Image title: Burial jar (4000 years old)

A 4000 years old burial jar with paintings
[Life after Death]

According to Hindu beliefs, alter Geau, man, in the form of Sukshma Sharira or Alma, i.e., spirit-body, goes to stay in Svarga or the World of Fathers (pitri-loka) which is in the skies. Mid-way he has to cross a terrible river called Vaitarni. This he crosses and proceeds ahead with the help of cattle, like a cow, bull and goat, which are sacrificed or given in gift to a priest. He then reaches the gates of the court of Yama, the Lord of Death, where the guards, two ferocious dogs, attack the party. After the final judgement at the Court and undergoing the sentences, if any, the spirit-body reaches the 'Abode of the Bliss' which is a radiating solar world with beautiful stars, birds, fish and flowers, for final rest.

The burial jar exhibited here, some 4000 years old, from "Cemetery 'H' ", at Harappa, on the banks of the Ravi, is unique in the ancient world for having an elaborate painting depicting a scene which recalls the Hindu beliefs as embodied in the Vedic and Epic literature and narrated above. Bright red pot's of Cemetry. 'H' belongs to late Harappan or Vedic period.

Transcription (not proofread):

4000 वर्ष प्राचीन शव-भाण्ड पर चित्र मृत्यु के बाद जीवन—हिंदू विश्वासों के अनुसार मृत्यु के पश्चात् मनुष्य, सूक्ष्म-शरीर अथवा आत्मा के रूप में स्वर्ग अथवा पितृ-लोक में बसने के लिए जाता है। राह में उसे वैतरणी नामक एक भयानक नदी पार करनी पड़ती है। इसे वह उन जानवरों की सहायता से पार करता है और आगे बढ़ता है जिनकी बलि दी गई हो या जिन्हें पुरोहित को दक्षिणा रूप में दिया गया हो। तब वह मृत्यु के अधिपति यम के न्यायालय के द्वार पर पहुंचता है जहाँ दो डरावने कुत्ते उस पर झपटते हैं। न्यायालय के अंतिम निर्णय के बाद, तथा यदि कोई दण्ड दिया गया हो तो उसे भुगतने के पश्वात्, आत्मा रूप में वह अंतिम आवास के लिए चिर-आनन्द के स्थान स्वर्ग में चला जाता है।

प्रायः 4000 वर्ष पुराना यह चटक लाल रंग का शव भाण्ड जो रावी नदी के तट पर बसे हड़प्पा के समाधिस्थल "एच" से प्राप्त है, प्राचीन संसार का एक ऐसा अनोखा पात्र है जिस पर अंकित कथा-चित्र वैदिक और पौराणिक साहित्य में वर्णित उपर्युक्त हिंदु विश्वासों की पुष्टि करता है। यह समाधिस्थल "एच" के मृदभाण्ड उत्तर हड़प्पा काल या पूर्व वैदिक कालीन है।

Transliteration:

4000 varṣa prācīna śava-bhāṇḍa para citra mṛtyu ke bāda jīvana—hiṃdū viśvāsoṃ ke anusāra mṛtyu ke paścāt manuṣya, sūkṣma-śarīra athavā ātmā ke rūpa meṃ svarga athavā pitṛ-loka meṃ basane ke lie jātā hai| rāha meṃ use vaitaraṇī nāmaka eka bhayānaka nadī pāra karanī paratī hai| ise vaha una jānavaroṃ kī sahāyatā se pāra karatā hai aura āge baḍha़tā hai jinakī bali dī gaī ho yā jinheṃ purohita ko dakṣiṇā rūpa meṃ diyā gayā ho| taba vaha mṛtyu ke adhipati yama ke nyāyālaya ke dvāra para pahuṃcatā hai jahāṃ do ḍarāvane kutte usa para jhapaṭate haiṃ| nyāyālaya ke aṃtima nirṇaya ke bāda, tathā yadi koī daṇḍa diyā gayā ho to use bhugatane ke paśvāt, ātmā rūpa meṃ vaha aṃtima āvāsa ke lie cira-ānanda ke sthāna svarga meṃ calā jātā hai|

prāyaḥ 4000 varṣa purānā yaha caṭaka lāla raṃga kā śava bhāṇḍa jo rāvī nadī ke taṭa para base harappā ke samādhisthala "eca" se prāpta hai, prācīna saṃsāra kā eka aisā anokhā pātra hai jisa para aṃkita kathā-citra vaidika aura paurāṇika sāhitya meṃ varṇita uparyukta hiṃdu viśvāsoṃ kī puṣṭi karatā hai| yaha samādhisthala "eca" ke mṛdabhāṇḍa uttara harappā kāla yā pūrva vaidika kālīna hai|

Transliteration:

4000 varsha pracina shava-bhanda para citra mrityu ke bada jivana—himdu vishvasom ke anusara mrityu ke pashcat manushya, sukshma-sharira athava atma ke rupa mem svarga athava pitri-loka mem basane ke lie jata hai| raha mem use vaitarani namaka eka bhayanaka nadi para karani parati hai| ise vaha una janavarom ki sahayata se para karata hai aura age badha़ta hai jinaki bali di gai ho ya jinhem purohita ko dakshina rupa mem diya gaya ho| taba vaha mrityu ke adhipati yama ke nyayalaya ke dvara para pahumcata hai jaham do daravane kutte usa para jhapatate haim| nyayalaya ke amtima nirnaya ke bada, tatha yadi koi danda diya gaya ho to use bhugatane ke pashvat, atma rupa mem vaha amtima avasa ke lie cira-ananda ke sthana svarga mem cala jata hai|

prayah 4000 varsha purana yaha cataka lala ramga ka shava bhanda jo ravi nadi ke tata para base harappa ke samadhisthala "eca" se prapta hai, pracina samsara ka eka aisa anokha patra hai jisa para amkita katha-citra vaidika aura pauranika sahitya mem varnita uparyukta himdu vishvasom ki pushti karata hai| yaha samadhisthala "eca" ke mridabhanda uttara harappa kala ya purva vaidika kalina hai|

Gallery information:

These photographs are from the section “Harappan Civilization” within the National Museum of New Delhi (India).—The Harappan Civilization, dating back over 5000 years, flourished in the river valleys of the Indus and the Saraswati. This civilization, contemporary to Egypt and Mesopotamia, is renowned for its unique urban organization, covering a vast area across modern-day India and Pakistan. The Harappans developed advanced town planning, including fortified cities with dual sectors housing both common people and the elite.