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Re: Evolution? Evolution?
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To: alt-hindu@cs.washington.edu
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Subject: Re: Evolution? Evolution?
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From: Anshuman Pandey <apandey@u.washington.edu>
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Date: Tue, 18 Apr 1995 11:50:42 -0700
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From root@nntp4.u.washington.edu Tue Apr 18 14: 39:57 1995
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In-Reply-To: <3mv0s0$kjg@ucunix.san.uc.edu>
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Newsgroups: alt.hindu
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Organization: University of Washington
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References: <3mv0s0$kjg@ucunix.san.uc.edu>
As Raghu Seshadri <seshadri@hpindyo.cup.hp.com> mentioned in his post
regarding Hindu views towards evolution, that the ten avatars of Visnu
could be interpreted as evolutionary steps, here is something that was
sent to me:
The explanation of creation in the Puranas (stories used to propogate
knowledge) is truly astonishing. The story of Dash-Avatar's (Ten Incarnations)
and it's subtle symbolic meanings are a tribute to the wisdom prvailing
in Vedic times.
The Ten Forms was supposed to be a logical explanation to the mystery of
creation and one realises the scientific understanding present in Vedic times.
1> Matsya Avatar (fish): The first avatar is that of a fish which science
also agrees was the first advanced lifeform to
in habit the earth during the later part of the
Ice Age.
2> Kurma Avatar (Tortoise): The tortoise survives on land as well as water
The amphibians, science agrees came next. This is
spoken of in the puranas as the second avatar.
3> Varaha Avatar (Wild Boar): A land animal requiring essentially wild and
requiring dense vegetation for survival.
4> Vamana Avatar (Short man/Monkey) : The monkey was an advance on the the
Varaha due to its intelligence and the ability to
perform simple tasks. The puranas called it the
fourth Avatar.
5> Narasimha Avatar (Half Man,Half Animal) : The early man (Homo Erectus)
able to hunt, carve and shape weapons and live
in caves. Narasimha is depicted with the face of
a lion symbolising his need to live in caves and
primitive dwellings.
6> Parashrama Avatar (The warrior) : Parashurama is the epitomy of early
lawless society without order where the strong
subjugated the weak. and Parashurama is depicted
in the the Puranic story as one who fights for
order in the society and the upholding of moral law.
7> Rama Avatar (The Conlicts of Law) : In Rama Avatar, established law is
seen for the first time, enforced by Kings and
not strong enough to protect the righteous. However
in this story Rama when crowned King shows that law
is uniform for all including himself. This shows
a clear order taking root in society during that
age.
8> Krishna Avatar (Safeguarding The Law/Dharma) : Krishna Avatar is the
beautiful example of the cost at which law should
be upheld and a sense of duty preceding all the
rights available to man. It also through the life
of a simple shephard opens a persons eyes to the
dangers that can befall a fully developed society
and a need for catharsis/revolution/struggle to
weed out ills of society.
9> Buddha Avatar (The Quest for Truth) : Though Buddhism is an independent
religion, Buddha finds a mention in the Puranas as
the time of a Sage where times were conducive to
encourage the spirit of inquiry and finding out
the truth for oneself without getting stuck to dogmas
and beliefs passed down by earlier generations.
10> Kalki Avatar ( The Age of the Unknown) : Kali is depicted by the Puranas
as a proud warrior on a white horse with a scale on
one hand and a spear with a shield on another riding
away into the future confident of the times ahead
based on the avataras of the past.
Every Avatar has a story to support it and the stories have a lot of
subtle meanings hidden all over in the Puranas. I have only pointed to the
gist of it all. For ages we have only been scratching the surface and looking
only at superficial aspects of Hinduism.
We are the sons of a great and majestic land which has understood and accepted
every belief and faith in its bosom. Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians,
Jains, Parsis & Sikhs have all flourished here. I hope we see India through the eyes
of Vivekananda who realised the greatness and glory of our land....
