The universe in this picture is a pulsating balloon in which cycles of expansion and contraction succeed each other through eternity."
you will find how wonderfully they are in accordance with the latest discoveries of modern science and where there is disharmony, you will find that it is modern science which lacks and not they."Įinstein writes that "cosmic expansion may be simply a temporary condition which will be followed at some future epoch of cosmic time by a period of contraction. Quote-“A perceptive reader will find many striking similarities between the latest findings of Astrophysics and ancient Indian cosmological ideas, of which Swamiji (Vivekananda) says: ". Among the latter Acharyas the contributions made by Gaudapada, and Adi Sankara to these thoughts are colossal.Ī brief quotation from the article “Cosmology in Vedanta” by Swami Tathagatananda published by Vedanta Society of New York given below brings out lucidly the perspectives of both Vedanta and modern science on this subject. These theories are discussed in elaborate details in the following Upanishads Viz., Prasna, Aitareya, Mundaka, Taittiriya, Katha, Chandogya, Svetasvatara, Brhadaranyaka, Maitri, Paingala Upanishads besides the Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Vasishtha. This view gets crystallized into the later Upanishadic doctrine that the spirit or Atman in man (at microcosm) is the same as the spirit which is the cause of the world which goes by the name Brahman or Paramatman (at macrocosm). The first principle which is called Purusha manifested as the whole world by his Tapas. The world form is only a fragment of this divine reality. He is conceived as a cosmic person with a thousand heads, eyes and feet, who filled the whole universe and extended beyond it. The Purusha Sukta of Rig Veda paints a picture of the ideal Primeval Being existing before any phenomenal existence. It was considered as an ongoing-process and not an event. For a detailed analysis of the subject the reader may refer to my article entitled “Mystery of Creation - Some Vedantic Concepts” under the category ‘Vedanta’ available in this Website.Ĭreation is interpreted in the Vedas as a developmental course rather than as bringing into being something not hitherto existent. But the mystery of creation remains as much unfathomed and unsolved today as in the Vedic days. We have philosophers’ speculations and poetic imaginations. We have scientific theories throwing up endless ever changing conclusions, the most path-breaking of which is Charles Darwin’s “Origin of Species” followed by Stephen Hawking and others. We have answers to this enigma in every religion. This question is not merely academic but it also assumes the colors of religion, philosophy, science and poetry. One of the oldest pastimes of man is to run the search engine of his contemplative and analytical faculties to find out the final answer to the riddle of creation of the universe. This is forerunner of ‘Unified Field Theory’ or a ‘Theory of Everything’ which the modern physicists are trying to discover although the modern science does not recognize Consciousness as a factor in creation of the universe. Aitareya Upanishad identifies Consciousness as the First Cause of creation. It contains the mahavakya, the great aphorism “prajnanam brahma”, Consciousness is Brahman. Vedas and Upanishads- A Structural ProfileĪitareya Upanishad is a common ground for philosophy and physics.Sri Rudra Prasna or Satarudriya -A Flag Post of Universality and Inclusiveness of Hinduism.Prasna Upanishad (Part-1)- Origin of Created Beings.Prasna Upanishad (Part-3)- How Does Life-Breath Function.Prasna Upanishad (Part-2)- Who Supports the Created Beings.Prasna Upanishad (Part-4)-Who in man sleeps, dreams, and keeps awake.Prasna Upanishad (Part-5)- Why meditate on AUM.Prasna Upanishad (Part-6)-Where to look for the Cosmic Person.Svetasvatara Upanishad - Chap 1Speculation about the First Cause.Svetasvatara Upanishad - Chap 2 Invocation to Savitr (The Sun) and Practice of Yoga.Svetasvatara Upanishad - Chap 3 The Highest Reality.Svetasvatara Upanishad - Chap 4 The One God of the Manifold World.Svetasvatara Upanishad - Chap 5 The One Immanent God.