Dasavatara and Darwin: A Comparative Look at Evolutionary Narratives
India’s Ancient Secret: Did Mythology Predict Evolution?
People and researchers hold a variety of viewpoints about the origin and evolution of life on Earth. Here, we’ll explore a fascinating perspective from Hindu mythology.
You’re likely familiar with Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection, published in the 19th century. However, the concept of evolving life forms also finds expression in ancient Hindu scriptures.
This article examines the potential scientific connections between the Dashavatara, the ten avatars of Vishnu, and the concept of life’s evolution on Earth. While the Vedas and ancient scriptures are a rich source of knowledge and facts, examining these alongside real-life experiences can reveal fascinating connections.
Today, we’ll explore the Dashavatara, the ten avatars of Vishnu in Hindu mythology, and their possible connection to the concept of evolution.
The theory of evolution proposes that all living things on Earth share a common ancestor and have gradually changed over time through a process called natural selection. This process suggests that organisms with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on those traits to future generations. If we will relate these scientific expansion and look at the stories of ten incarnations of god, you will be amazed to see the correlation.
Here are the stories and explanations of Dashavatara (incarnation of Vishnu) and evolution of human life/mankind. We will also get to know the stories alongside the technical facts and correlation.
Dashavatara (incarnation of Vishnu) and evolution of human life/mankind
Vishnu- a major deity of Hindu religion. Patrons in the Hindu Triad (Trimurti) who took birth over time in different ways on earth.
First Avatar – Matsya Avatar (Fish) – Aquatic Mammals
While offering water to God, King Manu found a small fish in his palm which he kept. The fish continued to grow, eventually releasing it into the ocean which made them realize that it was Vishnu who informed Manu about the coming destruction of the world and instructed Manu to gather all the creatures and save them on a boat built by the gods. Instructed to keep. When Pralaya (Doomsday) arrives, Vishnu appears in the form of a large fish with a horn, to which Manu ties a boat, which leads them to safety.
The first incarnation of Vishnu on earth was in the form of a fish at the beginning of Satyayuga which describes the initial state of the earth where the earth was filled with water.
Darwin says that the first class of vertebrates evolved in water in the Silurian period in the form of fishes. In which era did aquatic mammals originate? In that era, only water-dwelling creatures existed.
Second Avatar – Kurma Avatar (Giant Tortoise) – Amphibious
When the gods and demons were churning the ocean of milk to get the nectar of immortality, the Mandar mountain they were using for churning started sinking and Vishnu took the form of a tortoise to bear the weight of the mountain. ,
The second incarnation of Vishnu was an amphibian. Darwin hypothesized that amphibians were the next type of animal to evolve. As species began to move out and explore land, they developed physical characteristics to survive both in and out of water. Its examples are tortoise, lizard etc.
Third Avatar – Varaha (Boar) – Mammal
He appeared to defeat the demon Hiranyaksha, who had taken over Prithvi or Prithvi and lowered him to the bottom of the cosmic ocean. It is believed that the war between Varaha and Hiranyaksha lasted for a thousand years, which was ultimately won by the former. Varaha lifted the earth out of the ocean between his teeth and restored it to its place in the universe.
The third incarnation was Varaha, a boar and a mammal. The next logical step in evolution should be the ability to travel on land. To accomplish this, the species began to evolve legs. Darwin then brought to light explanations about the evolution of legs to cover long distances.
Fourth Avatar – Narasimha Avatar (Half Man/Half Lion) – Anthropomorphic
In Hiranyakashipu’s demonic birth due to a curse, Hiranyakashipu persecuted everyone for their religious beliefs, including his son, who was a Vishnu follower. He was protected by Brahma, and could not be killed by any means. Vishnu incarnated as an anthropomorphic incarnation, with the body of a man and the head and paws of a lion. He beheaded Hiranyakashipu and ended the oppression of humans including his devotee Prahlad.
