Pashupati

Pashupati (Sanskrit: "IAST|Paśupati"), "Lord of cattle", is an epithet of the Hindu deity Shiva. [For use of the name "IAST|Paśupati" ("Devanagari" _sa. पशुपति) in the "Shiva Sahasranama", and translation as "Lord of cattle", see: Sharma, p. 291.] In Vedic times it was used as an epithet of Rudra. [For translation as "Lord of Animals" and use as an epithet of Rudra, see: Kramrisch, p. 479.] The Rigveda has the related pashupa "protector of cattle" as a name of Pushan. The Pashupatinath Temple is the most important Hindu shrine for all Hindus in Nepal and also for many Hindus in India and rest of the world.

The name has also been applied to a figure, probably a deity, depicted as sitting among animals, on a seal discovered in the context of the Indus Valley Civilization. Parallels have also been drawn with the Celtic Cernunnos.

"Pashupati seal"

A seal discovered during excavation of the Mohenjo-daro archaeological site in the Indus Valley has drawn attention as a possible representation of a "yogi" or "proto-Shiva" figure. [Flood (1996), pp. 28-29.] This "Pashupati" (Lord of Animals, Sanskrit "IAST|paśupati") [Marshall, Sir John, "Mohenjo Daro and the Indus Civilization", London 1931] [For translation of "IAST|paśupati" as "Lord of Animals" see: Michaels, p. 312.] seal shows a seated figure, possibly ithyphallic, surrounded by animals. [For a drawing of the seal see Figure 1 "in": Flood (1996), p. 29.] [Singh, S.P., "Rgvedic Base of the Pasupati Seal of Mohenjo-Daro", Puratattva 19: 19-26. 1989] [Kenoyer, Jonathan Mark. "Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley Civilization". Karachi: Oxford University Press, 1998.] Some observers describe the figure as sitting in a traditional cross-legged yoga pose with its hands resting on its knees. The discoverer of the seal, Sir John Marshall, and others have claimed that this figure is a prototype of Shiva, and have described the figure as having three faces, seated in a "yoga posture" with the knees out and feet joined.

Archaeologist Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, current Co-director of the Harappa Archaeological Research Project in Pakistan and Indologist Heinrich Zimmer agree that the 'Pashupati' figure shows a figure in a yoga posture. [Kenoyer describes the figure as "seated in yogic position" with "the heels...pressed together under the groin." [http://www.harappa.com/indus/33.html "Around the Indus in 90 Slides" by Jonathan Mark Kenoyer] ] [ [http://www.harappa.com/indus/induscopy.html "Around the Indus in 90 Slides" copyright information] ] [Zimmer describes the figure as "seated like a yogi." Zimmer, p. 168.]

Gavin Flood characterizes these views as "speculative", saying that while it is not clear from the seal that the figure has three faces, is seated in a yoga posture, or even that the shape is intended to represent a human figure, it is nevertheless possible that there are echoes of Shaiva iconographic themes, such as half-moon shapes resembling the horns of a bull. [Flood (1996), pp. 28-29.] [Flood (2003), pp. 204-205.] Historian John Keay is more specifically dismissive, saying:

Archaeologist Gregory Possehl also disagrees with the Proto-Shiva theory, [Possehl, p. 143.] but contends that "the posture of the deity...is a form of ritual discipline, suggesting a precursor of yoga." [Possehl, p. 144.] Possehl also states that this view:

ee also

*Gundestrup cauldron
*Potnia Theron

Notes

References

*cite book |last=Flood |first=Gavin |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=An Introduction to Hinduism |year=1996 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |isbn= 0-521-43878-0
*cite book |last=Flood |first=Gavin (Editor)|authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism|year=2003 |publisher=Blackwell Publishing Ltd.|location=Malden, MA|isbn=1-4051-3251-5
*cite book |series= |last=Kramrisch |first=Stella |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The Presence of Śiva |year=1981 |publisher=Princeton University Press|location=Princeton, New Jersey |isbn=0-691-01930-4
*cite book |last=Michaels |first=Axel|authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Hinduism: Past and Present |year=2004 |publisher=Princeton University Press |location=Princeton, New Jersey|isbn=0-691-08953-1
*cite book |last=Possehl |first=Gregory|authorlink=Gregory Possehl |coauthors= |title=The Indus Civilization: A Contemporary Perspective |year=2003 |publisher=AltaMira Press |location= |isbn=978-0759101722
*cite book |last=Sharma |first=Ram Karan |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=IAST|Śivasahasranāmāṣṭakam: Eight Collections of Hymns Containing One Thousand and Eight Names of Śiva. With Introduction and IAST|Śivasahasranāmākoṣa (A Dictionary of Names). |year=1996 |publisher=Nag Publishers |location=Delhi |isbn=81-7081-350-6 This work compares eight versions of the Śivasahasranāmāstotra. The Preface and Introduction (in English) by Ram Karan Sharma provide an analysis of how the eight versions compare with one another. The text of the eight versions is given in Sanskrit.
*cite book |last=Zimmer |first=Heinrich |authorlink=Heinrich Zimmer |coauthors= |title=Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization |year=1972 |publisher=Princeton University Press |location=Princeton, New Jersey|isbn=978-0691017785