Indus Script

Civilization implies, among other connotations, sophisticated religious beliefs. The archaeological construct of Indus civilization lacks sophistry. There are no known Harappan myths. However, oral transmission of myths defines a prehistoric religion. In this hypothesis, latter day beliefs are used to decode the commonly used Indus script symbols, once these myths have been contextualised. This approach permits an explanation of all the distinctive features of the Indus script. Most of the script symbols appear on steatite square stamp seals. These are too friable for use in commerce. All carry religious imagery and are most likely to be have been used as amulets, especially during the catastrophic floods. Flood defences were a vital requirement in this civilization. It is assumed that the populace worshipped a flood-rescuing deity, most probably Matsya. Symbolic expression of myths associated with Matsya, suggest that the Indus high-God was a pre-Vishnu figure. Clusters of symbols in the script represented chants or myths associated with a particular deity. This linguistic feature does not imply that the script itself represented a language. There are numerous inscriptions which lack any grouping of symbols. It is asserted that Indus script is not a script, but a complex religion-based symbol system. This hypothesis cannot be proven because none of the interpretations of the symbols can be externally validated. It does however have the merit of being both cogent and plausible.