Tag: Universe

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.

Narayaneeyam – Daskam 5 – Preface

Sri Guruvayurappan

Introduction 

Sri. Narayana Bhattathri starts Narayaneeyam with description and the glory of Lord Guruvayurappan in Dasakam 1, where he establishes the identity of the Lord with the Ultimate Reality called Brahman, the embodiment of Pure Existence, Pure Consciousness and Pure Bliss (Sat, Cit, Anandam).

In the next Dasakam 2, he brings out the charming form of the Lord and the superiority of the path of devotion in one’s goal of realising Sat Cit Anandam. 

He follows it up by identifying the traits and true characteristics of a devotee in Daskam 3. Having conditioned the mind of the devotees with these overall preparations, Bhattathri then addresses the techniques of establishing their minds on Lord Guruvayurappan through Ashtanga Yoga (the eightfold discipline) in Dasakam 4.

In Dasakam 5, Sri Narayana Bhattathri elevates the plane of inquiry to the Cosmos. After all what happens in Cosmos and what happens inside each of us can’t be entirely different when it comes to spiritual progress towards the Ultimate Reality.

Cosmos – Coexistence of tradition and modernity in understanding the “Poornam” (Infinity)

Talking about Cosmos, on a clear and fog free day, during the “सन्ध्या काल" "sandhya kaala” (translated as “twilight” in English) the brightest stars and planets can be seen, the horizon and terrestrial objects can be discerned. During this period, have you ever gazed observantly and reflectively the outer space?

1. Why is there something rather than nothing?

2. How did these come into existence?

3. Is there an order in this process?

When we do Cosmos gazing and contemplate, it is not difficult for a rational mind to “inescapably impose upon us the comprehension that an infinite intelligence rules this wonderful cosmos”. This is what our Rishis observed and studied in depth. This is what Narayana Bhattathri is outlining in Dasakam 5.
Before we get on with Dasakam 5, an overview of the Cosmic Evolution as explained by our Rishis in our Scriptures is vital to appreciate the Slokas in the correct perspective.

We must bear in our minds that our ancestors did not have any of the modern scientific equipment and tools to explain the origin of this universe. The amount of data that they had was limited.

All that were there, were only positive thinking rational individuals with a firm grit and determination to understand the relationships between individual, the universe and the creator. The tools and equipment they had were super computers called brain and an operating system called “manas” or the mind in each of them. They modelled the cosmological events in the form of mythical stories.

In the modern times, being so confident in our present theory of creation we disregard these mythical stories as superstition. Taken literally these stories do not make any sense, however if we contemplate deeper one can make sense of the philosophy behind it.

After all today’s science uses outward looking means to probe Cosmos using mathematical models while Seers and Saints used inward looking means to understand what is happening deep down inside us and relate it to what is happening outside through mythical stories as models.

What next? 

In the next few blogs, we will have a quick overview of the modern and traditional perspectives of the Cosmic Evolution. This will help us to understand the Dasakam 5 better.

These blogs will also appear as newsletter in my Substack page 

https://soundar53.substack.com

Dakshinamurthy Sthothram – Sloka 2 – Prologue – The Creation Process & Science

The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) is a general-purpose detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). It has a broad physics program ranging from studying the Standard Model (including the Higgs boson) to searching for extra dimensions and particles that could make up dark matter. The CMS detector is built around a huge solenoid magnet. This takes the form of a cylindrical coil of superconducting cable that generates a field of 4 tesla, about 100,000 times the magnetic field of the Earth. The field is confined by a steel “yoke” that forms the bulk of the detector’s 14,000-tonne weight. Credit: CERN

Wondering what has Higgs Boson to do with Dakshinamurthy Stothram !

