Decoding fish and ligatured-fish glyphs of Indus script
Background
Stastistical analyses on ‘fish’ and related glyphs on Indus writing system are presented in
two recent issues of Bulletin of the Indus Research Centre: No. 1 (Sept. 2009), The Indus
script: text and context, a stastical-positional analysis of significant text segments by
Sundar Ganesan et al.; No. 2 (August 2011), The Indus fish swam in the great bath: a new
solution to an old riddle by Iravatham Mahadevan. Both monographs assume that signs
have to be distinguished from pictorial motifs (or field symbols) for determining the
semantics of the messages conveyed by the script. Positional analysis of ‘fish’ glyphs has
also been presented in: The Indus Script: A Positional-statistical Approach By Michael
Korvink, 2007, Gilund Press.
Hypothesis
A hypothesis of this monograph that both signs and pictorial motifs are integral parts of the
messages of Indus script. Both types of glyphs are read rebus to decode the Indus
inscriptions of Indus language compiled by artisans (e.g. lapidaries, smiths) of the
civilization.
Susa of Mesopotamian civilization
received (ca. 3rd millennium BCE) a
pot containing metal artefacts shown
Meluhha
in the figure. The pictures are thanks
Dilmun
to Prof. Maurizio Tosi who made a
presentation on the interaction areas
Magan
of the civilization in an international
conference in Delhi (2010).
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/63999062/sarasvatiinteractionareas
The pot and its contents had perhaps originated from Meluhha since the pot had a ‘fish’
glyph inscribed. I suggest that this Indus script glyph conveyed the message from Indus
artisans to merchant associates of Susa, that the pot had ‘metal’ contents. The glyph is read
rebus in mleccha (cognate, meluhha), the underlying Indus language. ayo ‘fish’; rebus: ayo
‘metal’. With this decoding framework of Indus script cipher, the ligatured-fish glyphs can
also be read in the context of metal artifacts archaeologically attested of the bronze-age
civilization.
Argument
Picture of Susa pot (cf. Maurizio Tosi) is, in my view, a ‘rosetta stone’ of
Indus script. Other ‘rosetta stones’ such as the tin ingots with Indus script
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glyphs are discussed in the book, Indus script cipher (2010) by S. Kalyanaraman
http://tinyurl.com/6f49g49
Any decipherment of Indus script has to consistently explain the writing irrespective of the
objects on which the writing is presented.
Mahadevan has to explain his reading of the ‘meaning’ of the fish and related glyphs in the
context of the inscribed fish glyph on the Susa pot.
Table from: The Indus Script: A Positional-statistical
Approach By Michael Korvink, 2007, Gilund Press.
Mahadevan notes (Para 6.5 opcit.) that ‘a unique feature of
the FISH signs is their tendency to form clusters, often as
pairs, and rarely as triplets also. This pattern has fascinated
and baffled scholars from the days of Hunter posing
problems in interpretation.’ One way to resolve the problem
is to interpret the glyptic elements creating ligatured fish
signs and read the glyptic elements rebus to define the
semantics of the message of an inscription.
Fish + corner, aya koṇḍa, ‘metal turned, i.e. forged).
Fish, aya ‘metal’
Fish + scales, aya ãs (amśu) ‘metallic stalks of stone
ore’. Vikalpa: badhoṛ ‘a species of fish with many bones’ (Santali) Rebus:
baḍhoe ‘a carpenter, worker in wood’; badhoria ‘expert in working in wood’(Santali)
Fish + splinter, aya aduru ‘smelted native metal’
Fish + sloping stroke, aya ḍhāḷ ‘metal ingot’
Fish + arrow or allograph, Fish + circumscribed four short strokes
ayakāṇḍa ‘’large quantity of metal’ or aya kaṇḍa, ‘metal fire-altar’.
Fish is a frequently-used glyph on Indus script and the glyph together with ligatured glyphs
has a consistent positional sequence and contextual occurrence in the inscriptions.
The glyph is frequently paired with ‘circumscribed four short strokes’ or with ‘arrow’ glyph.
ayo, hako 'fish'; ãs = scales of fish (Santali); rebus: aya ‘metal, iron’ (G.); ayah, ayas =
metal (Skt.) Santali lexeme, hako ‘fish’ is concordant with a proto-Indic form which can
be identified as ayo in many glosses, Munda, Sora glosses in particular, of the Indian
linguistic area. beḍa hako (ayo) ‘fish’ (Santali); beḍa ‘either of the sides of a hearth’
(G.) Munda: So. ayo `fish'. Go. ayu `fish'. Go (Z), (Z),,
(A) {N} ``^fish''. Kh. kaDOG `fish'. Sa. Hako `fish'. Mu. hai (H) ~ haku(N) ~
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haikO(M) `fish'. Ho haku `fish'. Bj. hai `fish'. Bh.haku `fish'. KW haiku ~ hakO
|Analyzed hai-kO, ha-kO (RDM). Ku. Kaku`fish'.@(V064,M106) Mu. ha-i, haku
`fish' (HJP). @(V341) ayu>(Z), (Z) (A) {N} ``^fish''. #1370.
