claims the Dancing Girl being Hindu Goddess Parvati is evidence that the Harappan civilisation worshipped Shiva.

The small, barely 10.5cm tall, bronze statue is estimated to be around 4,500 years old and has fascinated archaeologists and historians ever since she was found in Mohenjodaro in 1926.

Verma says that other artefacts also point towards the civilisation worshipping Shiva. He also says that the ‘Seal 420’ ( a seal of a horned figure sitting in yogic posture and surrounded by animals) is proof to th argument.

He adds that the trefoil pattern seen on the Priest King, another artefact from Mohendojaro, resembles Vilva or Bilva leaves used in Shiva’s worship.

The article was published in the journal Itihaas’s first edition since YS Rao’s took over as ICHR chairman

Rao’s appointment in 2014 by the BJP-led government ran into controversy with leading historians questioning his credentials for the post. They were concerned that they had appointed a little known historian to head the Indian Council of Historical Research.

Eminent historian Romila Thapar says Rao’s work is “unfamiliar” to most in his profession. According to her, his research is little visible and the articles authored by him on the historicity of Indian epics have not been published in any peer reviewed journals.

Before, taking over as ICHR chief, Rao was reported to be working on a project to “fix” the date of Mahabharata war. He had rebutted the argument of historians like DD Kosambi that Ramayana and Mahabharata have different versions added to them over almost a 1,000 years. He had certified the caste system as having “worked well in ancient India.”

Source: dnaindia.com