This document discusses primitive religion based on archaeological evidence from various prehistoric periods in India. It notes that primitive religions were characterized by nature worship without distinguishing between the natural and supernatural. Beliefs included personifying natural forces and anthropomorphic beings. Religions focused on pragmatic concerns of this life rather than doctrinal teachings. Evidence discussed includes figurines, rock art, burials, pottery, and other archaeological remains from the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods that provide insights into religious practices and beliefs of early humans in India.

1. BA III sem
Unit : Primitive Religion
By: Prachi Virag Sontakke

2. Sources
• Archaeological remains.
• Figurines
• Rock art
• Burials
• Pottery
• Etc

3. Features
• Governed by nature worship.
• No difference between natural and supernatural.
• Personification of natural forces: animistic
• Belief in anthropomorphic beings
• Pragmatic & Utilitarian in concept: Neither didactic nor
moralistic.
• Element of fear.
• Magic, talisman and charms.
• ‘This worldly’ in orientation: specific details about after life
beliefs difficult to infer.
• Difficult to separate religion from society.
• Nature of religion conditioned by need of culture.

4. Antiquity
• Palaeolithic period: Lower, Middle, Upper.
• Mesolithic period.
• Neolithic period.
• Chalcolithic period.

5. Palaeolithic period
• Not much information from Lower
Palaeolithic period.
• Middle Palaeolithic period:
• Upper Palaeolithic Peiod:
Mother goddesses, hunt magic,
amulets, rock art, burials.

6. Socio-religious rituals??

7. Hunt magic??

8. Mother Goddess figurines

9. Mother Goddess worship

10. Burials

11. Amulets & Magic

12. Indian scenario
Baghor Upper Palaeolithic shrine Belan valley mother goddess?

14. Mesolithic period: Indian evidence
• Lekhahiya: Special burial goods-buffalo ribs, deer
horns & mollusk shell.
• Sarai Nahar Rai: Particular type of shell in burials.
• Damdama: Ivory pendent
• Mahadaha: Bone ring necklace.
• Chopani Mando & Mahadaha: Bone drinking
vessel.

18. Human burials & hearths of different phases at Mahadaha

19. Rock art & Petroglyphs

21. Neolithic -Chalcolithic
• Burials & burial goods: Mehargarh
• Figurines: Mother Goddess near
pillars in Nagda.
• Painted designs:makar depiction on
storage jars from Malwa

22. Mehargarh Fertility/Mother Goddess?