Hindu timeline says that the universe is created and destroyed in a cyclic way (for 84 times) and each cycle consists of 4 phases, namely, Satya-yuga, Treta-yuga, Dwapara-yuga and Kali-yuga. It is said that each phase has a different span running over millions of years whereas Science says that humans evolved from African region only about 500,000 years back. Following questions arise:

  1. How does one explain this mismatch?
  2. Or, is it that there were no humans before Kaliyuga?
  3. Why 84 times?
  4. What was there before the first cycle of the universe?
  5. What will happen after the 84th cycle?

Even if we ignore the mismatch between Hindu timeline and the theory of evolution, I am very curious to know what the Hindu saints had to say about "what was there or what will be there apart from the 84 cycles of creation and destruction". Is there any mention of this aspect anywhere in Hindu scriptures?

  • 1
    Irreconcilable, basically
    – iruvar
    Jul 30, 2020 at 17:08
  • 2
    Scientifically Hinduism has no consistency regarding historic events. For this reason one should adopt this as mythology.
    – Wikash_
    Jul 31, 2020 at 16:47
  • 3
    @ram that is not correct. For example science has been able to identify a lot of things byond 5000 years like creatures like dinosaurs which Hinduism strangely enough says absolutely nothing about. Also, evolution has been proven via DNA, bones and other input data. There a houses, tools, trees and the list goes on. Actually almost all events in Hinduism have no bearing in science. These gods and characters in Hinduism seem to hide well.
    – Wikash_
    Aug 3, 2020 at 7:21
  • 2
    @Carmen that is just speculation. Moreover the scriptures presume humans have lived for a very long time on earth and science contradicts this.
    – Wikash_
    Aug 3, 2020 at 13:16
  • 2
    @ram "Almost all events in science have no bearing on reality. These scientists and proofs seem to hide well. " no that is not true. There is a multitude of evidence available as I already explained. What is wrong with DNA, geographical data, objects like ancient tools that have been in the ground for a long time?
    – Wikash_
    Aug 3, 2020 at 22:56


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