Sanatana Dharma: Truth is Eternal. Truth is neither born nor created nor will it ever cease to be. Truth is. What may be known of Truth is revealed by the Person of Truth, Ek Devata, the One God and thence dispersed by enlightened beings.
Time is not eternal. Time begins with the creation of stars and planets and ends with their eventual destruction. Everything that exists within Saguna Brahman (material existence) is subject to aging, decay and eventual death.
How one perceives time depends on many factors. We tend to be rather materialistic in our thinking and consider everything to be subject to our limited objective observations however in the Vedic realization everything is alive and governed, directly and indirectly, by the Supreme Lord. Hence we can understand that the controlling influence of time for our planet is the ruler of the sun. The relative relationships of the planets with the sun determine the duration of time and their reckonings.
The deva (demigod) in charge of the sun overseeing Bhuloka 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.
According to the ancient Vedic scriptures, Sri Vivasvan revealed the One Truth to Manu approximately 2,005,000 years ago early in the second age (according to scholars such as His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami -- see his purport to Bhagavad-gita As It Is on this verse for more details). Some notable Indian Pundits (such as Srila Yukteswar) debate these 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 wisdom revealed by Sri Krsna in the Bhagavad Gita has existed among humans for least the past 2,005,000 years.
Manu was a great devotee of Lord Visnu (Second of the Vedic Trimurti or Trinity: Prajapati/Brahma, Visnu/Narayana, 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.
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 looked up and 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 it 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 about pairs of animals and a 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" 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. 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 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:- 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 the fourth age, Kali Yuga. Our line of human beings have existed on this planet for about two million five thousand years. Prior to the days of Manu and Lord Matsya our human ancestors enjoyed the glories of Satya Yuga.
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