CARRYING
RELIGIOUS ITEMS ON HEAD
Mostly
people in India think that knowledge flowed from East to West which
is not true. When Aryans migrated towards India from West they brought
their culture and traditions with them.
Carrying
religious items on head as a sign of utmost respect has been a part
of Aryan culture which we can see in Sumerian Aryans and Vedic Aryans.
In
India (Bharat / Aryavrat (land of aryans)) mostly Vedic Aryan culture
is women oriented and starting of any auspicious work is done by
women.
When
Aryans migrated towards India they kept their culture and traditions.
Just as Sumerian Aryans carried foundation of temple on head Vedic
Aryans living in India also kept religious objects such as temple
foundation stone, Tulsi / Holy basil, (Ocimum tenuiflorum), religious
pots, statue of gods, etc. during festivals and ceremony.
Keeping
the topic short and to the point I am putting few images below to
prove my point.
1.
Sumer :
![](8181.jpg)
Certain
types of figurines were commonly placed within foundations of buildings
during the third dynasty of Ur (2100-2000 BCE) of the Neo-Sumerian
Period, to commemorate the building of temples by the ruler. These
three peg-shaped copper alloy figurines represent kings. Each figure
carries a basket on his head and there are lines of cuneiform inscription
on the body. Usually, such figures were buried with foundation stone
tablets describing the building process. These three figurines are
displayed within one case at the British Museum. From left to right
:
No. |
Particulars |
1. |
Foundation
figurine of Ur-Nammu, reigned 2112-2095 BCE. This
came from the Temple of Inanna at Uruk. |
2. |
Foundation
Figurine of Shulgi (son of Ur-Nammu), reigned 2094-2047
BCE. From the Temple of Dimtabba at Ur. |
3. |
Foundation
figurine of Shu-Sin (son of Shulgi), reigned 2037-2029
BCE. From the Temple of Inanna at Girsu. |
|
From
Southern Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq. (The British Museum, London).
![](relief-ur-nanshe-louvre.jpg)
Relief
of Ur-Nanshe. At the top he creates the foundation for a shrine,
at the bottom he presides over the dedication (Louvre)
![](king_ur-nammu.jpg)
Foundation
Figure of King Ur-Namma
Description
:
The first king of the Third Dynasty of Ur, Ur-Namma was responsible
for the restoration of old temples and oversaw the extensive construction
of new temples and stepped temple towers known as ziggurats. The
figure depicts the king with his head and face shaved, his torso
nude, and wearing a long skirt. On his head he carries a basket
containing the mud to make the temple's bricks. The first one was
molded by the king himself, who is represented in the occupation
considered the lowliest in Mesopotamia—"carrying the
basket"—for in the presence of the gods the king was
a humble servant. The skirt is inscribed with his titles and achievements,
Ur-Namma, king of Ur, king of Sumer and Akkad, the one who built
the temple of Enlil. He is shown in an act of deep piety, and the
sculpture gives us a rare glimpse of royal portraiture by first-rate
metropolitan craftsmen of the twenty-first century B.C.
![](Foundation_figurine_of_Warad-Sin_for_Inanna_at_Zabalam.jpg)
King
of Larsa Warad-Sin Foundation Figurine for Inanna, found at Zabalam
![](Rim-Sin_foundation_figurine,_1822-1763_BC_-_Oriental_Institute_Museum,_University_of_Chicago.jpg)
King
of Larsa Rim-Sin 1 Brother of Warad-Sin Foundation Figurine
![](446px-thumbnail.jpg)
Kneeling
Nude Male Holding Vase on Head, Tell Agrab, Shara Temple, Early
Dynastic period, 2900 - 2700 BC, calcite - Oriental Institute Museum,
University of Chicago - DSC07462
![](640px-Assyrian_-_Fragments_of_Bands_from_a_Gate_-_Walters_542335_-_View_A.jpg)
The
Walters Art Museum fragments of the Balawat Gates. (Top) Syrian
porters in long robes and conical hats carry tribute to the Assyrian
camp. (Bottom) Assyrian soldiers carry logs as they march through
a hilly, forested landscape
2.
Vedic Aryan culture in India :
![](FB-Featured-Anu-361.jpg)
Devotees
participate in the procession during Girgaon Varkari Sampraday Dindi
Palkhi Sohla. The Varkaris believe that Lord Vitthal awaits them
at the end of this walk, and see the journey itself as the reward
![](traditonal-way.jpg)
Annual
pilgrimage or Wari to the Vitthal temple in Pandharpur, Pune
![](kalashonhead.jpg)
Ceremony
in Punjab, India
![](gharoli-ceremony_1.jpg)
Gharoli
Ceremony
![](kalashonhead1.jpg)
Ceremony
in Punjab, India
![](jawaragirls.jpg)
Jaya
Parvati Vrat