Tag: Big Bang

Narayaneeyam – Dasakam 5 – Sloka 1 – Dark Matter – முடிவிலியின் முதல்வன்

Link to the Audio – For chanting

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9r4y3xjrb1bcrb9/5.1.mp3?dl=0

Introduction 

Let us recall what we learnt in the previous blogs on Cosmic Evolution.

1. At the outset it should be clear that our Rishis, Seers and Saints understood that creation doesn’t mean formation of something out of nothing. By the word creation, they only meant the manifestation of something which was potentially existent in dormant form or Unmanifest form or undifferentiated form (like the tree inside the seed).

2. In the beginning nothing exists except a singularity called Brahman. This is akin to what modern scientists say as “Before the big bang there was no space, time or matter. There was just singularity where the entire un-manifested universe existed”.

This is what is brought out by Bhattathri in this first Sloka. 

Let us now study the Sloka

முகவுரை

“ஒன்று ஆகி மூலத்து உருவம் பல ஆகி

உணர்வும் உயிரும் பிறிது ஆகி ஊழி

சென்று ஆசறும் காலத்து அந்நிலையது ஆகி

திறத்து உலகம்தான் ஆகி செஞ்சவே நின்ற

நன்று ஆய ஞானத் தனிக் கொழுந்தே எங்கள்

நவைதீர்க்கும் நாயகமே நல் வினையே நோக்கி

நின்றாரைக் காத்தி அயல் பேரைக் காய்தி

நிலை இல்லாத் தீவினையும் நீ தந்தது அன்றே”

கம்பராமாயணம், ஆரண்ய காண்டத்தில் 

“முதலில் ஒன்றாக இருந்து, பின்னர் பலவேறு (Cosmic Evolution) வடிவங்களாகி, அவ்வடிவங்களில் அறிவும், உயிரும் வெவ்வேறாகி, ஊழிக் காலம் மஹா பிரளயத்தால் முடியும் போது, முதலில் இருந்த ஒன்றாகும் நிலையைப் பெற்று (Cosmic Dissolution) , மீண்டும் படைப்பு நிகழும்போது பலவகைப்பட்ட உலகங்களாகி, செம்மையாய் நின்ற ஞானக் கொழுந்தே! நீ புண்ணிய செயல்களை மேற்கொண்டவர்களைக் காக்கின்றாய், பாவம் செய்பவர்களை அழிக்கின்றாய். நிலையில்லாத அப்பாவமும் நீ படைத்தது அல்லவா?” 

என்று கம்பன் வர்ணிப்பதும் நமது முனிவர்களும், ரிஷிகளும் அறிந்துணர்ந்த அண்டங்களின் படைப்பிற்கு காரணமாகிய ஆதி அந்தமில்லா பரம்பொருளைப் பற்றியதே

இதனைத்தான் நாராயண பட்டத்ரி, ஐந்தாம் தசகத்தில் முதல் ஸ்லோகமாக வரைந்தார். 

அதனை இப்போது ஆய்வோம்.

Sanskrit Verse


व्यक्ताव्यक्तमिदं न किञ्चिदभवत्प्राक्प्राकृतप्रक्षये

मायायाम् गुणसाम्यरुद्धविकृतौ त्वय्यागतायां लयम् ।

नो मृत्युश्च तदाऽमृतं च समभून्नाह्नो न रात्रे: स्थिति –

स्तत्रैकस्त्वमशिष्यथा: किल परानन्दप्रकाशात्मना ॥१॥

தமிழாக்கம்

பருஉடல் தொடங்கி
நுன்நிலை அண்டமனைத்திற்கும்
பெரும் பிரளயம் முன்னே
இருப்பென்று ஒன்றுமில்லை.

