MANUSMRITI AND EVOLUTION THEORY – of Universe, Life, ‘Yugas’ and Society

Several thousands of years before Darwin gave the Evolution Theory to the world or was the formation of the Universe Theory told, Manu, who is considered as the first human of mankind in Bharathiya Civilization, described the formation of the Universe in the first chapter of his Manusmriti. Even more amazing is the advanced scientific calculations and Vedic logarithms ancient Bharathiyas (Indians) had in determining ages of existence.

The sages approach Manu and ask him to explain about –

1. The ‘Swayambu’ – the ‘Self-existent’
2. Creation of the world
3. The numerous elements (‘Tatvas’) related to humans and the Earth.
4. The human soul ‘Atma’
5. Society based on Varnas
6. Duties, Obligations, Rights of each Varna
7. Rites and rituals

The delineation of Evolution in the chapter may be classified broadly into two –

1. The evolution of all living and non-living things in this Universe;
2. The Ages or ‘Yugas;’ and
3. The evolution of Human civilization and society.

THE EVOLUTION OF UNIVERSE AND LIFE ON EARTH

The gist of what Manu said in the first half of the Manu Smriti about the creation of the various entities on Earth and in the outer space are listed as follows:

1. There was darkness in the Universe.
2. The ‘Swayambu’ who is the Divine ‘Self-existent’ – the Creator of everything and is contained in everything. The ‘Swayambu’ can be perceived by the internal realization only.
3. The ‘Swayambu,’ with the power of creativity, creates every aspect of the Universe.
4. The ‘Swayambu’ first created water and placed a seed which became the Golden Egg  from which came out the Progenitor “Brahma.’
5. The water is called ‘Narah’ as it was the first abode of Narayana whereby ‘Nara’ means ‘water’ and ‘ayana’ means ‘an abode.’
6. Then ‘Purusha’ (Man) was created.
7. Brahma meditated in the Golden Egg for one year and then split it into two parts – top part became the Heaven, lower part became Earth.
8. He then created the Soul, the three qualities – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas; and five senses.
9. By using these six elements and particles of Himself, all beings in this world have been created.
10. Using the six elements, the Human ‘Sharira’ (body) of ‘Purushas’ (man) is created which is the frame and it may be perishable or imperishable.
11. Thoughts, actions, names in accordance to Vedas, and conditions were accorded to the Purushas.
12. He drew the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda and Sama Veda from fire, wind and sun.
13. Time, the lunar cycle, rivers, mountains, oceans, planets, seasons etc. were created
14. Emotions and thoughts were given to man.
15. He created the mind with the dualities like – virtue and vice, truth and false, etc. 
16. From His own body He made the man and woman come to existence.
17. Brahma creates the four Varnas – the Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras from the mouth, arms, thighs and feet.
18. Varnas are gradations made for the prosperity of the society. 
19. Performed difficult austerities and there came ten sages.
20. Seven Manus were created – Yakshas, Rakshasas and Pisakas, Gandharvas, Apsaras, asuras, Nagas, Sarpas, Suparnas.
21. Rainbows, meteros, lightning, etc sre also created.
22. Animals, fishes, birds, insects, worms, bugs, and man was created.
23. Man, Rakshashas and Pisacha, and animals with two rows of teeth like deer are born from the womb.
24. Birds, tortoise, fishes, etc. are born from eggs.
25. Insects, flies and bugs grow from heat and moisture.
26. The circle of birth and death was formulated.
27. Plants sprout from seeds.
28. Trees bears fruits and forests contains ‘Vrikshas’ (Trees).
29. Manu gives details of time, muhurtas, day and night, fortnights, years and the four yugas.

After explaining how every object of the Universe was formed and how life on Earth came into existence, Manu says that the entire world is in action when the Divine is awake. If the Divine sleeps, the entire Universe will slumber.

