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Mrgerald • May 12, 1999 


In a message dated 5/12/99, 1:30:00 AM, bhakti-errors@lists.best.com writes:
<<
The original question centered on whether Darwin's
theory, or the scientific explanation of the origin
of the universe, is reconcilable with Visishtadvaita
Vedanta. >>

Visistadvaita Vedanta is consistent with Bhagavad-gita and Vishnu purana. 
The Bhagavad-gita mentions the prajapatis, the 4 Manus, and some other great 
sages as the origin of the population of the various planets. The Puranas 
like Vishnu Purana, known to be authentic,  elaborate on this scheme. In each 
manvantara, each of the daughters of Daksa give birth to a different class of 
animals--all the details are there. All these detailed  statements suddenly 
have to be taken mythologically, rather than at face value, if one accepts 
Darwins theory. Additionally, there is nothing in Vedanta and Upanisads that 
directly  contradict the above scheme.  Is taking Krishna's statements or 
Puranic statements mythologically or metaphorically an example  of 
Visistadvaita epistemology? 


Gerald Surya