This article is a simple summary of an article in Tamil Spiritual magazine Dhyanabhoomi written by Dr Sheshadrinathan Shastry in 1991.
The main aim of Vedas was, for the people to have peaceful and happy life. In order that the principles involved in Vedas reach one and all at an early age, small stories explaining them were created. This forms basis of puranas. Hence we find that these stories tell a moral and spiritual value in a simple way. During the stage of young children these may be just stories but the same stories when read in an adult age makes us realize and understand the principles, teachings and moral values involved in them. As we become older, these values take a deep root in our mind as we have been listening them as stories from a very early age.
If we take the theory of evolution, Darwin explains the stages in which the evolution took place. 1st stage of evolution starts from water; 2nd stage starts from aquatic animals like fish in water; then animals like tortoise which can live on land and water came into existence and in the 3rd stage animals like wild boar which can live in water and land which is very close to the water and in 4th stage they developed into animals like monkey. Finally Darwin concludes human beings were evolved from apes.
This is stated as a finding by Darwin in the recent past.
But when we glance through the Vedas, we come across an analogy to this Darwin’s theory. Thus we can conclude that Darwin's findings from his research were already present in Vedas and puranas.
For example let us look at Dashavatars - ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The order of Dashavatars is – Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narsimha, Vaman, Parshuram, Balaram, Sriram, Krishna and Kalki.
According to purana, Bramha created water first. Hence first avatar represents Matsya (fish). 2nd is Kurma avatar which explains the 2nd stage where the animal lives on land and water. The 3rd avatar is Varaha which corresponds to wild boar which can stay on land and very close to water. The 4th avatar is Narasimha which is half animal and half human which indicated of more animal instincts. In this part the brain functions like an animal whereas physical part is human i.e. intellectual power is not developed fully. In the next avatar i.e. Vaman avatar, the animal part disappears completely and we find that the body part is developed but with childishness. In the Parashuram avatar the brain functions under the command i.e. it has not developed the power of discretion. He obeys the order of father and chops of the head of his mother without any thought i.e. obeys order. In Balaram avatar the indecision follows to a lesser extent. When we come to Ram avatar, we find the full development with the coordination of brain and action and full of Satva guna. Finally in the Krishna avatar there is full development of the human being. It shows intelligence and atma chintan. In this avatar the intelligence is to such an extent that he gives upadesh to other human beings. This shows how the puranas have indicated the evolution of human beings before it was told as a theory of evolution by Darwin.
Similarly to Dashavatar we have an analogy of fetus from the conception till birth. The fetus is formed in the liquid (water). Then it is similar to a worm (fish). Then slowly it develops small limbs like a human. In the 8th month it develops all the human organs. Finally in the 10th month, it is fully developed at the time of birth, similar to Dashavatar. Before Darwin’s theories, they have explained this phenomenon as Garbhavas.
Thus as elders we should understand the Tatva (principles), moral values from Puranas and explain them to youngsters in simple way. We must not dismiss the stories in Puranas as mere stories. We must consider them to be as guidelines for living, teaching of basic qualities and moral values.
The main aim of Vedas was, for the people to have peaceful and happy life. In order that the principles involved in Vedas reach one and all at an early age, small stories explaining them were created. This forms basis of puranas. Hence we find that these stories tell a moral and spiritual value in a simple way. During the stage of young children these may be just stories but the same stories when read in an adult age makes us realize and understand the principles, teachings and moral values involved in them. As we become older, these values take a deep root in our mind as we have been listening them as stories from a very early age.
If we take the theory of evolution, Darwin explains the stages in which the evolution took place. 1st stage of evolution starts from water; 2nd stage starts from aquatic animals like fish in water; then animals like tortoise which can live on land and water came into existence and in the 3rd stage animals like wild boar which can live in water and land which is very close to the water and in 4th stage they developed into animals like monkey. Finally Darwin concludes human beings were evolved from apes.
This is stated as a finding by Darwin in the recent past.
But when we glance through the Vedas, we come across an analogy to this Darwin’s theory. Thus we can conclude that Darwin's findings from his research were already present in Vedas and puranas.
For example let us look at Dashavatars - ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The order of Dashavatars is – Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narsimha, Vaman, Parshuram, Balaram, Sriram, Krishna and Kalki.
According to purana, Bramha created water first. Hence first avatar represents Matsya (fish). 2nd is Kurma avatar which explains the 2nd stage where the animal lives on land and water. The 3rd avatar is Varaha which corresponds to wild boar which can stay on land and very close to water. The 4th avatar is Narasimha which is half animal and half human which indicated of more animal instincts. In this part the brain functions like an animal whereas physical part is human i.e. intellectual power is not developed fully. In the next avatar i.e. Vaman avatar, the animal part disappears completely and we find that the body part is developed but with childishness. In the Parashuram avatar the brain functions under the command i.e. it has not developed the power of discretion. He obeys the order of father and chops of the head of his mother without any thought i.e. obeys order. In Balaram avatar the indecision follows to a lesser extent. When we come to Ram avatar, we find the full development with the coordination of brain and action and full of Satva guna. Finally in the Krishna avatar there is full development of the human being. It shows intelligence and atma chintan. In this avatar the intelligence is to such an extent that he gives upadesh to other human beings. This shows how the puranas have indicated the evolution of human beings before it was told as a theory of evolution by Darwin.
Similarly to Dashavatar we have an analogy of fetus from the conception till birth. The fetus is formed in the liquid (water). Then it is similar to a worm (fish). Then slowly it develops small limbs like a human. In the 8th month it develops all the human organs. Finally in the 10th month, it is fully developed at the time of birth, similar to Dashavatar. Before Darwin’s theories, they have explained this phenomenon as Garbhavas.
Thus as elders we should understand the Tatva (principles), moral values from Puranas and explain them to youngsters in simple way. We must not dismiss the stories in Puranas as mere stories. We must consider them to be as guidelines for living, teaching of basic qualities and moral values.