Cyclical Creation & Devolution

The cyclical time and creation of the species

According to the Puranas (Vedic histories), there have been innumerable creations in the course of cyclical time. The basic unit of Vedic cyclical time is the day of Brahma (see picture 1), which lasts 4.32 billion years. The day of Brahma (also called a kalpa) is followed by a night of Brahma, also lasting 4.32 billion years. All the cycles of days and nights of Brahma – (4,32 billion x 2) x 36.000 are equivalent to 311.04 trillion of our human years. This is also the duration of the existence of our universe. During the days of Brahma, life, including human life, is manifest. During the nights of Brahma, life is not manifest.

 Now, one day of Brahma (4.32 billion of earthly years) is divided in 14 epochs (Manvantaras) each lasting for 306.72 million years. According to the Vedic calculations we are now living in the second half of the life of Brahma who is said to live in toto 100 years. More precisely, we are in his 18.001th day, the 28^th divya yuga of the 7^th Manvantara (epoch) that started before 120.500.000 years ago (see picture 1). According to the Srimad Bhagavatam and other puranas this was the time when Kasyapa Muni with his wife created all the species in this planet.

 NOTE: Divya yuga consists of four yugas: Satya yuga 1.728.000 million years; Treta yuga 1.296.000 million years; Dwapara yuga 864.000 years and Kali yuga 432.000 years.

 Between every  Manvatara (306.72 million years) there is a period of 1.728.000 million years. During that time there is a partial annihilation by great deluge in which all the species on the surface of this earth planet die out. According to the Vedic calculation, from the very beginning of the universe till now there were 252.007 manvantaras  - creations and annihilations of the species. After each catastrophe there is again creation of new species.

 So, as above mentioned both the annihilation and the creation of the species takes place within 1,728,000 million years.  To get some more time for creation of the species we could calculate that the partial dissolution already starts from the last sandya (ending period) of the last kali yuga of the previous Manvantara or 36.000 years before the interim period. (see picture 1) (The sandhya of the beginning and at the end of the yugas is calculated to be the one twelfth of the particular yuga). Thus for the creation of all the species there is 1.728.000 years if we don’t include the sandhya (beginning periond of 144.000 years) of the next Satya yuga. 

 So, how the creation of the species takes place? The Vedic sources tell us about many steps of creation, they do not give detailed biochemical information. It is very much probable that the creation might have taken place by genetic manipulation after the deluge at the end of manvantara when the water gradually begun to decrease. According to Srimad Bhagavatam, gradually more and more advanced species were created: aquatics, reptiles, plants, birds, quadrupeds, bipedals. All this was done by great mystics and sages, the progenitors of nearly all the species on this earth: Kasyapa muni and his 17 wives.

 We have to note here that the living entities also have a subtle material body of mind intelligence and false ego besides the gross material body of genes, bones, flash etc. This subtle body and the living entitie’s previous karma determine their future physical or gross material body.  But most importantly they are the spirit soul or the consciousness that is different from the gross and subtle bodies. The subtle body and the spirit soul are not created by the progenitors of the species, Kasyapa muni and his wives. They create only the diversities of the material bodies. Each body becomes a dwelling place of the subtle body and the spirit soul according one’s particular karma. In this essay we will describe the gross material bodies and genes regarding creation / devolution.

 So, the most complex genes are there in Kasyapa and his wives who especially come from the higher planets of the universe to populate this earth planet and this is why in the Vedas they are considered the progenitors and the common ancestors of all the species. Manipulating different features of the genes or in other words, subtracting from, or rearranging the genetic structure all kinds of lower species were created. This is called devolution and in no way is the same with evolution theory (from simple to complex). As described in the Srimad Bhagavatam 6.6.24 - 31 - everything is created by devolution. After 1.728.000 years when the manvantara begins most of the species are already created by Kasyapa and his wives.

 SB 6.6.26: O King Parikshit, now please hear from me the names of Kasyapa's wives, from whose wombs the population of the entire universe has come. They are the mothers of almost all the population of the entire universe, and their names are very auspicious to hear. They are Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kashtha, Arishta, Surasa, Ila, Muni, Krodhavasa, Tamra, Surabhi, Sarama and Timi. From the womb of Timi all the aquatics took birth, and from the womb of Sarama the ferocious animals like the tigers and lions took birth.

SB 6.6.27: My dear King Parikshit, from the womb of Surabhi the buffalo, cow and other animals with cloven hooves took birth, from the womb of Tamra the eagles, vultures and other large birds of prey took birth, and from the womb of Muni the angels took birth.

SB 6.6.28: The sons born of Krodhavasa were the serpents known as dandasuka, as well as other serpents and the mosquitoes. All the various creepers and trees were born from the womb of Ila. The Rakshasas, bad spirits, were born from the womb of Surasa.

