Number three indicates many gods along with the meaning of dangerous gods
Number three specifies ‘Many gods’ and also ‘Dangerous gods.’
Even though the number three looks very simple, I had great difficulty in understanding the meaning of number three. Standard regular meaning of ‘Numeral number three’ did not fit in many situations while reading the Indus seal inscriptions. Finally, after finding the close affinity between Egyptian Hieroglyphics and Indus script, the meaning became loud and clear.
In Egyptian Hieroglyphics, the number three does not merely stand for ‘Numeral number three’ alone; it also stands for the additional meaning of ‘many gods’. Now, after understanding the Egyptian hieroglyphic idea, the meaning of ‘number three’ in Indus script also became apparent, the meaning is the same as used hieroglyphics.
This correlation shows the fact that Indus script was fundamentally developed by Egyptian priests and scribes, with later-day modifications by Sumerian priests and Vedic priests. Thus, the influence of three great civilizations can be seen in the Indus script. Indus valley civilization was a composite culture, not merely a sectarian culture.
The above-given seal inscription shows a typical example of the confusing nature of ‘number three’. Number three appears twice in a sequence without any other indication. What could be the meaning? The ‘first three’ can be read with the preceding symbol ‘honeycomb’. It may be read as the ‘Third honeycomb ritual.’ It has been used as a simple numeral in this place.
Coming to the second ‘number three’, what could be the meaning? Only the Egyptian hieroglyphic explanation of ‘many gods’ explains the situation. Now, it can be understood that ‘Honey was offered to many gods.’
In the above-given seal inscription, the number three can be read as ‘third -Pithru- kavu’. Or the second interpretation as’ Karma – for -three – Pithrus. In both the ways this symbol has been used as a numeral.
In the above-given seal, it can be read as third Astaka. There are three Astaka ceremonies in any given calendar year. That is every fourth month; there is an Astaka ritual for Pithrus. This word third Astaka indicates the last Astaka ritual of the year. The other possibility is that the Pithru karma had been done for ‘three Pithrus’. Generally, Pithru karma is done for three Pithrus, and there is no need to specify that again. Here also the number three has been used as a numeral.
In the above-given seal inscription, again the number three has been used confusingly. It could be Pithru-karma ceremony for three Pithrus (or) third Pithru -karma ceremony. On the other hand, it could be ‘third protection Kavu for many gods.’ Here the number three could have been used to indicate ‘many gods.’
In the above-given seal, the number three has been written differently, two strokes and one stroke down below. Again Egyptian hieroglyphs come to explain this symbol. In hieroglyphics, this symbol means ‘dangerous gods’, and it is too dangerous even to mention the name of the god.
This kind of ‘fearfulness’ is a typical problem of reading Indus script inscriptions. Already, we are not able to understand the meaning of Indus inscriptions, under such situation the Indus scribe is afraid of even to mention the name of the god. Then, how will it be possible to read anything?
I have already discussed the problem; in the article, ‘Karuppa-swami was the gatekeeper god’. (1) Even today, the gatekeeper god of Tamil Nadu is called as ‘Karuppa-swami’ without mentioning his real name. For centuries, his name has not been spelt out, and the name has been forgotten. Now, we know him only as of the ‘The Black God’ (Karuppa-swami). Same is the situation here, no name of the god is mentioned in the seal inscription, out of fear, hence no possibility of understanding the nature of the ceremony mentioned in the seal.
The above-given seal inscription shows three horizontal lines within an oval-shaped circle. Again, Egyptian hieroglyphics come to the rescue here. If three lines are drawn horizontally, then also it means,’ Too dangerous to mention’. (2) Refer to Gardiner’s Egyptian hieroglyphic list for more information.
At this stage, it is necessary to mention various signs, which means, ‘Too dangerous to be written’. Details are taken out of Gardiner’s sign list and tabulated as given below: (2)
|
Detail of sign/symbol |
Gardiner’s hieroglyphic list reference number |
Meaning of the glyph |
|
|
Z-2 |
Plural, majority, collective concept |
|
|
Z -2A |
Can be used as a replacement for signs perceived to be dangerous to be written |
|
|
Z -2C |
Nothing is mentioned in the Wikipedia list but falls under the same category – too dangerous |
|
|
Z -3A |
Nothing is mentioned in the Wikipedia list but falls under the same category – too dangerous |
|
|
Z-3B |
Nothing is mentioned in the Wikipedia list but falls under the same category – too dangerous |
|
|
Z -4 |
Can be used as a replacement for signs perceived to be dangerous to be written. |
Table 1:SIgns list and meanings are taken out of Wikipedia (2)
Now, the above-given table shows a general idea about various signs, which are too dangerous to be mentioned. The overall conclusion is that the Indus script is following the Egyptian hieroglyphic way of writing and Indus civilization is highly indebted to Egyptian civilization in its foundation and progress.
Acknowledgements:
All seal pictures are taken from the book of Sue Sullivan. (3)
All Indus scripts symbols taken from the book of Asko Parpola. (4)
1. jeyakumar(Gate-keeper-god). Karuppa_Swami_was_the_gate_keeper_god. academia.edu. [Online], 2015. https://www.academia.edu/10950376/Karuppa_Swami_was_the_gate_keeper_god.
2. Wikipedia.org. List_of_Egyptian_hieroglyphs. en.wikipedia.org/wiki. [Online] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Egyptian_hieroglyphs#Aa.
3. Sullivan, Sue. Indus Script Dictionary. S .l. : Suzanne Redalia, 2011.
4. Parpola, Asko. Deciphering the Indus Script. New Delhi: Cambridge University Press, 2000.