The attributes of the Divine are absorbed in the Soul which enters a corporeal frame – of human, vegetable, or animal. The ‘Imperishable One’ alternatively, by ‘waking and slumbering,’ ‘revivifies and destroys’ all His creations – both ‘moveable and immovable’ thereby indicating that nothing is permanent in this Universe. Everything which has its birth must die. Anything which is created meets with its end.

In between Life and Death, Man – the highest form of creation – is expected to function in accordance with the Rule of Natural Laws. These Laws are given as the ‘Sacred Laws’ delivered by the Divine Himself to Manu. Manu taught them to the ten Sages – Mariki, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Praketas, Vasishtha, Bhrigu, and Narada.

After describing the Theory of Evolution of Life on Earth, in the second half of the chapter, Maharishi Manu asks Bhrigu Munivar to tell to the sages about the Ages – ‘Yugas’ and the various institutes – the classifications of the society and the order of social regulations in the civilizational evolution.

THE AGES / ‘YUGAS’

Rishi Bhrigu disseminates the following knowledge which he gained from Manu:

1.   Belonging to the race of Manu who is the descendant of the ‘Swayambu’ – the Self-existent, are the six other powerful and high-minded Manus – Swarokisha, Auttami, Tamasa, Raivata, Kakshusha and the son of Vivasvat.

2.   The ‘Swayambu’ and the six Manus produced and protected the whole of the creations taking turns, in the time period allotted to them.

3.   The Time Periods are –

1. A wink of the eye is a ‘Nimesha.’
2. Eight ‘Nimeshas’ are one ‘Kashtha.’
3. Thirty ‘Kashthas’ are one ‘Kala.’
4. Thirty ‘Kalas’ are one ‘Muhurta.’
5. Each ‘Muhurta’ has day and night.

8.   One month of the humans divided into two fortnights – light and dark – are one Day and One Night, respectively for the departed Manes.

9.   One year of humans is equivalent to a Day and a Night for the Gods – the Celestial Year – whereby in half the year the sun progresses to the North which is termed as Day, and Night is when the Sun progresses Southwards which amounts to another half of the year.

10. There are four Epochs/ Cycle of Time – the Dharmic Ages of the world called ‘Yugas.’ They are:

1. Krita or Satya Yuga,
2. Treta Yuga,
3. Dwapara Yuga, and
4. Kali Yuga.

11. ‘Krita Yuga’ also known as ‘Satya Yuga’ constitutes Four Thousand Celestial Years i.e., 4000 years of the Gods.

12. In the next three Yugas, the span reduces by a thousand and hundreds Celestial Years in every Yuga. To be more precise the timelines are – 4800, 3600, 2400 and 1200 Celestial years respectively for the four Yugas – Krita, Treta, Dwapara and Kali Yugas.

13. The characteristics of the four Yugas are as follows:

a.   Truth is upheld in the Four-fold Krita Yuga which diminishes one-fourth in each of the subsequent Yugas, experiencing rise in theft, falsehood, lies and adharma.

b.   Similarly, with regards to health and life-span of humans also, the Krita Yuga experiences a much healthier life spanning over four hundred years which gradually decreases by one-fourth in each of the subsequent Yugas.

c.   With respect to the prime duties of each Yugas, the Krita Yuga went with the performances of Divine Austerities; Treta on Divine Knowledge; Dwapara on performances of Divine Sacrifices; and Kali Yuga on ‘Liberalities’ i.e., open to new ideas which requires Truth to hold Values.

14. The total of the four Yugas which is Twelve Thousand ‘God-Years’ (Celestial Years), is One ‘Time-Cycle of the Gods’ or One ‘Age of the Gods.’

15. One Thousand ‘Age / Time-Cycles of the Gods’ is One Day of the Brahma and the equivalent One Thousand ‘Age / Time-Cycles of the Gods’ is One Night of the Brahma.

16. After the end of the ‘Day and Night’, Brahma wakes with the creative desire and creates. The ‘Mind’ or the greater intellectual Philosophy is applied in the creation.