\\(L) {N} ``^fish''. #3612. ,,(LMD) {N}
``prawn''. !Serango dialect. #32612. ,,(D) {N} ``prawn''.
#32622. (ZL) {N} ``a kind of ^fish''. *Or.. #32632. (LL) {N} ``a kind of ^fish''. #32642.(DL) {N} ``smoked fish''.
#15163. Vikalpa: Munda: (L) {N} ``^scales of a fish, sharp bark of a
tree''.#10171. So(L) {N} ``^scales of a fish, sharp bark of a tree''. Indian
mackerel Ta. ayirai, acarai, acalai loach, sandy colour, Cobitis thermalis; ayilai a
kind of fish. Ma. ayala a fish, mackerel, scomber; aila, ayila a fish; ayira a kind of
small fish, loach (DEDR 191) aduru native metal (Ka.); ayil iron (Ta.) ayir, ayiram
any ore (Ma.); ajirda karba very hard iron (Tu.)(DEDR 192). Ta. ayil javelin, lance,
surgical knife, lancet.Ma. ayil javelin, lance; ayiri surgical knife, lancet. (DEDR 193).
aduru = gan.iyinda tegadu karagade iruva
aduru = ore taken from the mine and not
subjected to melting in a furnace (Ka.
Siddhānti Subrahmaṇya’ Śastri’s new
interpretation of the AmarakoŚa, Bangalore, Vicaradarpana Press, 1872, p.330);
adar = fine sand (Ta.); ayir – iron dust, any ore (Ma.) Kur. adar the waste of
pounded rice, broken grains, etc. Malt. adru broken grain (DEDR 134). Ma. aśu
thin, slender;ayir, ayiram iron dust.Ta. ayir subtlety, fineness, fine sand, candied
sugar; ? atar fine sand, dust. அன.ப³ ayir, n. 1. Subtlety, fineness; ணசந. (த_ய_.)
2. [M. ayir.] Fine sand; ணநண. (நச. 92.) ayiram, n. Candied sugar; ayil, n.
cf. ayas. 1. Iron; 2. Surgical knife, lancet; Javelin, lance; ayilavaṉ, Skanda, as
bearing a javelin (DEDR 341).Tu. gadarů a lump (DEDR 1196) kadara— m. ‘iron
goad for guiding an elephant’ lex. (CDIAL 2711). অয়সঠন [ aẏaskaṭhina ] a as hard as
iron; extremely hard (Bengali) अयोगूूः A blacksmith; Vāj.3.5. अयस् a. [इ-गतौ-असुन] ्
Going, moving; nimble. n. (-यूः) 1 Iron (एतत चलतत अयस्कान्तसंतनकषं इतत तथात्वम्; नायसोतललख्यते
रत्नम् Śukra 4.169. अतितप्तमयो$ति माददवं िजते कै व कथा शरीररषु R.8.43. -2 Steel. -3 Gold. -4 A
metal in general. ayaskāṇḍa 1 an iron-arrow. -2 excellent iron. -3 a large quantity
of iron. -क_नत_(अयसक_नत_) 1 'beloved of iron', a magnet, load-stone; 2 a precious
stone; ˚मजण_ a loadstone; ayaskāra 1 an iron-smith, blacksmith (Skt.Apte) ayas-
kāntamu. [Skt.] n. The load-stone, a magnet. ayaskāruḍu. n. A black smith, one
who works in iron. ayassu. n. ayō-mayamu. [Skt.] adj. made of iron (Te.) áyas— n.
‘metal, iron’ RV. Pa. ayō nom. sg. n. and m., aya— n. ‘iron’, Pk. aya— n., Si. ya.
AYAŚCŪRṆA—, AYASKĀṆḌA—, *AYASKŪṬA—. Addenda: áyas—: Md. da ‘iron’, dafat
‘piece of iron’. ayaskāṇḍa— m.n. ‘a quantity of iron, excellent iron’ Pāṇ. gaṇ.
viii.3.48 YAS—, KAA ṆḌA—]Si.yakaḍa ‘iron’.*ayaskūṭa— ‘iron hammer’. YAS—,
KUU ṬA—1] Pa. ayōkūṭa—, ayak m.; Si. yakuḷa‘sledge —hammer’, yavuḷa ( Md.
(RTMV1) gōni ʻ sack ʼ ← Ind. (CDIAL 4275) gōṇamu. [Tel. of Tam. కోమణము.]
n. A waist cloth or modesty piece. gōṇi ] gōṇi. [Skt.] n. A sack, sackcloth.
a sackful. [Tel.] gōtamu. [Tel.] n. A sack, a bag. (Telugu)
Rebus: B. kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’; Or. kunda ‘lathe’, k dibā, kud ‘to turn’ (→ Drav. Kur. kud
‘lathe’) (CDIAL 3295)
Rebus: koṭṭil ‘workshop’ (Ma.)(DEDR 2058). koṭe ‘forged metal’ (Santali) koḍ 'artisan's
workshop' (Kuwi) koḍ = place where artisans work (G.) कोंडण kōṇḍaṇa ] f A
fold or pen. (Marathi) koṭṭil cowhouse, shed, workshop, house; Malt. koṭa
hamlet. / Influenced by Skt. goṣṭha-. (DEDR 2059). kūṭam = workshop
(Tamil); சகாட்டம் kōṭṭam,n.
