The initial findings were shared on Quora as an answer to this question.
The Indus script has been deciphered.
The Indus script has been deciphered.
The Dholavira sign board reads:
MI N NA GA RA NA HA PA NA
The Indus seals have names of kings written on them with the animal symbol standing for the royal dynasty. The unicorn symbol is used by the Ikshvaku dynasty. There is a seal of king Dasaratha. It reads thus:
Line 2: DA SA RA THA
Line 3: A YO DHYA
The same script is used on Indo-Greek coins also. The name MILINDA and MILINDU are seen written on the neck on the portrait of Menander I on his coins.Similarly, LIKITA (ANTIALKIDOS), AGATHA(AGATHOKLEIA), MITRE (DEMTRIUS I) JHOILE (ZOILUS) etc can been seen on these coins.
The script is read from left to right. The unicorn animal used by the Ikshvaku (as well as the bull and the boar and other animals used by other dynasties) stands for the Orion constellation and is seen facing left on the eastern horizon from the northern hemisphere. Boustrophedon reading would then mean left to right.
The script has very naturally transformed to the Brahmi script. (The Kharoshthi script with its right to left flow must have been of great use to the seal makers). Though vowels are used, the system of diacritical marks is essentially the same.
Some of the interesting readings are:
Ikshvaku: (Unicorn Seal)
RA MA SA TRU GH NA
RA GHU DE SA RA THI JA DE VA KO NA
A YO DHYA is seen written on the neck of the animal.
KURU (Elephant Seal)
DI VO DA SA S(Y)A
PI JA VA NA is seen written on the neck of the animal.
Pasupati Seal
MA KA NA SA NA (Horned deity facing front, seated cross legged on stool, with 4-5 animals around)
KHA RA SA DU NA (Same deity as above without the animals)
AA MA GHAR SA NA (Horned deity kneeling before figure)
The baby names index used in Vedanga Jyotisha is the key to the script. The basic scheme of the script is the following. Each symbol represents a nakshatra (an asterism on the ecliptic). It may have originally started with 24 symbols. The base symbol probably stood for the consonant plus A (for e.g KA) sound. If we consider this as the way the asterism was seen on the eastern horizon at daybreak on vernal equinox day, the consonant plus I vowel (KI) would be the way it would look at around noon (so rotated 90 degree clock-wise). Similarly for consonant plus U (KU) and consonant plus E (KE). An almost full circle turn would have achieved a consonant plus O (KO) and shown off their knowledge of the siderial system.
Writing and symbols based on the 24 division system must have been widely in use when the system was changed to the 27 divisions. This is evident from the elaborate orthogonal mechanism employed in the extension. The ecliptic was originally divided into 15 degree arcs each. Later this was changed to 27 divisions of 13 degree 20' arcs. The change from Krittika to Ashwini as the starting asterism also likely happened around this time. The Phalguni, Ashadha and Bhadrapada names were split. New syllables were inserted at Ardra, Hasta and Uttara Bhadrapada.
The seals seem now to be royal seals. Could it have been that these were worn as rings by the royals (recollect the story of Shakuntala from Mahabharata. The King recognizes the heroine with the help of the ring that he gave to her earlier). If so , these were used to be impressed on things of the nature of documents. But what kind of documents could these be? Just clay tablets?
The reading of DEVANEMISA is of great significance. The SA at the end indicates that the phrase is in the genitive case (of Devanemi). This is the same as on the indo-greek and later coins. Also consider that Ashoka used the name DEVANAMPIYA as his official name. In the case of Dasaratha, it is attested that his name was Nemi. The name Dasaratha is written on a separate line probably because he was popularly known by that name.
Similarly, the name PIJAVANA is written on the neck of the elephant on a couple of seals with the name DI VO DA SA S(Y)A. Divodasa was a king mentioned in the Rigveda, whose other name, it is is said, is Pijavana.
The importance of the reading of AYODHYA is also important. The unicorn seals likely belong to Harappa. The description of the city of Ayodhya would fit very well with one of the Indus sites. Harappa makes abundant sense. Magadha does not seem far away. In all probability we will soon have to relocate Ashoka also.
Now, the great bath of Mohen-Jodaro makes sense. Indraprastha? The great granary hall makes sense. Pali descriptions of Janapadas makes sense. The bathing ritual of the Rajas of the Janapadas makes sense. We even have a clue of the nature of public opinion that Rama had to submit to.
I am very sure that the dancing girl of Mohen-Jodaro makes ample sense now.
N. B.
I presume that the script was used for a dravidian language as well, since the syllable KA is used instead of ga in writing minnagara, as in MI NNA KA RA. This strongly indicated a Dravidian language.
I will try to collate my thoughts at devanemi.com as well as at minnagara.com.
Please let me know if you would like to help.
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