Seal with Peepal Tree and Heads: The Sacred Tree of 2500 BCE

What is the Seal with Peepal Tree and Heads?
The Seal with Peepal Tree and Heads is a square steatite seal from the Indus Valley Civilization, made around 2500 BCE. It comes from Mohenjo-Daro and features a peepal tree in the centre, with two unicorn heads on either side. The tree’s stems and leaves spread across most of the seal, while strange pictographs fill the bottom part.

The Story Behind It
Imagine an ancient artist in Mohenjo-Daro, carving a seal under the shade of a real peepal tree. In the middle, he etches a tall tree, its heart-shaped leaves stretching out like a hug. On each side, he adds a unicorn head, their long necks and ribbed horns peeking through the branches. The tree feels alive, whispering secrets of the gods—some say Brahma hides in its roots, Vishnu guards its trunk, and Shiva dances in its leaves. Down below, tiny symbols march in a line, a message we can’t read yet. This seal might’ve been a gift to the divine, a sign of protection and life.

A Long History
This seal was found at Mohenjo-Daro during digs in the 1920s, from a time when the Indus Valley buzzed with big cities, around 2500 BCE to 1700 BCE. The peepal tree was special even then, and it’s still loved today in India. The unicorns match other seals, but pairing them with the tree makes this one rare. It’s now kept safe at the National Museum in New Delhi.

Why It Matters
The peepal tree on this seal is a big deal—it’s sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, standing for long life and safety. People think it holds the gods themselves, connecting the ancient Indus folks to beliefs we still have. The unicorns might mean magic or power, guarding the tree. This little seal shows how much nature and spirit meant to them, a link to today’s India.

Where to See It
You can visit the Seal with Peepal Tree and Heads at the National Museum on Janpath Road in New Delhi. It’s open from 10 AM to 6 PM, closed Mondays—check their website for entry fees. Look for other Mohenjo-Daro treasures like pots and seals while you’re there.

Fun Facts

• The peepal tree’s leaves look like hearts—easy to spot on the seal!
• Unicorns pop up a lot in Indus art, but teaming up with a tree is super rare.
• Some say meditating under a peepal tree brings wisdom—maybe it started here.
• The pictographs at the bottom are a code no one’s cracked yet.