The Universe in Hinduism
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The evolution of the universe
Arup Mitra, Origins Of The Universe And Consciousness, May 4, 2017: The Times of India
Like a huge tree emerges from a tiny seed the vast universe is said to have originated from a tiny egg-like structure, as per the perception of ancient Indic philosophers.The big bang theory too suggests that the present vastness has emerged from a tiny and compressed hot, dense mass. The discovery of the remnant heat following the big bang which is known as cosmic microwave background radiation and which is present uniformly everywhere, is a recent one.
The initial state of infinite density and temperature must have lasted for a finite time span and this primordial singularity is known as the big bang.But this theory has not escaped criticism. If the universe emerged from a big bang which scientists believe happened only around 14 to 15 billion years ago, then within such a short span it would not have been possible to expand to this extent. Also, why has the growth not been spread out evenly? In certain parts there are clusters of galaxies while in other areas they are thinly distributed.
Defenders of the big bang theory then give a rationalisation with the help of the presence of dark energy and dark matter. The composition of the universe in terms of the share of matter, dark matter and dark energy each is 5, 27 and 68 percent respectively . The CP violation (parity symmetry) plays an important role in explaining the dominance of matter over antimatter.
If the universe is expanding, black energy is accelerating the process. The eventual outcome of this accelerated expansion is possibly non-existence or return to the initial stage of extreme density and temperature from which again new creation will begin. This is what is called creative destruction. Interestingly, in Indic tradition this attribute is associated with the goddess of the universe. Particularly in the form of Kali, often represented symbolically in blackish-bluish shade, the goddess is said to be in charge of creative destruction. Ramakrishna explained why symbolically such a shade is assigned to Kali. She is dark because we know little about her.
Evolution in a wider context, within the realms of the Sankhya system, implies movement towards perfection. Interestingly, it talks about evolution of the entire universe; not just the earth and life on earth.
Super-consciousness and matter combine to form universe.
The term `matter' in the Sankhya system would include all three attributes recognised by science: ordinary matter, dark matter and dark energy. The universe originates and ends and re-originates and so on the process goes on. But every time it re-originates it is better than the previous one, to say it in a simplified way.
In Vedanta, what we call as matter in the Sankhya system, is also an outcome of super-consciousness. So it is Brahmn, in the terminology of Vedanta, which is omnipresent.Dualism in the Sankhya system and monism in Vedanta are not significantly different from each other.
Brahmn in the Vedanta school is always complete: if you deduct what is complete from what is complete, the outcome is complete too. It is peace that prevails forever; our non-realisation interprets it otherwise. Those who remain immersed in peace are said to have attained the godly state. And for them whatever appears physically or beyond is nothing but a manifestation of Brahmn.