முக்குணமும் சமமாகி,
மாற்றமெல்லாம் முழுதுமடங்கி
முன்னவன் உன்னுள்ளே
உறைந்தனளே மாயச்சக்தி

இறப்பில்லை, வீடுபேறென்றில்லை,
இறவு பகல் ஏதுமில்லை
இருப்பென்பது உனையன்றி
வேறெதுவுமல்லை – அப்

பேரழிவுக் காலம் முன்னே
பேரின்ப நிலைதனிலே
தூய இருப்பெனவே
இருந்தனையே பரம்பொருளே 5.1

Meaning in English 

This world consisting of the manifest and the unmanifest worlds (gross and the subtle) did not exist at all, before and during the total dissolution.The three Gunaas (Satwa, Rajas and Tamas) of Maya were in equilibrium, preventing any modification and so had become latent in Thee. At that time neither death nor liberation existed. Day and night also did not exist. Thou alone remained at that time as the Supreme Bliss Consciousness.

English Transliteration 

vyaktāvyaktamidaṁ na kiñcidabhavatprākprākr̥taprakṣayē

māyāyāṁ guṇasāmyaruddhavikr̥tau tvayyāgatāyāṁ layam |

nō mr̥tyuśca tadāmr̥taṁ ca samabhūnnāhnō na rātrēḥ sthiti -

statraikastvamaśiṣyathāḥ kila parānandaprakāśātmanā || 5

Meaning of the Sanskrit Words 

व्यक्त-अव्यक्तम्-इदं - this (universe) made up of the gross and the subtle (manifested and unmanifested)

न किञ्चित्-अभवत् - nothing existed

प्राक्-प्राकृत-प्रक्षये - before Praakrita Pralaya

मायायाम् - (when) Maayaa (Thy cosmic creative power)

गुण-साम्य-रुद्ध-विकृतौ - whose modifications were neutralised by the equipoise of the three Gunaas

त्वयि आगतायां लयम् - and had become latent in Thee,

नो मृत्यु: च - neither death

तदा-अमृतं च - and then nor liberation

समभू - (did) exist

न-अह्न: - neither day

न रात्रे: - or night

स्थिति: - was in existence

तत्र-एक: - त्वम् - then Thou as the Only One (without another)

अशिष्यथा: किल - did remain, verily

परानन्द-प्रकाश-आत्मना - as Supreme Bliss Consciousness

Narayaneeyam Dasakam 5 – Cosmic evolution – The Indian Perspective Part 1 – The magician and the magic

Word of Caution:

This write up below is definitely not an exhaustive description of what our scriptures talk about Creation. It is my very limited understanding of the vast literature available in public domain. 

The objective is to get a broad idea of the principles involved so that when we take up the study of our scriptures and Sanskrit Slokas, we will have a better comprehension of what they say. 

Reader is strongly advised to strictly learn these under the guidance of a Guru if one wants a deep dive in this subject.

The magician

In Part 1 (our previous blog on the subject) as part of the Scientific perspective, we were trying to understand in vain who the “Magician” is, who generates creation without needing to be created.  In other words we were looking for the “causeless cause” for and  before the Big Bang. We also understood that

     a) we need to be looking outside the system of cause-and-effect  as within that cause & effect systems, a “causeless cause” is inconceivable. This means that we need to look beyond science.

      b) We should also be looking at that “something” (causeless cause) which has both existence and consciousness

Our Rishis,saints and seers, in line with the inquiring environment at that time,contemplated extensively through deep meditations. Their processes were inward looking and the focus was on that “causeless cause” that we just discussed. 

They called that “causeless cause” as “Brahman” or “Atman”. They recognised “Brahman” as the one and only one pure, omnipresent, eternal Ultimate Reality that has “existence and consciousness” i.e., the “Brahman” is  the only eternal truth “sat” with “cit”. An absolute, eternal and infinite Self-existence, Self-awareness in a state of  Self-delight.

Our Rishis said that in the beginning nothing exists except this singularity called Brahman. The scientific statement that we saw reinforces this as a single infinitely dense infinitely hot and bright spot.

Such a reality, the only pure, omnipresent, indestructible eternal blissful ultimate reality is beyond descriptions for human beings being limited by their sense and action organs. That is the reason the Vedas describe this Ultimate Reality through the process of negation viz. not this, not this ….Discount everything that is within the grasp of living beings (sentient and insentient); what remains is that Ultimate Reality.


