I just found this exquisitely wrought passage in the Atharva Veda. I think it bodes well for me that I predicted I would find such things. It doesn't get any plainer than this.
Things to note:
(1) The Atharva Veda is one of the oldest literary works on the Planet.
(2) This passage argues that Time is the Supreme God, and that He brought into existence all creatures.
(3) Evolution, as contemporarily conceived, suggests that we don't need God, because we now have Time.
(4) QED: If Darwin had been born as a Hindu Pandit, he might well not have felt such a strong tendency toward agnosticism.
It's works like this I reckon have to potential to shift the debate over intelligent design.
Atharva Veda 19.53 Time (Kala)
I. Time drives (as) a steed with seven reins (rays), thousand-eyed,
unageing, of abundant seed. Him mount the poets that know holy
hymns; his wheels are all worlds (or beings).
2. This Time drives seven wheels; seven are his naves, his axle is
immortality. He, adorning (anointing) all these worlds, he, Time, moves
on as foremost god.
3. A full vessel is set upon Time; we see him, verily, though he is in
mauy forms; he faces towards all these worlds; they say that he, Time,
is in the highest heaven.
4. He alone assembled the worlds (or, beings); he alone encompassed
the worlds (beings). Though their father, he became their son;
than him there is no other majesty higher.
5. Time created yonder heaven, Time also these earths; impelled by
Time, what has been and what is to be take their several positions.
6. Time created lordship, in Time the sun shines; in Time are all
I beings; in Time the eye looks abroad.
7. In Time is thought, in Time (life-)breath, in Time
name [as that which does not leave man at death] is concentrated.
All creatures here rejoice in Time when it arrives.
8. In Time is fervour, in Time the Supreme, in Time the Holy Word
(brahman) is concentrated. Time is the lord of all, he who was the father
of the Lord of Creatures (Prajapati, creator-god).
9· By him it was sent forth, by him it was born, on him it is founded·
truly Time, having become the Holy Word, supports Him that is in the
Highest.
10. Time created creatures, Time (created) the Lord of Creatures in
the beginning; from Time the self-existent Kasyapa, from Time fervour [tapas]
was born.
Atharva Veda 19.54
I. From Time originated the (cosmic) waters, from Time the Holy
Word (brahman), fervour, the directions (of space); by Time the sun
rises, in Time it goes to rest again.
2. By Time the wind blows purifying, by Time the great earth
(exists), in Time the great sky is set. Time, (who was their) son, begot
of old what has been and what is to be.
3. From Time the stanzas- (of the Rig Veda) originated, from Time
the formula (of the Yajur Veda) was born. Time set in motion the
sacrifice, (as) an inexhaustible portion for the gods.
4. In Time the gandharvas and apsarases (are established), in Time
the worlds are established. Upon Time this divine AIigiras and Atharvan
both stand.
5. Having conquered by the holy word both this world and the
supreme (heavenly) world, both the holy worlds and (their) holy
separating divisions, (in short) all the worlds, this Time, the highest
god, marches on.
Original translation by Franklin Edgerton. My annotations in Brackets.
