Editing Hindu mythology (section)

=== Indus Valley Civilisation ===
{{See also|Religion of the Indus Valley civilization}}

According to [[Joseph Campbell]], the [[Indus Valley civilisation|Indus Valley]] (2600–1900 BCE) may have left traces in the beliefs and traditions of Hinduism. Artefacts have revealed motifs that are also employed and revered by Hindus today, such as primary male deities worshipped by a ruling elite, mother goddesses, nature spirits, [[Nāga|snake]] worship, as well as the reverence of other theriomorphic (animal-shaped) beings.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Opler |first1=Morris E. |last2=Campbell |first2=Joseph |date=January 1962 |title=The Masks of God: Primitive Mythology |journal=The Journal of American Folklore |volume=75 |issue=295 |pages=82 |doi=10.2307/537862 |jstor=537862 |issn=0021-8715  }}</ref> These themes would be maintained by the [[Dravidian folk religion]] even after the decline of its parent civilisation around 1800 BCE.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decline of the Indus River Valley Civilization (c. 3300–1300 BCE) |url=https://www.science.smith.edu/climatelit/decline-of-the-indus-river-valley-civilization-c-3300-1300-bce/ |access-date=2022-07-31 |website=Climate in Arts and History |language=en-US |archive-date=31 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731074042/https://www.science.smith.edu/climatelit/decline-of-the-indus-river-valley-civilization-c-3300-1300-bce/ |url-status=live }}</ref>