Kavu Symbol
‘Kavu’ means ‘sacrifice’ in Indus inscriptions.
Figure 1
Abstract:
The above given ‘U’ symbol is the most frequently used in Indus inscriptions. It indicates the word ‘Sacrifice’. Asko Parpola has identified that this symbol looks like the head of a cow. My opinion is that this symbol looks like a modified form of ‘Upraised hand symbol’ of Egyptian Hieroglyphics. This upraised hands symbol stood for the word ‘Ka’(Soul) from which the word ‘Kau’ had been derieved.
I have given nine different explanations for this symbol, and finally, the 10th explanation seems to fit this grapheme. (1) Earlier, I had attributed ‘Ka’ sound to this grapheme, and I was searching for different words starting with ‘ka’ sound. However, it turned out that Indus inscriptions are written in ‘ideogram’ (idea) way of writing, except for few words. Iravatham Mahadevan is also advocating that these Indus inscriptions are written in an ideogramic way. (2). However, the context in which Iravatham Mahadevan is explaining the ideograms is debatable.
In many inscriptions, the mere ’ka’ sound did not explain the meaning of inscriptions. In many places, this symbol stands alone without any additional syllables. Such a character of ‘standing alone’ means that this symbol of its own has a meaning. Finally, I got an explanation, which explains this symbol. This symbol stands for ‘Kavu’ (sacrifice). (3)Tamil word ‘Kavu’ means sacrifice; the same word in Malayalam means the ‘sacred grove’, where such sacrifices are carried out.
This word ‘kavu’ is supported by the word ‘Kau’ in ancient Egyptian terminologies. The Egyptians believed that the ‘ka’ (soul) was sustained through food and drink. For this reason, food and drink offerings were presented to the dead, although it was the ‘Kau‘ within the offerings that was consumed, not the physical aspect. (4) . It looks like that ‘Kau’ means ‘vital life force’. However, in Indus civilization terminology it indicates ‘sacrifice’.
Further, Asko Parpola in his book that this symbol looks like a cow’s head, the top two lines indicating cow’s horns and bottom two appendages representing ear lobes of a cow. (5) Most probably it suggests the head of a sacrificed bull rather than a cow. Even though Asko Parpola says that it looks like a cow’s head, we should visualize this grapheme as Bull’s head, because all Indus seals depiction show only sacrificed bulls, not cows. Nowhere, any depiction of a cow is shown in Indus seals.
At this juncture, I would like to add an eleventh explanation for this ‘Kau’ symbol. It is pertinent to note that ‘Upraised hands’ symbol indicated the word ‘KA’ in Egyptian Hieroglyphics. The ‘Kau’ symbol could be a modified form of ‘upraised hands’ instead of Bull’s head. Read my article,”Upraised hands symbol meant ‘KA’ “ for more information. (1)
The symbol of upraised hands is seen in many instances in Indus seal inscriptions. The same symbol appears in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics also, which indicated the release of dead man’s ‘Ka’ (soul) from the corpse so that it can join ‘Ba’ (personality) of the deceased person.
There is also a twelfth possibility that this ‘U’ grapheme could stand for ‘Kapala‘ (skull bone). It looks like that in the Indus Valley civilization period the blood sacrifice would have been offered in cups made of skulls. The sacrifice cups would likely be made of human skulls. However, there is no clear cut evidence for that except for the word ‘dvi-kapala’. This word ‘dvi-kapala’ is available in the online Sanskrit dictionary from ‘Buddhist-door.com’ (6)
Figure 2
Figure-2 shows another allograph derived from the above-given grapheme ‘kavu’. This grapheme has been inserted with ‘dvi’ glyph giving a sound ‘dvika’. ‘Dvika’ means ‘two-fold’. It is not merely two folds; it also indicates ‘dvi-kapala’, i.e. the blood sacrifice offered in two pot shreds. (6) (Or) it could be dvi-kavu, meaning sacrifice meant for two entities, one for a god along with second for ancestors. This kind of ‘dvi-kavu’ ( sacrifice meant for two entities) is indicated in many seals. In Sanskrit dictionary, there is a specific word for such sort of sacrifice for two entities. It is known as ‘Havya-kavya’. (7) Many at times, it is not merely pot sheds are used; it is the real human skull used as the pots for sacrificial blood offering.
There are inscriptions were ‘three lines’ are inserted inside this ‘kavu’ symbol; such graphemes indicates that the sacrifice was carried out for three entities. Possibly the sacrifice was carried out to please two gods and one ancestor (Or) it could be for pleasing three gods (Or) it could be for satisfying three generations of pithrus. Finally, there is the last explanation; it could have meant ‘many gods’ as had been the practice in Egyptian Hieroglyphics way of writing. Read my article,” Number three specifies many gods and also dangerous gods.” for more information. (8)
Figure 3: Blood sacrifice.
See the sacrifice articles before the tree god; there is something like a human head in the stool. Asko Parpola says it is a human head. (5 p. 260). Asko Parpola states that the two circles like objects seen near the stool could be the hair buns of the sacrificed man. there is a possibility that it could be two small pots. (6) There is a possibility that they are two skull cups in which sacrificed animal’s blood has been offered.
Figure 4
There is another similar grapheme, but with slight modification is to be analyzed. This symbol is without any appendages, as seen in figure-2. Most probably it is indicating the sacrificial pot in which the blood of the sacrificed animal is offered before the god. However, it stands for the same word ‘Kavu’.
The two-line within the pot indicates the word ‘Dvi-Kavu’. Dvi- Kavu means two sacrifices, one for pithru and second for gods.
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References and acknowledgements:
1. Jeyakumar(up-raised-hands-symbol). Upraised_hands_symbol_means_ka_soul_. academia.edu. [Online] 2015. https://www.academia.edu/11419216/Upraised_hands_symbol_means_ka_soul_.
2. Mahadevan.I. indus-script-early-form-of-dravidian. thehindu.com. [Online] 2014. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/indus-script-early-form-of-dravidian-iravatham-mahadevan/article6600394.ece.
3. Tamil dictionary. Tamil.Indian Dictionaries.com. [Online] 2014. http://tamil.indiandictionaries.com/meaning.php?id=4818&lang=Tamil.
4. Wikipedia. (soul). Ancient_Egyptian_concept_of_the_soul. [Online] 2015. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_concept_of_the_soul#Ka_.28vital_spark.29.
5. Parpola, Asko. Deciphering the Indus Script. New Delhi : Cambridge University Press, 2000.
6. dictionary. dictionary.buddhistdoor.com/. [Online] 2014. http://dictionary.buddhistdoor.com/word/219480/dvikapala.
7. Cologne University. sanskrit-lexicon. www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de. [Online] 2015. http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/MWScan/tamil/index.html.
8. jeyakumar(number-three). Number_three_specifies_Many_gods_and_also_Dangerous_gods. Academia.edu. [Online] https://www.academia.edu/41294661/Number_three_specifies_Many_gods_and_also_Dangerous_gods..