The parallelism/similarities between Vishnu's dashavatar and Darwin's theory of evolution

ABSTRACT

Hinduism being a "scientific religion" have several ideas as well as theories which shows similarities with the modern day science models and theories 

One of these idea is the striking parellelism between Vishnu dashavatar and evolution of organisms

Keywords: Evolution, Darwinism, parellelism between Vishnu dashavatar and evolution theory of Darwin

Evolution

Well life on earth was one of  the most debated as well as fascinating subject for studies.  How such a variety of  species came into existence in earth. Who created them?  How life actually started?  Well many questions actually raise when it comes to this. Although many theories and postulates were given, but the most accepted one was Darwin's theory of evolution .

Darwinism is a theory of biological evolution  developed by the English naturalist Charles Darwin (1809–1882) and others, stating that all species of organisms arise and develop through the natural selection of small, inherited variations that increase the individual's ability to compete, survive, and reproduce.

From the theories of abiogenesis it is quite clear that life originated in water which further developed into advanced organisms in land as well as in water. The most primitive organism evolved into today's homo sapiens by natural selection. 

This was about the most accepted Theory of evolution.  

Lord Vishnu's dashavatara

Hindu religion and mythology is probably the oldest in the world. Not only this but it also tells about the wonderful concept of AVATARS of lord Vishnu-the preserver in the Hindu pantheon-which is very similar to that of Darwin’s and other theories of evolution. Vishnu is the god almighty. He is omnipotent and has been manifesting himself on this earth since the time immemorial to save it from the evil and to get earth rid of all the corruption and anarchy prevailed.

Dashavatara refers to the ten primary avatars of Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation. Vishnu is said to descend in form of an avatar to restore cosmic order. The word Dashavatara derives from daśa, meaning 'ten', and avatar (avatāra), roughly equivalent to 'incarnation'.
The list of included avatars varies across sects and regions. Though no list can be uncontroversially presented as standard, the "most accepted list found in Puranas and other texts is Matsya; Kurma; Varaha; Narasimha; Vamana; Parashurama; Rama; Krishna ; Buddha  and Kalki

The Puranas speak of the different manifestations or incarnations of the Deity in different epochs of the world history. Lo! The Hindu Avatar rises from the lowest scale of life through the fish, the tortoise, and the hog up to the perfection of humanity. Indian Avatarism is, indeed, a crude representation of the ascending scale of Divine creation. Such precisely is the modern theory of evolution.

Parallelism between Vishnu's dashavatar and Theory of evolution 

Apart from all now we come to the actual thing that was striking minds of various people. Well this might be something poles apart for some but actually if we take a better vision on the scenario we can observe the parallelism between the two. So here we go to a comparison between the avatars and what theory of evolution says

•Matsya (the fish) 

The evolution of Darwinism tells us that the life originated from a common ancestor. Theories also suggest that life originated from the sea, in the sea. In Hindu mythology, it has been told that the world originated from Aadi Jal (eternal cosmic water). According to mythology Vishnu takes the form of a fish to save Manu from the deluge  (Pralaya), after which he takes his boat to the new world along with one of every species of plant and animal, gathered in a massive cyclone. The mythology was like manu finds a fish which was small and surprisingly it transformed into a huge one. Now let's take a look on evolution theories. The theory says that life originated in water in prokaryotic singled celled organisms which developed itself in water 

So here comes the similarities . Moreover in the mythology it was said that that fish carried the huge ship which carried every species including manu. Well logically if we look at this we can also observe that in evolution Theory too that prokaryotic singled celled organisms was the cause of such a huge variety of species that came into existence. That means it was something that carried life to earth. 

•Kurma (the tortoise) 

According to mythology when the devas and asuras were churning the Ocean of milk in order to get Amrita, the nectar of immortality, the mount Mandara they were using as the churning staff started to sink and Vishnu took the form of a tortoise to bear the weight of the mountain.

