The Vedic fathers of geology

~ CHAPTER IIL.

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Modern Geological Researches of the West.

We have shown in the previous chapters what progress was made in Geological Researches by our great hoary ancestors; and the innumerable references to geological formations in the Puranic and Vedic Literature, clearly indicate that a very lively interest was taken in the subject, and the science was cultivated with unabated zeal and renewed vigour in the Vedic times, notwithstanding the insuperable difficulties the Vedic Rishis had to encounter, especially as they had to stand on their own legs altogether unaided. ।

From the trend of thought and previous discussion, the Reader will have perceived that the Earth was supposed to be at first in a gaseous state or igneous fusion (ante pp. 13-17), and that subsequently, part of heat of the globe having been diffused in the surrounding space, refrigeration had gradually proceeded. This naturally caused the aqueous vapour in the atmosphere to condense, and occasioned the fall of rain. The water thus accumulated gave rise to what is called