Cosmology according to Vedas. Who created it? How old is it? (Before the creation, only Om was present and aware. E-Kcept for emancipated sours, the Primordial particles were inactive and souls were in deep sleep. Om is the true 5i/taster of the cosmos. From the earth to the sun to the whore universe, .7fe created it all Let us all bow down and worship Him. (Rig Veda chapter 8-7, Valli 3 Verse 1.) There are many mantras (verses) in Vedas explaining how the cosmos came to be. In Rigveda verse 10.129.3 describes the condition before the start of creation. The verse states, In the beginning the whole was enveloped in utter darkness. Nothing was discernible. It was like a dark night, Matter was in its elementary form. It was like empty space. The whole of universe, completely covered by darkness, was insignificantly small compared with the Infinite God who by His infinite power evolved this visible world-the effect- out of the elementary matter- the cause. Sankhya Shastra written by the sage Kapil also has written in great detail about the steps in the creation of the universe in his treatise. In scriptures from India, there is a great emphasis on this fact that any serious student of Yoga must first understand the process of creation, its purpose and mans place in the scheme of things. There is a famous saying in Upanishadas that goes like this, Yatha Pinde¬Tatha Brahamande. This means that the material that has been used to create the universe has also been utilized in formation of our own bodies. Therefore, the Material Cause that formed the universe can also be investigated by concentrating our mind and intellect on ourselves during the higher stages of Yoga. This is similar to how Einstein; the great theoretical physicist of our times had carried out thought experiments during stages of deep concentrations likes of which great Yogis are capable of achieving. Let me list the steps in creation as written by sage Kapil in Sankhya Shastra. 1. This book (Sankhya Shastra) is being written to free mankind from all kinds of suffering. 2. In order to permanently rid oneself of physical, mental, spiritual suffering, one should be able to distinguish between what is conscious, alert; aware (Purusha-God or souls) as opposed to what is inert, nonliving, and lacking consciousness (Prakriti-matter). This is called special knowledge (Viveka). 3. Inability to discern between these two entities is called the Main Ignorance (Aaviveka). That is the root cause of all of our sufferings. 4. The knowledge of creation is a most useful aid in getting rid of this ignorance. 5, Before the creation, the Matter, the material cause of the universe was in the form of primordial particles. The particles were particulate, carried either a positive charge (Sartya Guna) or a negative charge (Rajo Guna) or no charge (Tama Guna). The primordial particles have therefore three qualities; attraction between oppositely charged particles, repulsion between similarly charged particles and neutrality or absence of above two qualities. Due to an external power called Prana exerted by God on these particles, they were inert and non-reactive amongst each other. This is also called a stage of equilibrium. 6. The first step in creation was breaking or dissolution of this state of equilibrium. How did this happen? A nonliving, inert material cannot do this by itself .So we have to accept that it was done by a very powerful conscious entity or being. This step was extraordinary. This change happened in uncountable particles at the same time. Compared to the immensity of this step, rest of the creation is relatively less significant. 7. Once equilibrium was gone, the particles started to react amongst one another and formed slightly larger combinations. This first effect is called Mahar Tattva (Quarks?). Mahar Tanya is subatomic stage of the matter and also may carry net positive, negative or neutral charge. According to the author, Mahar Tattva is used in human body to make the Astral Body also known as Microscopic Body (Suksham Sharir). Briefly, the Astral Body is the sear of past memories and knowledge. It envelops the soul and travels with it. from life to life in the cycles of reincarnations. The Astral Body forms the liaison between the Soul (conscious entity) on the one hand and the body (made up of matter) on the other hand. 8. In the next step, Mahar Tattva forms even larger groupings and three types ofAhankara are created. 