And from evolutionary aspects tells that the life came out of ocean and the beings of ocean started walking the land to some extent or we can say that the amphibians came into existence from the vertebrates or aquatic animals. Amphibians have aquatic gills which means they can survive both on land and in sea. Tortoise is an amphibian and this is second avatar of Vishnu in the Dashavatar. Vishnu appeared as Kurma (tortoise) to have Mandara Mountain put on his back to support the churning of the ocean by the devatas and asuras in order to bring amrit (nectar of life) out from the ocean

Perhaps a certain similarity can also be observed that while churning the Ocean the Amrit or the nectar of immortality came out of the ocean . It can also be related that it was life which became immortal in earth. It might signify  that as life came to Land the journey of life on earth started and life got the immortality. The word life here doesn't signifies any single species or a single organism but every organism from microorganisms to the huge one. 

•Varaha (the boar)

Varaha, the boar. He appeared to defeat Hiranyaksha, a demon who had taken the Earth, or Prithvi, and carried it to the bottom of what is described as the cosmic ocean(much like in ether theory) in the story. The battle between Varaha and Hiranyaksha is believed to have lasted for a thousand years, which the former finally won. Varaha carried the Earth out of the ocean between his tusks and restored it to its place in the universe.

Again evolutionary aspect tells us about these being who became more efficient in walking the earth becoming land animal and losing ability to be inside ocean and adapted very conveniently the climate and conditions of the land but they also were swamp animals means they could live in low oxygen water and boar is one such wild animal which is the next and third avatar of lord Vishnu. Vishnu, to save the earth-who beseeches to him to save her from evil demons-manifested himself as a wild boar who is considered as extremely ferocious and cruel. This is very clearly observable that this may describe the animals which had started evolving and those having limbs

•Narshimha

The half-man/half-lion. The rakshasa (Demon) Hiranyakashipu, the elder brother of Hiranyaksha, was granted a powerful boon from Brahma  that he could not be killed by man or animal, inside or outside a room, during day or night, neither on ground nor in air, with a weapon that is either living or inanimate. Hiranyakashipu persecuted everyone for their religious beliefs including his son who was a Vishnu follower.

From evolutionary terms of view this also shows how the wild animals ruled the land in the initial stages of the evolution process. This link in the evolution is the early extinct human ancestors who were like the link between apes and humans or the link between the apes and their early beings. There are many theories claiming that some links in the process of evolution are missing and are very mysterious as to how animals evolved as humans. This link aptly resembles the fourth avatar of Vishnu.

•Vamana

The dwarf. The fourth descendant of Hiranyakashyap, Bali, with devotion and penance was able to defeat Indra, the god of firmament. This humbled the other deities and extended his authority over the three worlds. The gods appealed to Vishnu for protection and he descended as a boy Vamana. During a yajna (यज्ञ) of the king, Vamana approached him and Bali promised him for whatever he asked. Vamana asked for three paces of land. Bali agreed, and the dwarf then changed his size to that of a giant Trivikrama form. With his first stride he covered the earthly realm, with the second he covered the heavenly realm thereby symbolically covering the abode of all living beings. He then took the third stride for the netherworld. Bali realized that Vamana was Vishnu  incarnate. In deference, the king offered his head as the third place for Vamana to place his foot. The avatar did so and thus granted Bali immortality and making him ruler of Pathala, the netherworld. This legend appears in hymn 1.154 of the Rigveda and other Vedic as well as Puranic texts.

In evolution too we can find the dwarf ancestor Homo floresiensis which comes in the Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Hominidae
Subfamily: Homininae
Tribe: Hominini
Genus: Homo
It might be this species which was very well described as the vamana 

•Parashurama 

The warrior with the axe. He is son of Jamadagni and Renuka and received an axe after a penance to Shiva. He is the first Brahmin-Kshatriya in Hinduism, or warrior-saint, with duties between a Brahmin and a Kshatriya. King Kartavirya Arjuna and his army visited the father of Parashurama at his ashram, and the saint was able to feed them with the divine cow Kamadhenu. The king demanded the cow, but Jamadagni refused. Enraged, the king took it by force and destroyed the ashram. Parashurama then killed the king at his palace and destroyed his army. In revenge, the sons of Kartavirya killed Jamadagni. Parashurama took a vow to kill every Kshatriya on earth twenty-one times over, and filled five lakes with their blood. Ultimately, his grandfather, rishi  Rucheeka, appeared before him and made him halt. He is a Chiranjivi  (immortal), and believed to be alive today in penance at Mahendragiri.

