IVC – Caduceus symbol means “Eternal Life”

The caduceus symbol rarely occurs in IVC seal inscriptions. The seal below shows the caduceus symbol. It is essential to know which god this caduceus symbol represents.

The first symbol of the inscription is the caduceus symbol (Read from right to left). This caduceus symbol indicates that Ea/Hermes was one of the important gods of the Indus people. For more information, read my article, “The goat symbol indicates the Sumerian god Ea, equivalent to Hermes”(article 18).

Figure 1Caduceus symbol represent god Nigishzida (1)

The picture beside shows Nigishzida as intertwined snakes, guarded by two dragons. This image is from ancient Sumeria. I have already written a detailed article about Ningishzida. For more information, read the article, “ Ningishzida, the Sumerian dragon in Indus Valley civilisation .” (2)

The above variants of caduceus symbols are from fonts provided by the National Fund for Mohenjo-Daro.. This caduceus symbol within two poles [ ] looks very similar to the depiction in the Sumerian picture of Ningishzida. Hence, there is a possibility that the IVC caduceus symbol could have indicated the god Ningishzida. It may also be appropriate because the presence of Ningishzida in IVC is well established. The second possibility is that this symbol could have stood for the idea of “eternal life “also.”

Figure 2Wick symbol from Egypt.

The wick symbol from ancient Egypt gives the meaning “enduring”. Other meanings are “long-time” and “eternity”. (3) These meanings could also be applied to the IVC seal inscription. However, whether IVC priests followed the Egyptian or Sumerian meanings is uncertain. Anyhow, both these meanings are more or less the same. This symbol meant “long life” to the dead man in heaven. Or it meant “eternal life to the dead man.

See the stick and mountain symbol in the seal. It is time to consider the god Varuna, who also has this caduceus symbol. In Hindu mythology, Varuna, associated with water and the ocean, is sometimes depicted with snakes, particularly Nagas, considered sacred creatures that reside in his realm, representing eternity and divine knowledge. (4)

Varuna’s Realm: Varuna is the god of the waters, including oceans, rivers, and underground waters, and some Nagas, or snakes, are believed to dwell in his kingdom. (4) Snakes as Sacred Creatures: In ancient Indian culture, snakes, or Nagas, are revered as sacred creatures, representing eternity, impermanence, life, death, time, and timelessness. In some depictions, Varuna is shown with a noose in the form of a snake or even travelling on a crocodile, which also has connections to the aquatic realm. (5)

Lord Varuna is one of the most significant deities in Hinduism. We can find his representation in different forms throughout the decades. He carries a noose as a weapon, which he uses to bind those who sin. He ties people who lied or worked against their words with a rope. He carried the noose with him at all times. Hence, there is a possibility that the caduceus symbol in this seal may indicate Varuna’s weapon rope (snake), or there is a possibility that Varuna gave eternal life to the dead people in IVC.

Analysis of data as per Iravatham Mahadevan

	5 times	Long life- Kavu	Meaningful
	4 times	Eternity -Yajna	Meaningful
	1	Long life to Pithru	Meaningful
	1	Eternal life – Karkida ritual	Meaningful
	2	Ningishzida Kavu	Meaningful
	1	Messenger god – Ningishzida	Meaningful

All these symbol pairs are meaningful, yet do not clarify the issue. Does the symbol indicate a god or the word ‘Long life -eternity ‘? Now, we should analyse a bigger chain of symbols, a full inscription on the seal.

Long life	Stick of Varuna	Mountain god – Varuna	God Varuna. When the mountain symbol accompanies the god symbol, it indicates the mountain god Enlil or Varuna. A second possibility is that the man symbol could indicate the man sacrificed.	Garhapatya Yajna. Is it possible for a man to be sacrificed in the Garhapatya Yajna?

This combination of symbols gives a sense that “Long life” was given by Varuna or the god Enlil. Here, the caduceus symbol does not come with the meaning of a god, “Ningishzida.” Further, the Sastha (God) symbol does not accompany the caduceus symbol. Hence, the idea of Sastha (god) has not been confirmed. This caduceus symbol probably indicates the word “eternal life” or “Long life.”

References

1. Commons.wikimedia. [Online] Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1610495.

2. Jeyakumar(Ningishzida). https://www.academia.edu. [Online] july 2015. https://www.academia.edu/13529416/Ningishzida_the_Sumerian_dragon_in_Indus_Valley_civilization.

3. Wikipedia (Djed). [Online] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djed.

4. Pujayagna.com. God Varuna. [Online] https://pujayagna.com/blogs/hindu-gods-goddesses/lord-varuna.

5. Wikipedia(Varuna). [Online] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varuna.