SB 6.6.29-31: The Gandharvas were born from the womb of Arishta, and animals whose hooves are not split, such as the horse, were born from the womb of Kashtha. O King, from the womb of Danu came sixty-one sons, of whom these eighteen were very important: Dvimurdha, Sambara, Arishta, Hayagriva, Vibhavasu, Ayomukha, Sankusira, Svarbhanu, Kapila, Aruna, Puloma, Vrishaparva, Ekacakra, Anutapana, Dhumrakesa, Virupaksha, Vipracitti and Durjaya.

The Matsy purana (1.6) gives a similar description: Kasyapa, with his wife Tamra generated six daughters: Sukhi who gave birth to parrots, owls; Seni – the hawks; Bhasi – the ospreys; Gridhi – the vultures and pigeons; Suchi – the swans, cranes and ducks; Sugrivi – the goats, horses, rams, camels and mules. From Kasyapa's wife Vinita – Aruna was born who gave birth to Jatayu and to the ancestors of the birds species; with Surasa he generated the serpents; with Kadru – the 1000 hooded serpents who were the forefather of the serpent classes; with Surabhi – the Rudras, cows, buffaloes, with Muni – the munis and apsaras; with Arishta – the Kinnaras and gandharvas; with Ira – the reeds, trees and creepers; with Vishva – the Yakshas and demons;  with Diti – the 49 gods of wind; and  withe Aditi the 33 heads of the 33 crores of demigods, the 12 adityas (sungods), 11 rudras, 8 vasus, and 2 asvini kumaras. Further in the Matsya purana (1.171) says: Kasyapa's wife Anasuya originated the fearful diseases; Simhika - the grahas; and Krodha - the pisacas yakshas and rakshasas .

 As we can see, according to the Vedic concept the species when created they coexist and this viewpoint is supported by the archeological discoveries presented in the book Forbidden Archeology written by Michael Cremo and Richard Thompson. All in all, the Vedic creation history can very nicely reconcile the archeological discoveries of controversial evidences and can give good answer why different species coexisted in the remote past. 

 Kasyapa muni is a great sage with mystic powers and has an ability to create different species in short time of 1.728.000 years after which the satya yuga (according to the Greek naming, the golden age) begins. If anybody thinks that that this is not enough time for creation we can still add the period of the first sandhya (beginning period of 144.000 years) of satya yuga that starts after interim period of 1.728.000 years, and even than have a time period of creation much more shorter than the evolution period according to the theorists.

 Now, according to the Srimad Bhagavatam and other Puranas in Satya yuga (the golden age) all the different varieties of species coexist in the earth planet and interestingly they are much more stronger, healthier and have longer life span than now in this age of Kali yuga (the iron age). Here we also see devolution.

 Creation by genetic devolution and after that degeneration or further devolution of the species is described not only in the Vedic scriptures but in the writings of the Greeks, Mayans, Aztecs, Chinese, etc. More precisely, there is degeneration during the four yugas (Satya yuga, Treta yuga, Dwapara yuga and Kali yuga) but also rejuvenation at the end of each Kali yuga.

 These cycles of degenerations and rejuvenation are repeated for 71 times after which a period of one manvantara (306.72 million years) comes to an end. At the end of the manvantara there is a partial universal destruction with great deluge and all the species die out on the surface of the earth planet.

So, lets repeat a few interesting points:

The four yugas equal 4.32 million years

71 x 4.31 million years is one manvantara that is 306.72 million years

Between each manvantara there is an interim period of partial destruction and new creation of species after great deluge.

14 manvantaras and 15 interim periods equals one day of Brahma – the creator of this universe. His night is of same duration 1000 x 4.32 million years.

Brahma lives for 100 years or 311.041 trillion years. The Vedas say that the duration of the universe is as long as the life span of Brahma.

Although the Vedas do not describe how the species were created by the mystic sage Kasyapa and his wives from the descriptions of the Srimad Bhagavatam and other Puranas it seems that they did this by genetic manipulation.

Darwinian evolution means that by increasing the number of genes knew species generate. Some creationists accept this additionally saying that such evolution can occur only if it is directed. Theoretically this is possible because Krishna is all powerful; He can do anything. However, devolution is more economical; less industrious; first the materially perfect living entity is created – Brahma and then from him by dimming the other, less perfect species.

 Life in the different yugas

 According to the descriptions of the Puranas, now at present times of this Kali yuga we are less strong and capable then human beings in the Mahabharata and the Puranic times.

 In the Mahabharata the Sage Markandeya describes the people of the Satya yuga as follows:

 “O King, during those early days all people were pious and truthful. They had the capacity to go to heavenly planets and return on their own will. They could live as long as they like and die only when they wished. (M.B. Van. 183.63-65)…However, in the time which subsequently followed people lost their ability to commute in the space.” (M.B. Van. 183.68)

 This really looks unbelievable that people would have an ability of teleportation. Some scientist would say it is all nonsense. However, there are well documented cases of people that had an ability to fly and were observed even by the astonished scientists.

