MAN THE UNKNOWN:A UNIQUE SPECIES

 

Most placental mammals evolved from shrew-like, insect-eating, ancestors, and primates, the Order to which human species belongs, was no exception. However, primates (monkeys, apes and man) diverged from the insectivores by becoming adapted to a different mode of life that of omnivorous tree dwellers. This new habit led to fundamental changes in the skeletal pattern that were to be of great importance in the later evolution of the primates.

 

The Grasping Hand: 

 

The most significant of these changes was the development of the grasping hand with its opposable thumb, an almost primate characteristic that originated as a means of grasping limbs and branches of trees for smooth movement. Because of their grasping hand, primates became the most successful and efficient tree dwellingmammals. Other tree dwelling mammals like squirrels depend on claws and less efficient means of holding on to branches of trees.

 

Stereoscopic Vision:

 

Along with the development of the primate hand, yet another epoch making specialization of far reaching importance was the stereoscopic vision which was necessary for confident movement high in the tops of trees where a slight misjudgement in depth perception could lead to a fatal fall. Correlated with the grasping hand and the tree dwelling habit, there was a forward migration of the eyes and a relative flattening of the face, which helped the eyes stereoscopically view the area in front. Although the grasping hand and the stereoscopic vision arose in primates as adaptation for life in trees, they were to become the foundation of man’s later evolutionary success on the ground. These specializations permitted him to grasp tools and weapons and to coordinate hand and vision precisely in such activities as hunting and tool making.

 

Jñāna Mudra:

 

 Although the adaptation of grasping hand is a common primate feature as both monkeys and apes possess this quality, man is unique in the possession of the ability to oppose the thumb to the forefinger with all the other three fingers stretched out. In Indian Vedāntic and spiritual circles this gesture is of deep significance. The thumb when opposed to the index finger with other fingers outstretched is a representation of yogic ‘knowledge pose’ (jñāna mudra) which is a remarkable sign of some profound psychic expression. As the mind is so is the body, hence our body postures have psychological counter parts. This one ability of human being is indicative of the uniqueness of human species as it expresses the level of development of the human brain as a rational thinking instrument, capable of acquiring a plethora of knowledge and skills. This human ‘knowledge pose’ represents the ability to search for immense, insatiable, knowledge. Scientifically, it has been discovered that the number of brain cells needed to manipulate these two fingers involved in ‘knowledge pose’ is the largest compared to those involved in manipulating all other fingers. “This ability to oppose the thumb to the forefinger is highly symbolic of human search for knowledge from the most ordinary to the most extraordinary levels.” (Swami Ranganāthānanda, The Charm and Power of the Gita). At the level of human evolution this adaptation was the beginning of humanity’s technological progress, cultural evolution and spiritual emancipation. It is interesting to note that in all the iconography ofIndia, of great saints, sages and incarnations and of the Divine Mother, this particular pose of jñāna mudra is depicted.

 

Awareness: 

 

The emergence of man on the evolutionary firmament heralded a new and significant change in terms of awareness. As Sir Julian Huxley says, ‘man is unique in more ways than one.’ For all other organisms the awareness is largely confined to the external environment and their ability to react to the environment is also based on their instinctive behaviour. In the human species the awareness is expanded not only to the external environment but also to ‘the world within.’ Human species alone has the awareness of the ‘perceiver,’ the Self, as the subject of experience along with the awareness of the environment around him. Both modern biology and ancient Vedānta recognize this uniqueness of man. Neurological scientists consider this Self-awareness as the source of human dominance over all nature.