If creationism is associated with Hindu Mythology, it can only be associated with Culture but not Nature. Nature evolved over millions of years, Culture was created to separate Laws of the Jungle from Societal Laws where everyone is given equal opportunity to survive unlike Jungle where survival for the fittest is the norm.
In this version of my 3-part Series on Evolution from Eastern Mythology, we shall learn about evolution of life on earth and establishment of the culture/ Dharma. Below are the links for part 1 and part 2
Part 1 – The Sound of the Universe
Part 2 – The Body of the Universe
Part 3 – Matsya Nyaya – Evolution of Life on Earth
The Vedic literature was passed on from generations over generations in the form of Stories or Analogies, one such beautiful analogy can be found in the stories around 10 avatars to Vishnu representing each stage of Life Evolving on Earth. While the first 6 avatars depicted the life in Jungle, where ferocious Jungle Laws were followed, the next 3 Avatars represented establishment of Society where every living being has equal opportunity to survive. It should be noted that each Avatar represents the end of that particular Era, or its highly evolved stage.
The evolution of life can be broadly classified in 3 phases.
Phase 1: Life moves from Water to Land
The Earth was first created as a ball of fire and after its cool down phase the entire Earth was immersed in Water. Life first started proliferating in the water (Algae, and Fishes in highly evolved stage), later evolution took shape of Turtles that could survive both in Water and Land and finally in form of Wild Animals that existed on Earth. The first 3 Avatars of Vishnu beautifully explains this:
Scientific corroboration: Recently modern science has also evidenced that Life actually pro-generated from water. Check this post “The Biggest Misunderstandings About Evolution” by @herpetologyguy where this guy brings out some nice scientific evidences of evolution of life from water.
Phase 2: A fully grown Human is evolved
Narsimha Avatar (Loin Headed Human), the fourth Avatar of Vishnu, is depicted as Half Human and Half Animal (Lion) and is a Carnivores Bipedal primate - this can be related to extint early humans also the missing link between Apes and the Humans
Later in the series of Evolution a Vamana Avatar (Dwarf Man) is evolved, known as Humans who is less physically developed but also shown as mentally wise - often related as first man originated during Pliocene or Neanderthals who were supposed to be shorter than modern humans
The last Avatar in this phase is Parashurama, a man with an Iron Axe, a fully developed male who started using tools but still wild and undomesticated. It must be noted that Parashurama always carried Iron Axe thus depicting Iron Age when humans were probably using intelligence to make tools.
Scientific corroboration: Again, thanks to @nulliusinverba for his post “The Proof of evolution in our bodies” which links evolution in Early humans to modern humans through Anatomy.
Phase 3: The Society is separated from Jungle
Until 6th Avatar the Evolution is governed by Matsya Nyaya which literally translates as Fish (Matsya) Laws (Nyaya) and depicted as Big Fish eating the Small Fish essentially meaning Survival for the Fittest.
In Jungle there are no Laws, the mighty will survive and the weak shall perish. As humans started domesticating certain rules were established such that everyone should be given equal chance to survive. That’s when Matsya Nyaya gave way to Dharma.
That’s is what is represented by King Rama, the 7th Avatar of Vishnu, the Lord of Principles. He maintains that to lead a civilized life certain rules must always be upheld. He is shown with a Bow and a Arrow as a tool to defend his kingdom (the civilized society) from Jungle (the Wild Forest). Later in the development of civilized world Krishna, the 8th Avatar, taught us that laws are not absolute, certain laws can be twisted to maintain the larger good.
Vishnu’s 10th Avatar - Kalki
It is believed that the first 9 avatars of Vishnu have already been manifested on this planet Earth and the 10th Avatar that marks the end of this Cycle of Universe is yet to be manifested. Who that 10th Avatar could be is an open-ended question, but this avatar will be manifested at the peak of this phase of human evolution and will result in end of this cycle of the universe.
The Vishnu Avatars in four Yugas
In terms timeline, The evolution of life on this planet can be divided into 4 Eras or Yugas. We are currently in the 4th Phase called Kali Yuga that was started almost 3000-5000 Years ago when Krishna the 8th Avatar Manifested on this planet. Each Yuga was shorter than the preceding Yuga and the end of Kali Yuga shall result in end of this universe to give way to formation of new world.
Conclusion
The World was certainly not created in 7 days almost 10,000 years ago. The Creationism has no space in Hindu Mythology, as commonly misunderstood The Holy Trinity is not associated with Creation, Preservation and Destruction of this Universe, but rather the Culture.
I thank Charles Darwin for igniting the discussion around Evolution, but it would be wrong to say the theory of Natural Selection or "Survival for the Fittest" is originated by him. Its just that he got lucky that he started this discussion when The Crown was ruling the entire world and his British nativity helped his voice to be heard.
Thank you for reading,
The Unreal Mystic
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