 For example, at the time of Darwin, Dr. Alfred R. Wallace the coauthor of evolution theory together with noble prized Sir William Crooks – the discoverer of thallium, a famous experimental physicist and the chairman of the Royal Society of England - performed observations and experiments with different psychics. One of the interesting person they examined was Daniel Douglas Holme who could play accordion without touching it and even when it was closed in a box or he could just fly up to the ceiling according to his own wish. Although we don’t hear about these things controversial to the lows of physics, the two scientists Wallace and Crooks noted down their observations and both of them confirmed that the incidents they saw was devoid of any cheating.  

 Similarly, in the Russian newspaper an interesting research was published. Here is the excerpt.

Josef Desa used to be the most famous "flying man." He was born into a devout family in South Italy. Since he was a boy, Josef was a very religious person prone to inflicting all kinds of torture upon himself in order to experience a state of religious ecstasy. Later he joined the Franciscans. He would get really ecstatic at times and rise in the air. One day he floated right before the Pope's very eyes. Josef arrived in Rome. The Pope Urban VIII granted him an audience. Josef got as excited as one could be. He could not help rising in the air. The head of the Order of St. Francis eventually brought Josef back to earth. Men of science observed more than a hundred cases of levitation of Josef. They put down their comments in the official records. However, the Christians were thought to be embarrassed by Josef's flights. As a result, Josef was sent to a out-of-the-way monastery in 1653. He was transferred to another monastery three months later, then to another one. The list can go on. Wherever he appeared, the news about the "miracle man" spread like wild fire. People from the neighboring towns and villages stood outside the monastery walls waiting for a miracle. Finally, Josef was transferred to a monastery in Osimo where he died in the fall of 1663. He was canonized four year later.

 Daniel Douglas Hewm was the most famous levitator of the 19th century. Below is the description of his first flight penned by an editor of an American newspaper. 

"All of a sudden Hewm began lifting off and all the people in the room got completely surprised. I could see his legs floating about a foot about the ground. Hewm apparently could not speak as he had a twinge going from top to toe after the clash of fear and rapture in his mind. He went down some time later, and rose up again. He went up to the ceiling during a third ascent."

Hewm learned to levitate of his own free will later on. He showed his outstanding ability to thousands of spectators including such celebrities as William Makepeace Thackeray and Mark Twain, Napoleon III, other politicians, doctors and scientists of note. Hewm has never been accused of hoaxing an audience.

There is a lot of controversy regarding a physical nature of levitation. Some researchers say that it is a product of the biogravitational field created by a special kind of mental energy emitted by the human brain. Alexander Dubnov, a Doctor of Biological Sciences  is a supporter of this hypothesis. Dr. Dubnov points out that the biogravitational field is deliberately created by a levitator and therefore the latter can control the field and change the direction of a flight.

 So, these, obviously not concocted cases of ability to levitate are helpful to understand that in the Satya yuga people could fly. The reason for this mystic ability was their practice of mystic yoga and austerities just as in the above example Josef Desa he also attained his flying ability doing severe austerities and penances. More precisely, it is considered that the gross material body becomes refined and as such is not anymore subjected to the laws of Newtonian physics. For more elaboration on this topic please read the essay “Above Matter”.

 The life span

 Another interesting point mentioned in the Vedas is the long life of the people in Satya yuga. In the Matsya purana we find the following reasons why did people live long.

 “This gross human body is made of gross material elements, it can therefore subsist on earth, water, fire, air and eather only…O, King because of sinful karmic actions, people acquire hellish bodies instantaneously (after death). Similarly the pious karmic actions give one subtle demigod-like body. Such bodies are mostly composed of the subtle element of mind, intelligence and false ego. People with fine subtle bodies live for a long time”.

 As compared to human beings, the demigods have longer span of life. Indra lives for one manvantara (306 million years). Against this, the human beings live for 10.000 years in treta yuga (Matsya purana 141.76), 1000 years in Dwapara yuga and less than 100 years in Kali yuga. In Satya yuga some people live during the whole period of yuga (1.728.000 years) and some for a lesser period, generally 100.000 years. (Matsya purana 145.3)

 In the above description the reason for long life of the people in Satya yuga was that people had subtle bodies. Srila Prabhupada in his commentary to the Srimad Bhagavatam 4. 12. 18 explaines how to understand the existence of a subtle body. He writes:

 "One can experience the distinction between the subtle and gross bodies even daily; in a dream, one's gross body is lying on the bed while the subtle body is in another atmosphere”

 As the Satya yuga (the golden age) comes toward its end there is a slight degradation of the mentality and piety of the people resulting in, as the Puranas describe, decreased life span from average 100.000 years to 10.000 years.

 Thus as we can see from the Vedic literatures, the life span changes over the four yugas, becoming shorter and shorter. In the new cycle of the four yugas, the lifespan is again very long but becomes gradually again decreased. Is this really possible, somebody might ask. Well, it seems that there are certain things discovered by the scientists that confirm this Vedic truth. For example the scientists have estimated that the species life span for contemporary mammals and birds has decreased up to 10 thousand years, i.e. it became 100 to 1000 times shorter than that of fossil forms. Most interestingly, this is also what the Vedas describe. So, let’s see a few facts and figures that were according to the scientists the reasons for the decreasing lifespan of the species.  

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