One of the things in the about-4,000-year-old Harappan seals is the value placed on trees. There is the peepal tree and the babool (acacia) tree that have been identified. The peepal tree is identified by its characteristic wide tapering leaves. The babool tree is identified by its peculiar branch patterns and its thorns. It is clear that these two plants were important to the Harappan civilisation. There are images of these trees located within an enclosure and worshipped. There are images of goddesses emerging from these trees. There are images of men with plumes or twigs in their head. Some are wearing bison horns, venerating the tree goddess. They are making offerings to her. The offerings sometimes appear as sacrifices to her (either animal or human, we cannot be sure). But, what is clear is that trees were revered in the Harappan civilisation.

One seal shows the reason why this may be important. There is an image of a tiger looking back at a man who is seated on top of a tree. So, by hiding on top of the tree, the man saves himself from the tiger. This could be the reason why the tree, or the sacred orchard of thorny trees, then become the refuge of man from the wild tiger. Therefore, it is associated with the mother goddess.