Observations placeholder
Indus valley - Dholavira - 06 The ‘Smithy’
Identifier
022631
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
There are a good number of phallic statues and statues in Dholavira, somewhat reinforcing the view that the site was principally one for obtaining spiritual experience via sexual methods.
One inscription that was intriguing [but not from Wikipedia] was about the two phallic pillars “The two pillars are associated with the furnace which is celebrated as kole.l 'smithy, forge' rebus kole.l 'temple'”. Cole – as in Old King Cole, and the Smith are symbols.
They are associated with anvils and hammers and indeed a number of instruments of the smith have been found, reinforcing the basic symbolism.
The Smith is a creative figure forging the creation with fire. William Blake acknowledges the importance of the Smith, his creation is that of the engineer, the one who forges matter and not spirit.
Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp,
Dare its deadly terrors clasp!
When the stars threw down their spears
And water’d heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
And since sex is a creative act the Smith was an expert in the sexual methods of achieving spiritual experience – incessantly hammering on the feminine anvil drawing that vital spark. In a matriarchal society women use sexual methods too and do not serve the man, the man serves them.
A description of the experience
Wikipedia
A soft sandstone sculpture of a male with phallus erectus but head and feet below ankle truncated was found in the passageway of the eastern gate. Many ‘funerary structures’ have been found (although all but one were devoid of skeletons), as well as pottery pieces, terra cotta seals, bangles, rings, beads, and intaglio engravings.
A giant bronze hammer, a big chisel, a bronze hand-held mirror, a gold wire, gold ear stud, gold globules with holes, copper celts and bangles, shell bangles, phallus-like symbols of stone, square seals with indus inscription and signs, a circular seal, carleian humped animals, pottery with painted motifs, goblets, dish-on-stand, perforated jars, Terracotta tumblers in good shape, architectural members made of ballast stones, grinding stones [sic], mortars, etc., were also found at this site.
The source of the experience
ShaivismConcepts, symbols and science items
Concepts
Symbols
AnvilBlacksmith
Bracelets and armlets
Bull and cow
Chalice or cup
Cole
Dish and platter
Ear piercing
Gold
Hammer
Mirror
Smith
Smith, the
Tiger
Twin pillars
Science Items
Activities and commonsteps
Activities
Commonsteps
References
