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One mystery that particularly fascinates me centers upon the Harappan
seal image that is variously called the Proto-Shiva, the Marshall Seal
figure, and the Lord of the Beasts. I'm not sure whether any actual
scholars have made note of this, but there is a Celtic figure (found
on a cauldron in present-day Gundestrup, Denmark) who bears such a
striking resemblance to the Proto-Shiva that it's almost impossible to
avoid the thought that these may be the same deity. The Celtic image
is identified with a god known (from a single fragmentary inscription)
as Cernunnos, who is also considered a Lord of the Beasts.
Unfortunately, almost nothing else about Cernunnos is certain. His
image appears elsewhere (in more Romanized form) but the Gundestrup
cauldron version is the most famous. Everyone who comments on the
image seems to note the curious fact that the deity is seated in yogic
posture, and appears to be in a meditative state, but nobody knows
what to make of this. (A "shamanic trance" has been suggested.)
Part of the mystery here is the vast distance involved, not only in
geography, but in time. The Gundestrup Cernunnos is MUCH more recent
(estimated at circa 200 BCE) than the Proto-Shiva. It would be
tempting to dismiss the whole topic, except that the two images are so
unmistakeably alike, and that no satisfying explanation or
interpretation of the strange Celtic figure has ever been put forth.
Considering the collapse of the "Aryan invasion" theory, is it now
possible to, as it were, reverse the equation, and suggest an OUTWARD
dissemination of Indus Valley spiritual traditions into the
Indo-European orbit? Such a dissemination must have been ongoing
quite early, I would think, if indeed the deity depicted on the
Harappan seal saw his cult spread Westward before the decline of Indus
Valley civilization. Conversely, is it possible that this Lord of the
Beasts image was more widespread (on perishable materials, for
example) than merely the one known occurrence on the Mohenjo-daro
seal? If this were the case, then maybe some later, post=ADHarappan
"cultural exchange" with the Indo-Europeans could have carried the
image to Europe.
Can anyone shed any light on this mystery? (Both images can be viewed
on my web site at the URL below.) Thanks in advance for any
information, or for opinions more educated than my own.
richard grant http://www.mint.net/~grant
"The more materialistic science becomes, the more angels shall I
paint." -- Edward Burne-Jones, 1879
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