Mundaka Upanishad defines this Ultimate Reality as

यत्तदद्रेश्यमग्राह्यमगोत्रमवर्णंमचक्षुःश्रोत्रं तदपाणिपादम् |
नित्यं विभुं सर्वगतं सुसूक्ष्मं तदव्ययं यद्भूतयोनिं परिपश्यन्ति धीराः || 1.1.6 ||

That which is invisible, inconceivable, without lineage, without any classifications (Varṇa), without eyes and ears, without hands and feet, and that which is eternal, all-pervasive, omnipresent, extremely subtle and undecaying” – that is what the wise behold as the source of all beings. 

Hence the first principle, That One, the Ultimate Reality, the Brahman - tad ekam - cannot be characterized. It is without qualities or attributes, even negative ones. To apply to it any description is to limit the limitless. Brahman is the Consciousness that knows itself in all that exists;Brahman is the Ananda, the secret Bliss of existence which is the ether of our being and without which none could breathe or live. 

Yet after attempting to describe such a state presumed to be prior to creation, the Vedas has the humility to admit that all this is a surmise, for it is not possible to be sure of things which lie so far beyond human knowledge.

The Magic

Although indeterminable because of its absoluteness and infinity, this Supreme and Eternal Infinite Ultimate Reality determines itself and reveals itself to our consciousness in the universe. This revelation is the magic.

1. How is it revealed ? - By the real and fundamental truths of its being  which are beyond the universe and in it and are the very foundation of its existence. 

2. To whom is it revealed? - These truths present themselves to our conceptual cognition.

3. What is revealed? - Presented as the fundamental aspects in which we see and experience the omnipresent Reality. 

Depending upon one’s progress in spirituality and the level that one has reached, this is presented/revealed as Nirguna Brahman, Saguna Brahman, Individual soul in a body or as a body that has life -“Aham Brahmasmi, Aham Jeevosmi, Aham Dehasmi”. 

The essence of this cannot be explained in words.

“When the mind is transcended, these values, valid in the relative planes, can have no more meaning in the realm of the universal oneness”.

“In communicating to the seekers the unsurpassing beauty and indefinable perfections of the Absolute, the Upanishads stammer, the Brahmasutras exhaust themselves and the Bhagvad Gita hesitates with an excusable shyness”.

Swami Chinmayananda 
It is to be experienced in dynamic silence of one’s own deepest meditations. 

This is the magic that The Magician performs.

With this basic understanding, we will try and and get a broad overview of some of the principles and the processes involved in the cosmic evolution, in the subsequent blogs.

God Bless

Narayaneeyam Dasakam 5 – Cosmic Evolution – The Scientific Perspective

Big Bang
Word of Caution:

In the previous blog, we had clearly stated that we should have an overview of the various theories of Cosmic Evolution before attempting to understand the Dasakam 5 of Sriman Narayaneeyam.

This write up below is definitely not an exhaustive description of what our science talk about Creation. 

The objective is to get a broad idea of the theory involved so that when we take up our Sanatan Perspective of the Cosmos and Cosmology, we will have a better appreciation of the later which in turn will help us to understand Sriman Narayaneeyam Dasakam 5 better.

Reader is strongly advised to strictly learn these under the guidance of a professional  guide/teacher if one wants a deep dive in this subject.

Introduction 

 “OMG, this is crazy. How did he do that”?

A very typical exclamation by the audience in a Magic Show. Across the world, irrespective of age, magic shows attract large audience. Why? Because Humans are curious. 

Perhaps we are hardwired to the concept that behind every effect there has to be a cause. Therefore we are curious, particularly when we believe that in magic, there is  a hidden cause that connects events where no cause apparently exists.

There is one most important magical reality about which humans have been ever so curious since their arrival in this planet - “Universe and its creation”.  

How did we come into this earth? How was this universe created? Who created this Universe? When was it created? Where was it created and Why was it created? Is the creation a result of magical chaos or is there a scientific process? What was there before the creation? 

Behind these probing questions lies our curiosity; the curiosity to understand the relationships between us, the magician and the magic. In other words, our curiosity is about ourselves as a creation. 