9. a- Vaikarik Ahankara is Sato Guni-with positive charge(=Proton). b- Tejus Ahankara is IZajo Guni and carries negative charge(==Electron) c- Bhutadi Ahankara has no charge and is Tamo Guni(=Neutron). These Ahankaras are used to form the microscopic representations of five senses of knowledge (sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch) and five senses of motor functions (speech, hands, reproductive organs, elimination organ and feet) on the Astral Body. 10. When Ahankaras are created, five subtle forces are also created which are needed to bind the Ahankaras in to Parimandalas (atoms). Up to this step, creation is called Aavishesh (non specific) but once atoms are created, the creation is called Vaishashik (specific). 11. These Parirnandalas (atoms) are combined in different permutations and combinations to form Suksham Bhut (molecules), which are further aggregated by Divine Intelligence to make Sthool Bhut (visible world). 12. Primordial particles are unconscious, inert and have no free will (Jarh) and any combinations of these no matter how sophisticated remain inert and unconscious. Therefore the Astral body and our gross body are made up of matter, which is unconscious and inert Oath). Sage Kapil states that he has thought over it very carefully and has come to a definite conclusion that inert, unconscious particles can never become conscious, alert and aware (Chetan) and vice versa. That line cannot be crossed. 13. It is the Soul that is alert, aware, conscious entity (Chetan), which by its presence makes Astral Body and gross body come alive. In fact when soul enters the body, it is called birth and when it departs, the body dies. The Soul has the power of decision, discretion, direction and free will. The creation has been made for the use of the Souls. That is the purpose of creation. 14. God is the efficient cause or the Creator of the universe. Because matter being unconscious and lacking intelligence cannot form itself into an intelligent creation. It will require a separate book to do justice to this great body of work. His method of investigation is deep meditation during highest stages ofYoga. He also states that his conclusions about creation are similar to what is written in the Vedas. Q. How old is the creation? A. There are two counting systems in Vedic Scriptures 1. The time when creation is manifest is called a day of Brahma. When the visible universe is broken down into primordial particles, this period is called the night of Brahma. The day or night consists of one thousand Chatur Yugis (four periods). Each Chatur Yugi has four Yugas (periods). They are Sat Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwaper Yuga and Kali Yuga. Kali Yuga has 432,000 years. Dwaper Yuga contains twice as many years i.e., 864,000 years. TreraYuga has three times the years in Kali Yuga i.e., 1,296,000 );ears. The Sat Yuga has four rimes as many i.e., 1,728,000 years. A Claatur Yugi thus consists of 4,320,000 years. A day of Brahma is one Chatur Yugi times one thousand gives us the number of 4.32 billion years. The night of Brahma is also 4.32 billion years long. 2. The 4.32 billion years are divided in to fourteen Manvantras (Periods). Seventy-one Chatur Yogis equal one Manvantra, which has 306,720,000 years. From the beginning of the present creation, six Manvantras have passed. Their names are Svayambhava, Swarochish, Ottami, Tamas Raivar, and Chakshus. The present Manvantra is called Vaivastva and seven more Manvantras are yet to come. Of the present Manvantra Vaisvastva, twenty-seven Chatur Yugis have passed. Of the 28 Chatur Yugi, Sat Yuga, Treta and Dwaper Yugas are gone. Right now we are in Kali Yuga and about 5200 years have passed. 432,000 years minus 5200 years of Kali Yoga are left. For thousands of years, whenever some special occasions are celebrated or if an author writes a book, they always start by introducing themselves, their family, the purpose of their book or occasion and they narrate in detail about the time when they are celebrating or writing. It goes something like this, With the grace of God, and blessings of my parents and teachers, I so and so, son of so and so, belonging to such and such family, am writing this book about so and so subject. I am starting this book in seventh Vaivastva Manvantra, 2811 Ghana Yugi, so and so year of Kali Yuga, in the month of so and so, on this day, at this time. I pray that Almighty God may guide my noble effort. Also in various parts of the country, many Brahmin families publish Panchang (Almanac) to inform people of special holidays, and positions of moon etc., and they have kept an accurate count of this system. Bibliography 1. Rig Veda- nasdiya sukt-creation hymn chapter 10. 2. Sankhya Shatra by Sage Kapil. Commentries by Guru Datt. 3. Surya Sidhant by Arya Bhatt (Ancient Astronomer) 4. Vedadi Bhashya Bhoomika by Swami Dayanand.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 17:45:44 +0000
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