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Re: Origins of life...
Prasad Gokhale <f0g1@unb.ca> wrote:
>
>On 24 Mar 1996, arjun karavadi wrote:
>
>> I am looking for some info. regarding theories in Hinduism on the
>> origins of life. As far as I know Hinduism has some good philosophical
>> and intellectual discussions in this matter (rather than the simplistic
>> 'God created everything' theory). Any help in this regard will be
>
>Subject: 'Creation Hymn' of Rg Veda
>
>One of the most beautiful and profound examples of Indian literature is
>the famous 'Hymn of Creation' of the Rg Veda, written by an unknown poet
>perhaps about 1000 BC. The two versions given below are from A.L. Basham's
>"The Wonder that was India" and S. Radhakrishnan's "Indian Philosophy" but
>there are other published translations.
>
>I would very much like to receive copies of other versions of this
>poem or references to where they may be found.
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Hymn of Creation (Nasadiya hymn) from Rg Veda
>
Dear Prasadji: as you say "Nasadiya sukta" is certainly one of the most
profound suktas in RgVeda. Every sukta has a rishi, a devata and chandas
and these are chanted along witjh the sukta. So please do not repeat what
the western scholars say,"unknown poet" Unknown to whom? Parameshthi
prajapati is the rishi for this sukta. Again, how can they fix the time
as 1000BC? This is based on the arbitrary date fixed by Max Mueller.
Moreover, RgVeda has 1028 suktas, but they are not arranged
in any chronological order to say that the suktas from the 10 th mandala
are later than those of the first mandala. I do have another version and
I will post it in a few days. With best regards,_Narahari Achar
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