Interpreting the petroglyphs of prehistoric shamans of India's west coast

Abstract

The author has worked since 1993 on prehistoric rock art of Goa and west coast of India and this paper presents a new hypothesis about the role of the different schools of shamans in the creation of more than 1200 petroglyphs found on the west coast of India, the largest such prehistoric rock art collection on lateritic plateaus in the world. More than 42 villages in Ratnagiri on west coast of India have 58 rock art sites with 700 petroglyphs. These sites are located at Jaigadh, Bhagavatinagar, Uxi, Ramroad, Chave, Devud, Parachuri, Jambhanem, Nivalifata, Nivali, Nivali Gavdewadi, Kapadgao, Umbarve, Kolambe, Gavkhadi, mervi, karbudi, Masebav, Golap, Ganeshgule, Curtade, Chindravali, Vestoshi in Ratnagiri; Khudi, Girye, Hivale and Kudopi in Sindhudurga, Barsu, Devache gothane, Devihasol, Barkale, Angle and Rantale in Rajapur. We can identify minimum two schools of prehistoric shamans, the makers of petroglyphs who are stylistically discernible- the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurga School of Konkan shamans (RSKS) between Vasishthi and Terekhol river basins and Goa School of Konkan Shamans (GSKS) between Mahadayi-Mandovi and Zuari or Kali river basins. RSKS created the mysterious serpentine rectangular complex of interwoven petroglyphs of Devihasol near Rajapur, the 31 petroglyphs of avimorphs, zoomorphs at Goval, the giant Bovid and feline (tiger) petroglyphs of Salegaon, anthropomorph of Devache gothane, petroglyphs of Bhalawali, a giant avimorph of Upale, and more than 50 petroglyphs at Kudopi comprising the anthropomorphs, circles, Icthyomorphs, intricate geometric figures. The GSKS created a gallery of 150 petroglyphs at Panasaimal, Kolamb, Rivona (anthropomorphs, zoomorphs, labyrinth, cupules, geometric figures, avimorphs, mycomorphs) and monolithic bovids and cervids at Cazur. More than 30 petroglyphs in Konkan can be classified as magico-sexual art- related to an unknown fertility cult. Panasaimal rock art gallery in Goa has proto Dravidian symbols like bisected ovals which can be later followed at Harappa and Indus valley on their seals. The paper would present interesting details of rock art of west coast of India with important implications for understanding ancient human migrations, various bygone shamanistic cult and the civilizations in Asia minor.