From evolutionary aspects he can be compared with early man. He lived in caves and use to carry an axe. This might depict the use of stone and wooden tools by the ancient ancestors. 
In the study of evolution, all these are the traits commonly associated with the cave dwelling 'early man'.

•Rama 

Also known as Ramachandra, is a major deity of Hinduism. He is the seventh avatar of the god Vishnu, one of his most popular incarnations along with Krishna and Gautama Buddha.In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Being.

In evolution prospect we can relate him to the learned man. early men came out of their caves and started living in the society as civilized humans, they made rules and followed them to lay the foundation of a society which is based on righteousness. They gave more importance to relationships, respect, righteousness and justice. All this factors can be seen with perfection in the next and seventh avatar or lord Vishnu. Lord Ram who was the seventh avatar of Vishnu was perfect in respecting relationships and elders. He was perfect in justice. And he was perfect in establishing a society based on the policies of righteousness (Ram Rajya).

•Krishna 

Krishna  is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of the god Vishnu and also by some as the supreme God in his own right.He is the god of compassion, tenderness, and love in Hinduism, and is one of the most popular and widely revered among Indian divinities.Krishna's birthday is celebrated every year by Hindus on Janmashtami  according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar, which falls in late August or early September of the Gregorian calendar.

He is completely self conscious and knows what inner life is. He knows about every aspect of life and life after life or death. He knows about karmas, moksha, and how to be one with god (who is Krishna only). Krishna told how to achieve what is your right by being adaptable, hardworking and by taking right decision which suits the condition that you are facing. After this stage, man-aware of philosophical terms and knowledge-started practicing it and tried achieving moksha (not all humans but some).This stage actually describes the perfect stage where people have started realizing love which was well described in Krishna's mythology. Moreover music and other cultures too developed in people of that stage. 

*the avatars after Krishna is quite controversial as it is different  in different parts of country where a majority thinks it is Buddha but still some take it as the balarama *

•The Kalki avatar

The kalki avatar of lord Vishnu Kalki, also called Kalkin or Karki,is the tenth avatar of Hindu god Vishnu to end the Kali Yuga, one of the four periods in endless cycle of existence (krita) in Vaishnavism  cosmology. He is described in the Puranas as the avatar who rejuvenates existence by ending the darkest and destructive period to remove adharma and ushering in the Satya Yuga, while riding a white horse with a fiery sword. The description and details of Kalki are inconsistent among the Puranic texts. He is, for example, only an invisible force destroying evil and chaos in some texts, while an actual person who kills those who persecute others, and portrayed as someone leading an army of brahmin priest in some. His mythology has been compared to the concepts of Messiah, Apocalypse, Frashokereti and Maitreya in other religions.

In evolution too we can relate this to the modern world where it is going to. The war like situation, violence, anti-humanity works is leading to a situation where it will be the end of this world, humanity, everything. And of course it will be kalki, the future human which will destroy it.Here the extremely powerful weapons of Kalki may have the similarities with the nuclear and other extremely powerful weapons that the world has today. Also the world is living on the heap of nuclear weapons today and probably the holocaust caused by these weapons would make the world imperfect and pave the way for the final avatar of lord Vishnu. He also will have the equal and even more powerful weapons to destroy the imperfect world for the new creation and for the fresh evolution process.

Conclusion 

Well this was something which I realized.It might not be true at all and can just be a coincidence. But it can also be true. The way humans have evolved or the way life has evolved on this earth and the way we have lived since the beginning till this modern period is extremely similar with the Dashavatar theory. Every avatar fits in so perfectly with the advancement of humans that I find it extremely mysterious yet interesting.If it is what I tried to describe then we might see Hinduism in a complete different way. God is expressed as life. We won't find it in any piece of rock but instead inside every living being.From smaller to the huge one everywhere there is presence of God.Inspite of praying a rock piece,  we should try to respect all the life forms .

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