There are
numerous theories regarding the origin of universe but the Big Bang model is
the broadly accepted theory. But thousands of years before scientists came up
with Big Bang model, did the sages of Upanishads knew about the cosmos wake up.
In his long introductory essay in the book ‘The Big Bang and the Bhagavad
Gita,’ R.A.S. Koacha suggests that the early saints of modern day Hinduism knew
about this cosmic event through mystic insight.
Big Bang Theory postulates that 12 to 14 billion
years ago, the portion of the universe we can see today was only a few
millimeters across. It has since expanded from this hot dense state into the
vast and much cooler cosmos we currently inhabit.
Some of
the conclusions from the book – ‘The Big Bang and the Bhagavad Gita,’ R.A.S.
Koacha
Is
Brahman an oblique reference of Big Bang?
The very
name ‘Brahman’ representing the Ultimate Reality in Hindu religion appears to
be nothing but an implicit reference to the ‘Big Bang’ itself. The word
‘Brahman’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘brh’ which means to ‘grow big’
without limit and can be an oblique reference to an explosion. Hence it is
perhaps also called ‘Shabda Brahman’ in the scriptures as Brahman manifests
itself as a ‘Sphota’ or explosion.
But
Brahman is before and after Big Bang
However,
Brahman being the one and only Reality represents everything, including event
the state of singularity before the Big Bang, as well as the whole manifested
universe after it. As the point of singularity, Brahman is the impersonal
absolute of pure timeless existence.
Big Bang
is represented by Symbol OM
As all
creation emerges from Brahman with the Big Bang, its symbol is the single
syllable ‘OM’ (Shabda Brahman). The ‘OM’ is the only symbol used as a ‘Mantra’
(Invocation) by the seers of the Upanishads in meditation to attain oneness
with the cosmos. It also represents the waking, dream and deep-sleep states of
all living beings. Hence it is the appropriate symbol of Brahman in its
transcendent as well as immanent aspects. Representing the primal sound of
creation the ‘AUM’ symbolizes the manifesting sound (or vibration) of the ‘Big
Bang’ which astronomers have detected as the residual cosmic emanation from
that explosion.
Hindu
Samkhya System Negates Creation Out of Nothing
In the
Hindu Samkhya System we have the earliest refutation of the creation out of
nothing (ex nihilo), and the first full-fledged theory of creation. According
to Samkhya the effect preexists in the cause. There is nothing like a new
creation but only a manifestation of what was already present in the cause in a
potential form. Thus Prakriti or material nature is the primordial matrix or
plenum out of which all material as well as psychic phenomena evolve. Mind and
matter are but manifestations of the same principle. Prakriti is the homogenous
universal field (Quantum field?) at first in a state of equilibrium, its three
constituents the illuminating (Sattvic), activating (Rajasic) and restricting
(Tamasic) being in a balanced state. When this balance is disturbed by the
preponderance of one or the other of the constituents (Gunas) creation becomes
inevitable.
The
evolution of the manifold is succeeded by its involution and reabsorption back
into the unitary state, only to be re-emitted after a period of potentiality.
These processes are governed entirely by the tension between the forces among
themselves and no extraneous agency is necessary to account for them.
The
concepts of Narayana, Lila, Sankalpa are attempts by Upanishad Seers to
simplify the complex Bing Bang Theory
The
Upanishads are more cryptical in their description of creation. According to
them the ONE (Brahman) wished to be many and creation is only an expression of
its WILL (Sankalpa). Sometimes creation is depicted as divine play (LILA) of
the Supreme Being. But any game will lose its meaning when the omniscient
player knows all, from beginning to end. The scripture state that the universe
originated from Narayana; Narayana is too difficult to interpret even in
Sanskrit. He is very the Big Bang personified. (Jagat Narayanodbhavam)
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