An image of a man wearing a patterned cloak has beensupposed to be a “priest-king.” •A particularly intriguing seated figure surrounded by animals on a seal has been hypothesized to be an early reference to Shiva.•Shiva is commonly known in Hinduism as Paśupati, the Lord (pati) of Animals (paśu). It has been suggested that this figure’s cross-legged pose is a yogic posture. •Shiva commonly practices like a yogi, hence the connection of this posture to him