In the fourth incarnation of Vishnu, the upper body is of a lion but the lower body is of a human indicating the transformation from animal to human form. This is directly related to the idea of pre-humans without a fully developed brain.
Evolutionary theory suggests a change from animal to monkey in the fourth stage of evolution. Such creatures who are half animal and half human.
Fifth Avatar – Vamana (Dwarf) – Small Humans
When King Bali was able to defeat Indra through devotion and penance, he gained authority over all three worlds. To protect the universe, Vishnu incarnated to take back the universe in three stages during a yagya organized by the king.
The Vamana avatar represents a creature that is very close to humans but extremely small. It indicates a complete change in human form and the beginning of intelligence in humans. According to evolutionary theory the fifth stage is the change from ape to small, premature human. This change is a symbol of developed intelligence.
The fifth incarnation, Vamana, was a dwarf human, similar in appearance to the small monkey species from which humans evolved.
Sixth Avatar – Parashurama (Axe Warrior) – Early Human
Parahusman is the son of Jamadagni and Renuka and was given an ax as a boon after his penance by Shiva. He is the first Brahmin-Kshatriya or warrior-sage in Hinduism, who had to practice both Brahmin and Kshatriya religions.
An axe-wielding warrior of the Treta Yuga, this is the sixth incarnation of Vishnu who has no animal features and wields an axe. So, in other words, Parashurama is a Homo Sapien. Evolutionary theory suggests the presence of early humans living in forests, using weapons. Homo Sapien is the present human being and biological evolution ends at this stage.
Seventh Avatar- Ram (a normal human)-
Ram, prince and king of Ayodhya. He is a commonly worshiped avatar in Hinduism, and despite being an avatar he is regarded as the ideal model of a normal prince without superpowers.
Prince of Tretayuga and king of Ayodhya.
Lord Rama represents the fact that man has not only evolved but his quality of living and conduct has also completely evolved.
Darwin says that humans started living in a community and developed behavior. Survival of the fittest began. It also describes political establishment and leadership and organizations of human life forms.
Eighth Avatar- Krishna
Krishna was born to re-establish religion. Krishna is the eighth incarnation and flag bearer of sadhana, war and philosophy. He is the hero of various legends, especially Kansa-vadha and Mahabharata and embodies many virtues such as love, duty, compassion and playfulness. Krishna’s birthday is celebrated every year by Hindus on Krishna Janmashtami according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar, which falls in late August or early September of the Gregorian calendar. Krishna is also a central character in the Mahabharata, the Bhagavad Purana and the Bhagavad Gita.
Krishna- the eighth incarnation of Vishnu was a cowherd and was usually depicted with a flute in his hand. It describes the advancement of human life forms. The theory of evolution here corresponds to humans domesticating animals and politically advanced societies learning skills, music, love, dance, romance, etc.
Ninth Avatar-Buddha
The Buddha is depicted in Hindu scriptures as a preacher who deceives demons and heretics and leads them away from the path of the Vedic scriptures and is also praised as a compassionate teacher who taught ahimsa (non-violence). Promoted the path of.
Buddha- the ninth incarnation of Vishnu in Kaliyuga. This incarnation symbolizes that man is capable of attaining salvation.
In parallel, Darwin suggests the stage of man attaining enlightenment.
Tenth and last incarnation- Kalki
Kalki is described as the final incarnation of Vishnu, who appears at the end of each Kaliyuga. He will ride on a white horse and his sword will be drawn shining like a comet. He appears when only anarchy, evil and oppression prevail, Dharma disappears, and He ends Satya Yuga and Kali Yuga to begin again another cycle of existence.
Kalki is predicted in the Puranas to be the tenth and final incarnation of Vishnu, who will incarnate at the climax of Kaliyuga or the last great age of the earth. He will be here to restart the whole cycle. Species will become extinct and the world will end.
Evolution sometimes proposes that whatever has been created must be destroyed in order to begin the process of creation again. And this fits perfectly with the principle of Dashavatara.