Question

Who was mother goddess with reference to harappan civilization?

Answer 1

The Tughlaqabad Fort was built by the founder of the Tughlaq Dynasty, Ghiyas-ud-din-Tughlaq in 1321. Established as the fifth historic city, the fort was later abandoned in 1327. The fort is a gigantic stone structure, with walls that are 10-15 metres high. Crowning the walls are battlement parapets and bastions. The fort-city of Tughlaqabad was supposed to have as many as 52 gates, out of which only 13 remain now. 

The Tughlaqabad Fort has an interesting legend behind it. It is believed that Tughlaq wanted every laborer in the area to build the city-fort. This led to the fury of one of the labourers, Nizamuddin Auliya who cursed the fort saying “Ya rahey hissar, ya bassey gujjar”, which means, may the fort remain unoccupied, or else may herdsmen live here. Following this curse it is believed that the Empire could not prosper and the fort-city was soon abandoned.

Answer 2

DESCRIPTION: It is one of the best preserved, large sized terracotta images representing the Mother Goddess. The significance of the broad, pan like attachments on both sides of the hairdo of the head of the goddess is quite unique. The pinched nose and ornamentation are flatly laid on the body and pressed on to the figure. The general folk ar effect in the figure is most interesting. She is wearing just a loin cloth with a girdle, small breasts uncovered; Eyes are small balls (pellet) of clay. The sculptor at Mohenjo-daro was skilled in his art and could create both realistically and stylistically.

This sculpture of Mother Goddess and various other mother goddesses were worshipped as the bestowers/givers of fertility and prosperity. India is traditionally a country where more than 80 per cent of its inhabitants are agriculturists who naturally worship gods and goddesses of fertility and prosperity. She is perhaps the prototype of a crude idol of one such goddess.