What purpose do seals serve in the reconstruction of Harappan religious beliefs and practices?

All of the above

Seals have been examined to reconstruct religious beliefs and practices, with some depicting scenes of rituals while others bear plant motifs associated with nature worship. Some seals portray mythical and composite creatures, including the one-horned animal often referred to as the "unicorn." Figures shown seated cross-legged in a "yogic" posture, sometimes surrounded by animals, have been interpreted as early depictions of "proto-Shiva," an early form of one of Hinduism's major deities. Additionally, conical stone objects have been classified as lingas.

Reconstructions of Harappan religion often rely on drawing parallels from later traditions to understand earlier ones. Archaeologists typically move from the known (present) to the unknown (past) in their interpretations. While this approach holds merit for objects like stone querns and pots, it becomes more speculative when applied to "religious" symbols.