Let us have a quick overview of the current scientific scenario related to Theory of Creation (Information collated from the public domain)

Big Bang Theory

When the universe began, it was just hot, tiny particles mixed with light and energy. It was nothing like what we see now. As everything expanded and took up more space, it cooled down. The tiny particles grouped together. They formed atoms. Then those atoms grouped together. Over lots of time, atoms came together to form stars and galaxies. The first stars created bigger atoms and groups of atoms. That led to more stars being born. At the same time, galaxies were crashing and grouping together. As new stars were being born and dying, then things like asteroids, comets, planets, and black holes formed! How long did all of this take? Well, we now know that the universe is 13,800,000,000 years old—that’s 13.8 billion. That is a very long time. That’s pretty much how the universe began. Because it got so big and led to such great things, some people call it the “Big Bang.” But maybe a better name would be the “Everywhere Stretch.”

The Multiverse Theory:

What happened before the Big Bang? No one is sure, and some physicists contend that the word “before” has no clear meaning in this context. The universe could have been eternal, or it could have had a beginning — we just don’t know. In recent years, scientists have developed several theoretical models that attempt to describe epochs that preceded the Big Bang. Advances in physics over the past 30 years have led some physicists and cosmologists to the mind-boggling conclusion that the universe we inhabit is just one of many in existence — perhaps an infinite number. If these scientists are right, then all the stars and galaxies we see in the night sky are but a tiny fraction of an incomprehensibly vast assemblage that scientists call the multiverse.

String Theory in support of Multiverse:

One of the arguments put forth for the existence of a multiverse arises is the string theory, which holds that matter is ultimately composed not of particles but of unimaginably small, vibrating strings or loops of energy. String theory’s equations seem to have a staggering number of possible solutions (perhaps as many as 10^500 — that’s a one followed by 500 zeros). Some string theorists argue that each of these solutions describes a different universe, each with its own physical properties.

Higgs Boson – God Particle:

God Particle or the Higgs boson is the fundamental particle associated with the Higgs field, a field that gives mass to other fundamental particles such as electrons and quarks. A particle’s mass determines how much it resists changing its speed or position when it encounters a force. Not all fundamental particles have mass. The photon, which is the particle of light and carries the electromagnetic force, has no mass at all.

Scientists are now studying the characteristic properties of the Higgs boson to determine if it precisely matches the predictions of the Standard Model of particle physics. If the Higgs boson deviates from the model, it may provide clues to new particles that only interact with other Standard Model particles through the Higgs boson and thereby lead to new scientific discoveries.

Back to Basics:

After these overviews on the theory of creation, here is an observation by Alessandro Fedrizzi (Professor of Quantum Physics at Heriot Watt UNiversity) & Massimiliano Proietti, PhD Candidate)

“The scientific method is after all founded on the reliable notions of observation, measurement and repeatability. A fact, as established by a measurement, should be objective, such that all observers can agree with it. But in a paper recently published in Science Advances, we show that, in the micro-world of atoms and particles that is governed by the strange rules of quantum mechanics, two different observers are entitled to their own facts. In other words, according to our best theory of the building blocks of nature itself, facts can actually be subjective. Observers are powerful players in the quantum world. According to the theory, particles can be in several places or states at once – this is called a superposition. But oddly, this is only the case when they aren’t observed. The second you observe a quantum system, it picks a specific location or state – breaking the superposition. The fact that nature behaves this way has been proven multiple times in the lab. (https://theconversation.com/quantum-physics-our-study-suggests-objective-reality-doesnt-exist-126805)”.

Here is an interesting observation, which I read in one of the news reports recently :

Whether or not there is a “God particle,” we know this about Christ: “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible . . . all things were created by him and for him” (Colossians 1:16).

Sounds familiar – We are trying to find out the cause of Infinity (“Purnam”) and trying our best to define it within the gamut of time and space; well, these scientific work backed up by extremely complex mathematical equations and powerfully equipped astronomy can continue without end. Let us recollect the Shanthi Sloka of Isavasya Upanishad:

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते ।

पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

“Isavasyam idham sarvam” ! Isn’t it? This is exactly what Vedas, Upanishads, Saints and Philosophers from Hinduism had told centuries ago through their “darshanas” (perspectives), “vaadaas” (deliberations), commentaries and Slokas.

Sloka No 2 focusses on “Creator and the process”. Let us see “HIM/HER”, the Creator and HIS/HER process for creation in the subsequent blogs.