IVC – Indus Valley Civilization – Living Pattern

IVC Living Pattern by Harsh Kumar

The Indus Valley civilization was flourished for over 1000 years. There are various patterns of Indus Valley peoples that still followed by the modern-day peoples. So, it is important to read the living pattern of Indus Valley to understand various pattern of modern-day society. We have already discussed the origin, and nature and character of the Indus Valley Civilization in our previous posts. You have read them to understand this post.

Read Indus Valley Civilization – The Origin

Indus Valley Civilization – Nature and Character

Social Life of Indus Valley civilization

 The Indus Valley society was multiclass in nature as there were different types of class. As per the evidences the poor and rich were both part of the Indus Valley. The society of IVC was multiethnic in their outlook as different peoples of different ethnicity lived in peaceful manner. The nature of IVC was also secular as peoples were free to follow any religious faith and any ritual. The society was materialistic in nature as they worked for making life rather than making it luxurious.

On the basis of predominance of Mother Goddess, John Marshall opined that the society of IVC was matriarchal in nature. IVC peoples lived a well settled life. The archeological also suggested that they were peace-loving peoples as they lived in harmony and few numbers of weapons discovered during excavation.

Political Life of IVC

The archeological evidences from the IVC suggested that IVC was administered by some central authority because the nature of IVC appeared to be centralized in nature. There were some kinds of urban administration system like the modern-day Nagar Palikas as without such authorities the administration such a vast civilization is impossible. Because for administration of planned cities, construction, and maintenance of public buildings, an administrative authority needs to be there for sure. The political system was secular in nature as indicates by also the social life of the peoples as people lived in harmony.  

Religious Life of IVC

There are various evidences discovered which indicates the religious life of the IVC. For example, the discovery of female figurines is the indication that, Mother Goddess was the chief deity of the IVC. They worshipped male god as well but the status of male deities was inferior to the female deity. Only evidence of proto-Shiva has been found from the seal discovered from Mohenjo-Daro.

Fertility cult was also popular among the IVC people. The IVC were phallus worshippers. Nature worship was also practiced by the IVC as natural forces like tree, water, and fire etc. were worshipped by the people. Peepal tree found to be printed in the seals used by IVC. The Great Bath discovered as Mohenjo-Daro appears to have a religious character. Fire alter evidences were discovered from the Kalibangan, Lothal and Banawali.

Animal worship was also practiced by the peoples of IVC. Evidences suggested that bull was worshipped by the IVC peoples. They believed in the power of Amulets and Talisman as indication of this was discovered from the seals of IVC. Black marks found on the seals and figurines of IVC indicates that something like oil and fragrance was burnt by IVC peoples in front of deities to please them.

 The items of commonly used were discovered from the graves which suggested that they believed in idea of life after death. Co-existence of multiple beliefs and practices in IVC cities indicates that they were tolerant in nature. They believed in the peaceful co-existence. The high level of material advancements of IVC indicates that materialistic outlook was dominant in religious life of IVC. They worshipped deities for the materialistic benefits.

Burial Practices of IVC

The archeological evidences suggested that the IVC peoples used three types of burial practices to dispose off their dead bodies. They are complete burial, fractional burial and post-cremation burial.

In the practice of complete burial, the dead bodies were placed in a gave as its back in north-south orientation with head in the north direction. At times, coffin was used for burying the dead bodies. The evidences of coffin burial were discovered from the site of Harappa (this was a feature of Mesopotamian civilization). At a time, male and female were buried together. The evidence of such joint burials is found from the sites of Lothal and Kalibangan.

In fractional burial, dead bodies were placed in open graveyard to be eaten by the wild animals and birds. End hence, the remains like bones were buried. Evidences of such burial was found the site of Bahawalpur, which is in the Sindh province of modern-day Pakistan.

In post-cremation burial, the dead bodies were burnt and the remains like bones and ashes were placed in pots and buried them. Such evidences are found from the site of Surkatoda in Gujarat. This type of burial practices still followed by the Hindu community.

Items of common use like ornament and pottery were placed with the dead bodies in the graves because they believed in the idea of life after death. The graveyards were located away from the from the main settlements of the cities that indicates that the peoples of IVC were concerned about the hygiene and sanitation. Hence, they have a good civic sense.

Economic life of IVC

The economic life was very prospered as indicates by the archeological evidences. The economic life of IVC can be broadly into three categories:

1. Agriculture

Agriculture of IVC peoples was highly evolved. Barley was the main crop cultivated by IVC peoples. They also cultivated the crops like wheat, rice, pea and gram etc. IVC people did not use canal irrigation as they used flood irrigation. The river water was blocked by the construction of the dams. Seeds were sown in flood plains after the flood water had receded, the crops were harvested before the arrival of the next flood season.

The agricultural production was high because of that Harrapans have the sufficient amount of surplus. It was stored in granaries which are discovered from the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. The practice of multi-cropping was also known to the peoples of IVC. They were also aware of the crop rotation practice.

2. Art and Crafts

The industries and crafts formed an important component of the IVC economy. Harappans knew most of the metals except iron. Gold smithing, silver smithing, Copper and bronze smithing were prominent crafts during the IVC. Pottery making was also an important craft, they used “black on red ware”. Seal making was also an important occupation as they used seals in large scale.

Most of the seals were made of the steatite. Around 2500 seals have been discovered from the different sites of the IVC. Chahnudaro was a famous centre of toy making during IVC.

3. Trade and Commerce

Trade and commerce were the main basis of the IVC economy. Most of the IVC were involved in trade and commercial activities. They practice local, regional as well as external trade. Local trade was with the nearby settlements. Regional trade was with different parts of Indian subcontinent. External trade was with other contemporary civilization i.e., Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations.

They imported gold from Karnataka, lead from central India, Amethyst from Maharashtra, shells from western coastal regions, copper from the Khetri Mines in Rajasthan and lapis lazuli (blue stone) from Badakshan (Afghanistan). Harappan exported the primary and secondary sector commodities and they imported the bullions in large amount. The external trade was heavily favors the Harrapans as the huge amount of trade surplus generated to IVC peoples through this external trade, a main source of prosperity of IVC.

The peoples of IVC trade through the land and water routes. This was the biggest region that the granaries and storage rooms were situated close to the rivers. The used carts for the inland trade. They were aware of the boats and ship as it was also indicated by the seals and painting of the IVC. According to the Mesopotamian records, Diman in Bahrain and Makran at Makran coast were the intermediate trading stations of the IVC peoples. Monetization of the economy was absent as IVC people did not used coins for the trade purposes. They trade through the barter system.

The flourishing trade and commerce of IVC left a deep impact on nature and character of contemporary settlements in Indian subcontinent in many ways. The flourishing trade and commerce result in the development of the many important trade centers. Harappa was one of such examples. The flourishing trade gave boost to industries, arts and crafts by increasing the demand of their products.

The favorable trade was resulted in the prosperity of the IVC that made the life of the peoples of IVC comfortable. The cosmopolitan outlook of IVC was also and outlook of trade and commerce to a large extent because the elements of foreign culture could enter Harappan life with trade and commercial contact with outside world. It was also resulted in the development of multi-ethnic character of the civilization.