Shiva’s origins are complex and debated. Some scholars contend that a seal from the Indus valley civilization—often called the Pashupati seal—depicts a seated ascetic deity surrounded by animals, but this identification is disputed, because, as other scholars argue, the evidence is fragmentary and visual similarities are insufficient to make the connection. In the Hindu textual tradition, Shiva partially emerges from the Vedic deity Rudra, a marginal fearsome figure who appears in early Vedic texts and later develops greater prominence in the Brahmanas and the theistic Upanishads. By the time of the epics and Puranas, Shiva’s complex benign, yogic character is further elaborated, forming the basis for later worship.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style