IVC – Snake symbol indicates God Varuna

The snake symbol rarely occurs in IVC seal inscriptions. The seal below shows the caduceus symbol, not even a full snake. Yet, 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).

I have assigned the god Hermes to the caduceus symbol in my book, the Indus Symbols Dictionary. I feel that this interpretation is incorrect because the caduceus symbol associated with Hermes may have arrived in India much later, coinciding with the Greek invasion. These IVC seals are approximately 2000 years older than Greek rule in India.

Hence, we must assign a god other than Hermes. In my opinion, the caduceus symbol (also known as the snake symbol) will be much more suitable for God Vauna.

This above correction leads to one more correction in the article,” Indus numerals indicate various gods as per calendar days.” In this article, I have assigned the fifth day to the goddess Mashkhenet; this needs to be corrected, as the fifth day, Naga Panchami, is assigned to the god Varuna. I have not assigned a specific calendar day to Varuna, but Varuna appears in many IVC seals and must be assigned to a particular day on the calendar. The fifth day of the calendar is an ideal choice for this occasion.

In Hindu mythology, the god Varuna, associated with water and the ocean, is sometimes depicted with snakes, particularly Nagas, who are considered sacred creatures and reside in his realm, representing eternity and divine knowledge. (1)

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. (1) 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 traveling on a crocodile, which also has connections to the aquatic realm. [1]

Lord Varuna is a Celestial God in the Vedic texts. He is the God connected with sky, sea, truth, and Rta. We have come to know him through numerous ancient scriptures and religious texts. In Hinduism, he is the God of Oceans. He is omnipresent and is the guardian deity of the Western direction. The name Varuna means “he who covers.”

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.

Apart from that, Lord Varuna rides a chariot drawn by seven swans. He holds different items in his hands as well. They include a lotus, a conch, a vessel of gems, and a noose. In some representations, we can find Lord Varuna riding a Makara or a sea monster. In such depictions, the noose is often depicted as a snake. There are other portrayals in Hindu temples and other places where Lord Varuna is shown traveling on a crocodile instead. These are all the different ways in which Lord Varuna is represented. He uses his weapon to capture sinners and deliver them to justice. (1)

References

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