Fire Stick Symbol
Firestick symbol indicates ‘Arani sticks’ of Vedic Yajna.
The above-given symbol indicates the ‘fire sticks’ (Arani sticks) used to ignite the fire in Vedic Yajna. This fire stick symbol always occurs in conjunction with the ‘Grihapathya Yajna’ symbol, and the ‘Smasana-cayana
Yajna’symbol, which indicates that this combination yields some meaning, which is very specific and common in usage. This
symbol is made of two sticks, one long stick and another short one. It gives the idea of ‘Arani sticks’ (fire sticks) used in ‘Vedic fire ritual’, which are used to ignite the first fire of a Vedic Yajna. The word ‘Yajna’ precisely suits this symbol. All these symbols in combination or on individual basis convey the idea of a Yajna.
Variants of Firesticks
The above-given picture shows the variants of fire stick symbol. These graphemes are taken from the ‘book of concordance’ by Iravatham Mahadevan. In addition to that, the quotation mark also stands for the word ‘Yajna’. The quotation mark is the most widely used variant of the yajna symbol; it occurs 649 times as per the data provided by Mahadevan (1) and Sundar. (2)
In addition to that single stroke also indicates the word ‘Yajna’ as shown in the above-given seal.
The above-given seal shows the word ‘Grihapathya’ sacrifice (Chakra-symbol) followed by Yajna symbol (Quotation mark).
The above-given seal shows the Smasana-cayana symbol (Diamond shape) followed by yajna symbol. This combination is the most prolific pair of symbols used in Indus seal inscription, 291 times, as per the database of Mahadevan and Sundar.
Frequency analysis of Indus symbols
Indus symbol |
Frequency of occurrence |
|
649 |
|
193 |
The data shown above is from the research papers of Mahadevan and Sundar. This quotation mark is the second most prolifically used symbol, used 649 times. The logo, which had been used most prolifically is the ‘Kau’ symbol
which had been used 1395 times. (1) (2)
Symbols pair |
frequency |
Reading of the inscription |
Frequency of the pair in the initial position of inscription. All the pairs are occurring in the initial position, exceptions those pairs which are specifically mentioned below. |
|
291 |
Smasana -cayana Yajna |
254 |
|
83 |
Grihapatya Yajna |
73 |
|
54 |
Kedaga Yajna |
54 |
|
44 |
Yama Yajna |
37 |
|
24 |
Grihapatya yajna |
22 |
|
23 |
Karkida Yajna |
19 |
|
18 |
Sastha Yajna |
18 – occurring in the middle position. This reading of ‘Sastha yajna’ is incomplete because some god’s name will precede this symbol pair. |
|
18 |
Ammit (crocodile) -Yajna |
16 – occurring in the middle position |
|
16 |
Honeycomb Yajna |
16 -occurring in the middle position |
|
14 |
Grihapatya Yajna |
12 – occurring in the middle position |
|
13 |
Pithru Yajna |
11 – occurring in the middle position |
|
10 |
Grihapatya Yajna |
10 – all occurring in the initial position |
|
10 |
Samidha Yajna |
10 – all occurring in the middle position |
This above-given data is extracted out from the research work of Iravatham Mahadevan and Sundar (1) (2)
This above-given data shows that the Yajna symbol combines very well with various types of Yajna. Another important finding is that all these Yajna mentions are at the beginning of the seal inscription. It is a meaningful correlation.
Acknowledgements
1. All pictures of Indus seals are taken from the book of sue Sullivan (3)
2. All logos are taken from the research papers of Iravatham Mahadevan, Asko Parpola (4) and Sundar
Bibliography
1. Mahadevan.I. The Indus script -Text, Concordance and Tables. http://www.rmrl.in. [Online] http://www.rmrl.in/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/papers/5a.pdf.
2. Sundar. -The-Indus-Script-Text-and-Context.pdf. http://45.113.136.87/wp-content/uploads/. [Online] http://45.113.136.87/wp-content/uploads/43-The-Indus-Script-Text-and-Context.pdf.
3. Sullivan, Sue,. Indus script dictionary. 2011.
4. Parpola, Asko. Deciphering the Indus Script. New Delhi : Cambridge University Press, 2000.