Signs From the Sky

The session builds on Asko Parpola & Iravatham Mahadevan’s extensive works to show that a substantial portion of the IVC seals was a Celestial Omens List with the planet Venus occupying a central role in their astronomy. The study presents the full decipherment of 75 inscriptions and a partial decipherment of 61 inscriptions forming approximately 5% of the total number of inscriptions.

Key findings demonstrate the exceptional astronomical sophistication of the Harappan civilization, including: (1) proof that bilingual parallels can effectively decipher the IVC script; (2) evidence that Harappan astronomical knowledge predated Babylonian astronomy by centuries; (3) the first complete decipherment of the Swastika symbol, revealing its astronomical significance; (4) identification of signs for planetary movements, conjunctions, and their associated omens; (5) discovery of Harappan meteorological methods using Venusian astronomy; and (6) a new understanding of the Great Bath Complex as a venue for astronomical rituals.

This work represents a significant breakthrough in understanding the intellectual and religious life of one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations, revealing their deep engagement with astronomical observation and its application to social and religious practices. Through archaeoastronomical analysis, the paper reconstructs the probable actual dates of celestial events tracked by the Harappans, providing empirical validation for the proposed decipherments.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The discussion will be followed by a Q&A session with the audience.