Was Human Cloning Known to the Vedic Sages?

What is cloning exactly?

Cloning is the creation of a genetically identical copy of a living being by reproduction of cells and tissue. The possibility of human cloning has raised controversies. Many ethical concerns have prompted several nations to pass laws regarding human cloning and its legality. But if I say cloning was known to man even in the Pauranic era, does it sound absurd? Perhaps not! There are lots of indications in various Hindu Puranas and Shastras. Let’s explore.

History of cloning

Although the possibility of cloning humans had been the subject of speculation for much of the twentieth century, scientists and policy makers began to take the prospect seriously in the 1960s. With the cloning of a sheep known as Dolly in 1996 by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), the idea of human cloning became a hot debate topic.

Cloning in ancient Vedic scriptures

In Vedic age, cloning of animals was done by sages to clone the species of powerful horses and productive cows under the order of king/administration. In the next few slides I will narrate some mind-blowing stories on cloning from Vedic age. Note that each story has its own symbolism and necessarily does not reflect real life events.

The Story of Rubhus

Rubhus were three brothers (Rubhu, Vajra and Vibhu) created from the cell of their father. Their father was old but they were cloned young to bring back the youth of aging parents. Additionally, they also created a cloned horse and cow. Cloning of Rubhus is mentioned by seven different sages in seven different verses of Rigveda. All of these sages were from different generations thus depicting that such a technology existed over a long period of human life.

Reference in Rigveda

These seven sages along with the hymns they composed on Rubhas are as follows: Kanva Medhatithi- Rigveda, Book 1, Hymns 20; Angirasa Kutsa - Rigveda, Book 1, Hymns 110 & 111; Deerghatamas - Rigveda, Book 1, Hymns 161; Vishvamitra - Rigveda, Book 3, Hymns 60; Vamadeva - Rigveda, Book 4, Hymns 33; Vasistha Maitravaruni - Rigveda, Book 7, Hymns 48 and Shrunu Arbhava - Rigveda, Book 10, Hymns 176.

Verses on cloning

Now let’s take a look at some of the Verses on cloning along with their translation - Rigveda, Book 1, Hymn 20, verse 3 - तक्षन नासत्याभ्यां परिज्मानं सुखं रथम| तक्षन धेनुं सबर्दुघाम || Translation: They for the two Nasatyas wrought a light car moving every way: They formed a nectar-yielding cow.

Cloning the cow

The next task of Rubhas was to create a high-yielding cow that yields copious milk. Puranas describes this method in details where there is a description on cells taken from back skin of cow to create a cloned cow. Rigveda, Book 1, Hymn 110, verse 8 निश्चर्मण रभवो गामपिंशत सं वत्सेनास्र्जता मातरं पुनः | सौधन्वनासः सवपस्यया नरो जिव्री युवाना पितराक्र्णोतन || Translation: Out of a skin, O Rubhus, once ye formed a cow, and brought the mother close unto her calf again.

A lot of hard work

यत संवत्सम रभवो गाम अरक्षन यत संवत्सम रभवो मा अपिंशन | यत संवत्सम अभरन भासो अस्यास ताभिः शमीभिर अम्र्तत्वम आशुः || Translation: As for a year the Rhubus kept the Milch-cow, throughout a year fashioned and formed her body. And through a year's space still sustained her brightness, through these their labors they were made immortal.

Great minds at work

Elder brother wanted to make only two clones of a single cell but younger brother insisted him to make three clones. Rigveda, Book 4, Hymn 33, verse 5 जयेष्ठ आह चमसा दवा करेति कनीयान तरीन कर्णवामेत्य आह | कनिष्ठ आह चतुरस करेति तवष्ट रभवस तत पनयद वचो वः || Translation: Two beakers let us make- thus said the eldest. Let us make three - this was the younger's sentence.

Time spent

Below verse states that after year of hardship, finally a clone of a cow and horse is born - Rigveda, Book 1, Hymn 111, verse 1 तक्षन रथं सुव्र्तं विदम्नापसस्तक्षन हरी इन्द्रवाहा वर्षण्वसू | तक्षन पित्र्भ्यां रभवो युवद वयस्तक्षन्वत्साय मातरं सचाभुवम|| Translation: Ingenious Rubhus prepared a chariot for Indra, prepared two powerful horses (2nd being cloned from 1st), made their old parents youthful again and gave new mothers to orphaned calves or children.

Cloning reference in mythology: The story of Vena

King Vena was a great but cruel king. He banned all Vedic practices and challenged the sacred rituals of Vedic priests. This created immense fury and anger among the sages. One of the sages killed him using his spiritual powers thus ending the tyranny of Vena. When monarchy of vena ended, anarchy took its place and the kingdom became miserable without a king. Sages decided to create a new king from the dead body of vena.

