AboutJohn of AllFaith Expertise To varying degrees I have worked and studied with many different groups including:
The Noahides, Gaudiya Vaisnavism, Swami Muktinanda's Sidha Yoga Foundation, the Yoga Society (of Sri Ramamurti Mishra), Sikhism, various Pagan and neo-Pagan groups, Sunni Islam (Wahabi), Taoism, various Buddhist sects (including the Dharmad Hatu of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche), various diverse Hindu sects, numerous Christian denominations and movements, and have been involved with numerous other groups and movements too numerous to mention. I refer to my personal beliefs as AllFaith.
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Experience Experience: A lifetime spent Reaching for the One.
I hold an MA in Religious Studies from JFKU. I hold three Christian ordinations. I hold a counseling ordination from the Interfaith Seminaries of Santa Cruz. I am an initiated Vaishnava bramana (Gopinath Gaudiya matha and ISKCON), have practical experience with many other branches Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Paganism, Wicca (Welsh Traditionalist mainly), Judaism and other traditions. I own and manage AllFaith.com
Answer Hi Maylinda,
There is no agreement on this.
According to the Indian Vedas, the Vedic religion of the Bharata Aryans is the original and eternal religion. That religion still exists today as the Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) -- the world's third largest religion -- although it has changed a lot over the past few thousand years and now exists in countless often contradictory traditions.
According to others the Sumerian, Akkadian, Assyrian, and Babylonian religions are the original religious beliefs.
Others believe there once existed the cultures of Mu, Atlantis, Lemuria and other lost civilizations and that their religions inspired all that came afterward.
Still others point to Egypt and their ancient gods as the originals. Many people believe the Egyptians inherited their early religion from Atlantis (and some say the religion of Atlantis was seeded from the stars). It is believed by some that the Abrahamic religions were born in Egypt and that the God of Israel is actually Osiris redefined.
Yet others accept the biblical (Torah) account and believe that circa 5769 B.C.E. God (as EnSoph -- origin Enki?) began His revelation of the One Truth to Adam that eventually produced the Beni Noach religion, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The worship of the biblical God (HaShem) is therefore considered the oldest religion on earth even though Judaism is not the oldest religion. This original religion, the Beni Noach religion (the beliefs of the sons of Noah) it is said, was revealed to Noah (known as Manu in Vedic religion) and passed down and developed from there. Noah of course followed the religion he had inherrited from Adam -- the first human. The influences of Sumerian, Akkadian, Assyrian, Cannaite, Babylonian religions as well as Zoroastrianism on early Judaism are clearly present but it can be debated who inspired whom.
The truth is, despite our technological advancements humans are essentially ignorant about our past, predating about 5000 years ago.
Personally, while acknowledging our lack of certainty in such matters, I generally accept the Indian Vedic understanding as a working belief. According to this system:
The deva (demigod) in charge of the sun overseeing Bhuloka (planet earth) is named Sri Vivasvan. At some point -- estimated at about 120,400,000 years ago -- Ek Devata (God beyond all conception) revealed the Ultimate Truth to him so that through him it could be revealed to the human race... but in time this religion was forgotten.
According to the ancient Vedic scriptures, Sri Vivasvan then revealed the One Truth to Manu [who inspired the account of Noah and his ark] approximately 2,005,000 years ago early in the second age and restored the original religion. Some notable Indian Pundits (such as Srila Yukteswar) debate the following dates but Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami presents a traditional understanding that is supported by the greater Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya and many of India's premiere pundits. Based on these reckonings we can say that the essential religion revealed by Sri Krsna in the Bhagavad Gita (the Scripture: "The Glorious Song of God") has existed among humans for least the past 2,005,000 years. You can read my translation of the Bhagavad Gita free here: http://www.srijagannatha.com/gita
Manu was a great devotee of Lord Visnu (Second of the Vedic Trimurti or Trinity: Prajapati/Brahma, Visnu/Narayana/Krsna, Rudra/Siva). From Manu comes the name of humanity: "man" and the instructions on how man should live: "manual." The great manual of course is the Vedas and the supreme of all manuals is the Srimad Bhagavad Gita because in it the Lord Himself reveals the Truth for those living in Kali Yuga (our present age).
Manu: Father of Mankind:
In brief, early in Treta Yuga, the second of the four ages, Manu was kneeling beside a river washing his hands. As he filled his water bowl a small fish swam into it. This was no ordinary fish however! It was an Avatar (Incarnation) of Lord Visnu Himself! And yet to Manu, it seemed to be only a small fish of no consequence. To Manu's amazement the fish spoke to him! It asked Manu to spare its life as a kindness! Out of compassion Manu agreed to spare the life of the fish and placed it in his water bowl where he planned to care for it as one might care for a pet. Soon however the fish outgrew Manu's water bowl and so he had to get a larger one, yet soon that jar was too small as well! Indeed the fish was growing so quickly that Manu could barely keep up with its needs!
Then one day the fish demonstrated his gratitude by promising to spare Manu's life during the coming world flood. This fish was none other than Lord Matsya (the celebrated fish avatar of Lord Visnu). Lord Matsya instructed Manu to build a very large boat. Manu obeyed, built the ark and brought in pairs of animals and a massive store of seeds. As the storm began to rage Manu tied the boat to the tail fins of the now immense Matsya Fish Avatar. Lord Matsya then pulled the boat to the "northern mountains" [Mount Ararat?] where the boat finally came to rest, saving Manu and all life.
The parallels to this account are too many and obvious to mention yet they all began here in my opinion. Following the devastation that followed the War of Kuruksetra at the dawn of our present age -- about 5000 years ago -- memories and traditions of such Vedic period events provided the framework for the stories of Noah and the Ark, Ziusudra of Sumer (who was warned by the God Enki of the approaching world flood) and so on.
The original religion, the line of disciplic succession (param param) thus passed from Sri Vivasvan through Manu. Manu then taught it to his son Maharaja Iksvaku, who was king of the earth and through him the Truth was spread throughout the earth.
* The Four Yugas or Ages:
* Satya Yuga: 1,728,000 years
* Treta Yuga: 1,296,000 years
* Dvapara Yuga: 864,000 years
* Kali Yuga: 432,000 years (began circa 5561 B.C.E)
According to Sri Krsna then the earth was not created circa 5769 B.C.E. as taught in the Abrahamic traditions. This figure reflects the beginning of our fourth and present age, Kali Yuga. Our line of human beings have existed on this planet for about two million five thousand years (since the days of Manu). Prior to the days of Manu and Lord Matsya our human ancestors enjoyed the glories of Satya Yuga (the first age) and so religion, the quest for truth, is eternal.
