HARIVAMSA, an appendix to the Mahabharata consisting of 10,000 verses, serves as a dedicated homage to Mahavishnu It is divided into three parts known as Harivamsa Parva, Vishnu Parva, and Bhavishya Parva.

Harivamsa Parva delves into the creation of the world, the lineage of kings from the solar and lunar dynasties, the Yadu dynasty, and the birth of Sri Krishna. Vishnu Parva primarily focuses on the playful and mischievous activities of Sri Krishna during his childhood. In Bhavishya Parva, while initial hints about the future are provided, the central themes revolves around the creation of the world and the incarnations of Vishnu as Vamana and Narasimha, as well as the roles of Siva and Vishnu.

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Ajivikas the fatalists

The Ajivikas were an ancient Indian philosophical school founded by Gosala Maskariputra, a contemporary of the Buddha. They were strict fatalists, believing that everything in life was predetermined by destiny (niyati), leaving no room for free will. According to their philosophy, religious practices or efforts could not influence future lives, as all actions were already preordained. They likened the cycle of reincarnation (samsara) to a ball of string that unrolls until its end. The Ajivikas lived an ascetic lifestyle, often shunning clothing, as they believed this was their destined path. Though influential in southern India for many centuries, the school eventually disappeared by the 14th century.

When were Vedas revealed?

Vedas are revealed at the beginning of each Kalpa. One Kalpa is 4.2 billion years and it is the lifetime of the universe. The Vedas were revealed nearly 1.97 billion years ago.