Religion
Religion in the Indus Valley involves temple rituals and ritual bathing in the "great bath" (a huge water tank for public bathing) found at Mohenjo-Daro. The religion practiced in the civilization is known as Hinduism. The Indus religion put great importance in cleanliness or ritual bathing. When the Aryan tribes of Persia invaded the Indus Valley around 1700 BCE, the groups' beliefs combined and Hinduism began to form.
Indus Valley people built an abundance of small terracotta statues that are found underground in the Indus Valley. Among these small ceramic statuettes there are paintings of pregnant women, "Mother Goddesses." Shakti or Mother Goddess is considered the source of all creation. Hindu faith s based on the fertility and strength of the goddess and the rebirth and continuity she provides. The fertility and strength of the goddess and the rebirth and continuity she provides remain central to the Hindu faith. Lord Shiva, also known as the Lord of the Beast (Pashupati), is the male principal of creation.
Indus people also worship nature, including trees, the Sun, fire and water. People also worship animals such as the bull, buffalo and tiger. They also worship mythical animals, the belief is evident from the existence of a human figure with bull's horns, hoofs and a tail. The bull is a very common animal in the Harrappan religion. It represents manliness (the male quality of being brave and strong), which is considered sacred to the Hindus. Shiva, one of the most important Hindu gods, is associated with the bull.
They believe life is based on something called "The 4 Goals":
1. Dharma: People should live a virtuous (having or showing high moral standards) life.
2. Kama: People should indulge (follow and fulfill) their senses (eat, see, hear, smell, feel).
3. Artha: People should achieve wealth and success—lawfully.
4. Moksha: People achieve enlightenment.
The Hindu also believe in four principals:
Atman: The true essence (important stuff) of life.
Karma: Spiritual rewards or punishments in the next life for your actions in this life. Meaning that if you did something bad this life, you are punished in your next life. If you did something good this life, you would be rewarded in your next life.
Samsara: Continual rebirth into this world, lifetime after lifetime. They believe that when you die, you come back again as someone or something else. Also known as reincarnation.
Moksha: Enlightenment; becoming one with god; escaping Samsara. You are release from the cycle of rebirth (Samsara).
Indus Valley people built an abundance of small terracotta statues that are found underground in the Indus Valley. Among these small ceramic statuettes there are paintings of pregnant women, "Mother Goddesses." Shakti or Mother Goddess is considered the source of all creation. Hindu faith s based on the fertility and strength of the goddess and the rebirth and continuity she provides. The fertility and strength of the goddess and the rebirth and continuity she provides remain central to the Hindu faith. Lord Shiva, also known as the Lord of the Beast (Pashupati), is the male principal of creation.
Indus people also worship nature, including trees, the Sun, fire and water. People also worship animals such as the bull, buffalo and tiger. They also worship mythical animals, the belief is evident from the existence of a human figure with bull's horns, hoofs and a tail. The bull is a very common animal in the Harrappan religion. It represents manliness (the male quality of being brave and strong), which is considered sacred to the Hindus. Shiva, one of the most important Hindu gods, is associated with the bull.
They believe life is based on something called "The 4 Goals":
1. Dharma: People should live a virtuous (having or showing high moral standards) life.
2. Kama: People should indulge (follow and fulfill) their senses (eat, see, hear, smell, feel).
3. Artha: People should achieve wealth and success—lawfully.
4. Moksha: People achieve enlightenment.
The Hindu also believe in four principals:
Atman: The true essence (important stuff) of life.
Karma: Spiritual rewards or punishments in the next life for your actions in this life. Meaning that if you did something bad this life, you are punished in your next life. If you did something good this life, you would be rewarded in your next life.
Samsara: Continual rebirth into this world, lifetime after lifetime. They believe that when you die, you come back again as someone or something else. Also known as reincarnation.
Moksha: Enlightenment; becoming one with god; escaping Samsara. You are release from the cycle of rebirth (Samsara).