The clone of Vena

The sages churned the thigh of the dead king wherefrom came a dwarf clone of vena who inherited the evil mind and qualities of vena. “What shall I do?” asked the cloned king. Seeing the newly formed clone deficient of kingly qualities, Sages asked him to Nishada (sit down) thereby giving him the name ‘Nishada’. King Nala and Eklavya of Mahabharata were descendants of Nishada.

Further cloning and the birth of Prithu

Now that all evil was removed from his thigh, Sages then churned the right hand of Vena wherefrom came the healthy illustrious king "Prithu" who inherited all the good leadership qualities of Vena. Prithu went on to become the universal guardian of entire earth and so, the earth was called as ‘Prithvi’ in Sanskrit. Thus as depicted in the above story, there is a concept of creating multiple clones from the same dead body.

Cloning reference in mythology: The Story of Rakhtbija

Rakhtbija was a powerful demon who got the boon of cloning his blood cells from lord Brahma. Making the wrong use of his boon (each of his blood drops spilled on the ground would create a clone of him); he defeated all the demigods and overtook the three worlds (Earth, heaven and hell). His destruction across the three worlds forced all humans and gods to invoke Goddess Shakti (Durga). Goddess Kali, born out of their sacrifices, marched out to war against the demons.

The death of Rakhtbija

Lifting Rakhtbija high in the air, she pierced his body and swallowed each of the blood drops flowing out of his body with her enormous tongue so as to stop him from making any clone. Finally, when the dead body was devoid of blood drops, she threw away the corpse. But Demon Rakhtbija blood contaminated her mind which caused her to perform dance of destruction. Lord Shiva came to the rescue by falling down under the feet of goddess Kali.

Cloning reference in mythology: The story of goddess

While Lord Rama was in the forest, Agni approached him and said “O lord, you are going to kill Ravana and Sita is going to suffer many atrocities. Therefore, you should put Sita in my safe custody and I shall give you an illusion Sita - an exact replica of your real wife. After killing Ravana, send the false sita into the fire to test her purity. That would be the time when I will take my replica back and would return you your wife”.

The phantom Sita

Rama gave his consent and a phantom sita was created by Agni and handed over to Lord Rama. This incident was kept as a secret. After killing Ravana, when Rama moved forward to accept Sita, he was stopped by bystanders who demanded Sita to prove her chastity. Bowing down to public opinion, Sita was requested to enter the fire to prove her purity. When Sita went inside the fire, Agni took back his replica and let the real Sita come out of the fire unscathed.

The Maya Sita concept

It is interesting to note that the reference of ‘Maya Sita’ is available in regional version of Ramayana and not in Valmiki’s version. Pauranic sources like Kurma Puran, Brahmabaibarta Puran, and Regional Ramayana like Adhhyatmik Ramayan, Ramchari Manas, Orriya Balaram Ramayan, Dharma Kanda Ramayan and Kashmiri Ramayan mention about Maya Sita concept.

In the epic Mahabharata

Did Ancient Hindus perfect the science of cloning or were Kauravas products of a technology that modern science has not even developed yet? According to the description in Mahabharata (Adi Parva/Sambhava Parva), the Kauravas were created by splitting the single embryo into 100 parts and growing each part in a separate Kund or container.

The birth of Ganesha

Lord Ganapati was produced from the ‘Mala’ (ey), which means the superficial layers of skin of Parvati. This is possible according to the modern science. However, here a male is cloned from a female. Whether it is possible or not is not conceived by the modern science.

Just a coincidence?

Indian mythology has many examples where certain persons could not only create replica but can transform the ‘subject’ into any other animate. For example, Marich took the shape of Golden Deer to allure Sita. In another context we find when Lord Buddha was meditating, Mara the Devil, in order to detract Buddha’s attention, created many ferocious figures and beautiful females. Thus we get an indication that creation of dangerous creatures and beautiful damsels was within the power of some persons. So many clues can’t be fluke!

An expert’s opinion

Dr. Satkari Mukhopadhayaya, an expert Indologist and Pandit of various ancient scripts, a Linguist having knowledge of 20 classical and regional languages said that ‘there is no scientific proof available whether those ancient people had any knowledge of Cloning or not. But we get some idea that replicas were created which has many references and much of it is related to illusions or Maya. No scripture has ever directly dealt this concept but indications are many.’

Human cloning in ancient times: Is it a myth?

Its matter of interest whether there is any hidden knowledge available in ancient texts which can enthuse the modern Genetic Engineers! Actually Genetic Engineering by the term as we know today is not decipherable in ancient texts. But if one reads through the roots of creation there are some concepts available which can become a subject of ‘scientific quest’ for exploring newer frontiers of human knowledge and research.

Why is the knowledge lost?

In ancient texts we find a lot of mind boggling concepts but no formulas of creation were passed down to us! That is perhaps because ancient sages knew the human tendency of misusing their acquired powers. As today we are talking about creation of human clone in thousands, at the hour when population explosion is knocking at our doors misbalancing the nature in many ways and causing world-wide distress! Maybe…!