17. Sound, smell, colours, taste, and touch are used in creation.

18. The Twelve Thousand God-Years (Celestial Years) multiplied by Seventy-One gives One ‘Manavantra’ which is the period of one Manu known as the ‘regime of a Manu.’

19. The Brahman repeats creation and destruction of numerous such ‘Manavantras.’

THE SOCIAL STRATIFICATION

Man is the highest form of creation with greater intelligence and deeper emotions. These attributes require larger responsible actions towards Nature from man. In order to protect the Universe and the World, the human civilization is divided into Four Varnas -Brahmana Varna, Kshatriya Varna, Vaishya Varna, and Shudra Varna – the Varnas which spring from the Mouth, Arms, Thighs and Feet of the Creator – Prajapathi. Certain specified sets of duties are assigned to each Varna. They are –

1.   The duties of Brahmana Varna are:

1. to study Vedas,
   1. to teach Vedas,
   1. to perform sacrifices,
   1. to officiate sacrifices,
   1. to give alms, and
   1. to receive alms.

2.   The duties of Kshatriya Varna are –

1. to protect people,
2. to study Vedas,
3. to give gifts,
4. to sacrifice, and
5. to abstain from being addicted to the objects of senses.

3.   The duties of Vaishya Varna are –

1. to tend cattle,
2. to study Vedas,
3. to give gifts,
4. to sacrifice, and
5. to trade, money-lending, cultivation of land.

4.   The duty of Shudra Varna is –

1. to serve the other three Varnas.

The Brahmana Varna was created first and bestowed the Sacred Laws by the Creator. Here arises the question as – Who is a Brahmana? Or, who come under the Brahmana Varna?

A person is qualified to come under the Brahmana Varna who has the following qualities (other than his Guna and Karma) –

1. Anyone who is rational, highly intelligent, and well-learned in the Vedas with its meaning in conjugation with the Truth.
2. The one who has strong convictions and realizes the necessity to perform his Sacred Duties.
3. Anyone who knows how to perform the Sacred Duties as prescribed in the Dharma shastras.
4. Anyone who knows the Brahman.
5. Anyone who is an incarnation of Virtues – Right Behaviour.
6. Anyone who dedicates his life for the purpose of safeguarding the Virtues and Sacred Laws as prescribed in the Scriptures.

Other duties and qualities of the persons in Brahmana Varna are as follows:

1. It is the Brahmana who must read the Sacred Laws thoroughly, understand its meanings and deliver it accurately to his disciples.
2. The Brahmana who studies the Sacred Laws should not only perform his duties honestly but also be away from any sins incurred by words, thoughts, or action.
3. Morality is a Virtue – the highest Dharma of Right Behaviour and ‘root of all austerities’ – as prescribed and laid down in the Shruti and Smritis.
4. The Brahmana who deviates from the path of Right Behaviour, does not reap the fruit. Contrarily, the Brahmana who abides by all the eight Right Behaviours, reaps the fruit.

NOTE:

1. The four Varnas – Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra – are like the four racks of the cupboard called Society indicating the intellectual, warrior, trader and worker classes.
2. Manu Smriti only presents the four Varnas.
3. Manu Smriti does not prescribe any caste(s) under any Varna because, there was no discrimination among Castes in the ancient Bharathiya society and all Varnas were open for people of all Castes.
4. People of any Caste and any gender who possess the qualities listed above, can come to the Brahmana Varna.
5. An individual belonging to a Varna always has the scope of advancing to the higher Varna(s) based on upgradation of his Dharmic qualities and actions. At the same time, if he loses grip of his high order virtues, he may fall to the lower Varna due to his lapses.

Finally, Manu Smriti is a treatise of advanced and well-defined order of the society meant for the welfare of mankind, regulation of the functioning of the society, and preservation of the Universe. It is the Rule of Law based on the Principles of Virtues which has a Universal appeal.

SOURCES:

1. “Manusmriti, The Laws of Manu – Part 1,” www.hinduwebsite.com
2. “Manusmriti,” http://www.hinduonline.co