When we discuss the subject of “creation”, we have several theories based on Science; each one putting out a strong case for themselves in terms of hypothesis, modelling, equations and validation. The Big Bang Theory is the leading scientific explanation for how the Universe began.

The Big Bang Theory 

“Simply put, it says the universe as we know it, started with an infinitely hot and dense single point that inflated and stretched — first at unimaginable speeds, and then at a more measurable rate — over the next 13.7 billion years to the still-expanding cosmos that we know today”.

Around 13.7 billion years ago, everything in the entire universe was condensed in an infinitesimally small singularity, a point of infinite denseness and heat. Suddenly, an explosive expansion began, ballooning our universe outwards faster than the speed of light. This was a period of cosmic inflation that lasted mere fractions of a second.  

When cosmic inflation came to a sudden and still-mysterious end, the more classic descriptions of the Big Bang took hold. A flood of matter and radiation, known as "reheating," began populating our universe with the stuff we know today: particles, atoms, the stuff that would become stars and galaxies and so on. This all happened within just the first second after the universe began, when the temperature of everything was still insanely hot, at about 10 billion degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 billion Celsius).  

The cosmos now contained a vast array of fundamental particles such as neutrons, electrons and protons — the raw materials that would become the building blocks for everything that exists today.

This early "soup" would have been impossible to actually see because it couldn't hold visible light. "The free electrons would have caused light (photons) to scatter the way sunlight scatters from the water droplets in clouds," NASA stated. 

Over time, however, these free electrons met up with nuclei and created neutral atoms or atoms with equal positive and negative electric charges. This allowed light to finally shine through, about 380,000 years after the Big Bang.

Sometimes called the "afterglow" of the Big Bang, this light is more properly known as the Cosmic Microwave Background called CMB. Existing technology doesn't yet allow astronomers to literally peer back at the universe's birth, much of what we understand about the Big Bang comes from mathematical formulas and models. Astronomers can, however, see the "echo" of the expansion through CMB.

Scientists have been trying to figure out how to "see" the Big Bang through other measures by simulating thousands of versions of the current universe on massive supercomputers. 

Big Bang is often described as an "explosion". In an explosion, fragments are flung out from a central point into a pre-existing space. If you were at the central point, you'd see all the fragments moving away from you at roughly the same speed. 

But the Big Bang wasn't like that. It was an expansion of space itself – a concept that comes out of Einstein’s equations of  general relativity but has no counterpart in the classical physics of everyday life. It means that all the distances in the universe are stretching out at the same rate. Any two galaxies separated by distance X are receding from each other at the same speed, while a galaxy at distance 2X recedes at twice that speed.

The universe is not only expanding, but expanding faster. This means that with time, nobody will be able to spot other galaxies from Earth or any other vantage point within our galaxy.

Scientists agree that while we can understand how the universe we see came to be, it's possible that the Big Bang was not the first inflationary period the universe experienced. Some scientists believe we live in a cosmos that goes through regular cycles of inflation and deflation, and that we just happen to be living in one of these phases.
 
In other words,  "What Science is now trying to do is something like guessing a baby photo of our universe from the latest picture."

Conclusion 

In the words of Deepak Chopra, “Science has gone through a long, hard slog to replace magical thinking with rational cause-and-effect and yet  we are all embedded in a magical reality that has no cause or explanation”. 


While Science came out with credible explanation of  how the Universe was created post “Big Bang” (the current theory believed to be the most scientific explanation of the phenomenon),  what we seek is what happened before the Big Bang. 

We are trying to understand who the “Magician” is, who generates creation without needing to be created.  In other words we are looking for the “causeless cause” for and  before the Big Bang. This means that 

      1. We need to be looking outside the    system of cause-and-effect  as within that cause & effect systems, a “causeless cause” is inconceivable.

      2. We should be looking at “something” which has both existence and consciousness

We will see this “causeless cause” and our thought process in the next few blogs when we take up the study of “creation” from the Indian Perspective as per our Sanatan Dharma.