சணாங்கின தடு ிலக் சகாட்டமும் (நணி. 6, 59). 2. Temple; சகானில். சகாமிச்
சசயற் தகாடிசனான் சகாட்டமும் (சிப். 14, 10). koṭe meṛed = forged iron (Mu.)
meḍ ‘iron’ (Ho.) dul meṛed, cast iron (Mu.) koṭe ‘forged metal’ (Santali)
தகாட்டுக்கன்ார் koṭṭu-k-kaṉṉār , n. < தகாட்டு² +. Braziers who work by
beating plates into shape and not by casting; தசம் டிக்குங் கன்ார். (W.)
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dāmṛa, damrā ʻ young bull (A.)(CDIAL 6184). Glyph: *ḍaṅgara1 ʻ cattle ʼ. 2. *daṅgara -
- . [Same as ḍaṅ- gara -- 2 s.v. *ḍagga -- 2 as a pejorative term for cattle] 1. K.
ḍangur m. ʻ bullock ʼ, L. ḍaṅgur, (Ju.) ḍ gar m. ʻ horned cattle ʼ; P. ḍaṅgar m. ʻ cattle
ʼ, Or. ḍaṅgara; Bi. ḍãgar ʻ old worn -- out beast, dead cattle ʼ, dhūr ḍãgar ʻ cattle in
general ʼ; Bhoj. ḍāṅgar ʻ cattle ʼ; H. ḍãgar, ḍãgrā m. ʻ horned cattle ʼ.2. H. dãgar m.
= prec. (CDIAL 5526) Rebus: ḍaṅgar ‘blacksmith’. ḍāṅgar ‘blacksmith’ (H.); ḍhā~gar.,
dhā~gar blacksmith; digger of wells (H.) Nepali. डाङ्रे ḍāṅre , or ḍãgre, adj. Large;
lazy; working with- out thoroughness or seriousness; -- s. A partic. kind of bird, the
mainā; -- a contemptuous term for a blacksmith डाङ्रो ḍāṅro , or ḍãgro, s. A term of
contempt used for a blacksmith (kāmi). v.s.v. ḍāṅre.] ḍān:ro = a term of contempt
for a blacksmith (N.)(CDIAL 5524). ṭhākur = blacksmith (Mth.) (CDIAL 5488). ठाकू र
[ ṭhākūra ] m (ठक्कु र S through H) A tribe or an individual of t. They inhabit woods
and wilds (esp. of N. Konkan). 2 A chief among certain castes of Rájpúts, Bhíls &c.,
a title or compellation of respect. 3 The Supreme God: also an idol or a god. 4 A
family priest among certain tribes of Shúdras. ठाकू रजी [ ṭhākūrajī ] m (ठक्कु र S) A
name for the Deity. Among Byrágís. ठाकू रद्वार [ ṭhākūradvāra] n sometimes ठाकू रदारा m
(ठाकू र The Deity, द्वार A door.) Among Byrágís. A temple or idol-house: also the
adytum or penetralia.ठकू रदारा मांडून बसणें To make an outlay or great display (of
sanctity or piety). ṭhakkaru, ṭhakkaruḍu = a deity; an idol; an honorific title same
as ṭhākūru = a father; a religious preceptor (Te.lex.) ṭhākur blacksmith
(Mth.)(CDIAL 5488).
damya ʻ tameable ʼ, m. ʻ young bullock to be tamed ʼ Mn. ~ *dāmiya -- . --
√dam] Pa. damma -- ʻ to be tamed (esp. of a young bullock) ʼ; Pk. damma -
- ʻ to be tamed ʼ; S. ḍamu ʻ tamed ʼ; -- ext. -- ḍa -- : A. damrā ʻ young bull ʼ,
dāmuri ʻ calf ʼ; B. dāmṛā ʻ castrated bullock ʼ; Or. dāmaṛī ʻ heifer ʼ, dāmaṛiā ʻ
bullcalf, young castrated bullock ʼ, dāmuṛ, ṛi ʻ young bullock ʼ. Addenda:
damya -- : WPah.kṭg. dām m. ʻyoung ungelt oxʼ.(CDIAL 6184).
kolmo ‘three’ (Mu.); rebus: kolami ‘smithy’ (Te.) hence, ayo kolmo ‘iron smithy’.
bhaṭa ‘six’ (G.); rebus: bhaṭa ‘furnace’ (Santali)
Four + three strokes are read (since the strokes are shown on two lines one
below the other) : gaṇḍa ‘four’ (Santali); rebus: ‘furnace, kaṇḍ fire-altar’; kolmo
‘three’ (Mu.) dula ‘pair’ (Kashmiri); rebus: dul ‘cast metal’ (Mu.)
S. Kalyanaraman
November 6, 2011 kalyan97@gmail.com
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