Random Thoughts Part 4 - Black Hole, Big Bang theory and Indian Mythology

The Black hole theory states that the power of attraction of the black hole is so high that all stars and Galaxies will get absorbed into it and will disappear giving no trace. There is even today a black hole some where in the Universe and some stars are getting absorbed into it. The black hole slowly gets bigger. As this gets larger and larger, more and more stars and galaxies get absorbed and one day the whole Universe will disappear.

The 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. We can see remnants of this hot dense matter as the now very cold cosmic microwave background radiation which still pervades the universe and is visible to microwave detectors as a uniform glow across the entire sky. Thus various Galaxies and Solar systems and planets came into being. Life forms appeared in some of these Galaxies or Planets after billions of years.

The only God in Hindu Mythology who is described as black or dark blue in colour is Lord Vishnu or Narayana. Our belief is that during end of Brahma Kalpa, everything disappears and gets absorbed into the lord's stomach. There will be nothing left of the creation. This is what we consider as Brahma Pralayam. This is similar to the postulates made by the protagonists of the Black hole theory.

Hindu Mythology also states that at the end of present Brahma Kalpa also the entire Universe will get absorbed into Lord Narayana. The modern scientists may call this Black hole. We call Him Black or Blue in colour and Whole. He is Poornam or Whole. Such an event happened at the end of previous Brahma Kalpa. This was long before the Present Brahma, Who is also known as Padmaja, (The one born on Lotus), emerged from Nabhi Kamalam of lord Vishnu. Mythology also states that there was water all round, when Brahma was created / born or manifeststed from the Lotus. There was no Big Bang or explosion, and Lord Brahma, started creation of Universe utilising the Lotus.

There is also relevance to Big bang theory but prior to first Brahma Kalpa. Srimad Bhagavatham as well as Markandeya purana describes the situation before the first Brahma Kalpa. There was no matter or living being. There was no measure of time. There was neither day nor night; neither light nor darkness. The whole place was only filled with some kind of energy. Then it is said that time measure was started. The energy waves manifests as sound, light and heat energy waves and then matter appears and there after the sense of hearing, sight, smell and touch were created. It is also said that Water or "Karana jalam" was created at that stage. Life itself had not manifested at that stage. The creation of Gyanendriyas or Sensory organs like Eyes, Ears, Skin etc was evolved, and was followed by Karmendriyas, like hands, feet, etc. These took millions of years of evolution. After creation of all matters and sensory organs, space and directions, all these were put together and compressed into an egg or "Andam". Life forms had not materialised even at that stage. This Egg lies in Karana Jalam or water, for a long time, undergoing variety of transformation and millions of combinations to form various materials and living organisms. Kindly note that Andam or this massive egg was lying in Water for many millions of years before life forms appeared. Match this with modern theory that water is required for life forms to be sustained and scientists look for signs of water in other planets to see if life exists in other planets.

Mythology says that this egg splits, at some stage with a Big Bang, to form the 14 Lokas or Universes. (We can also deduce from this that there is some thing beyond the 14 Lokas or Universe also). It is natural to presume that life in some form or other, exists in all these fourteen worlds.

Mythology states that in the first Brahma Kalpa, Lord Narayana Himself appears as Brahma and starts creation of various Galaxies and Planets and also life forms. There is no detailed information in our Puranas on the happenings in the first Brahma Kalpa. The four Sanakadhikal were the first creation, all from mind of Brahma. They could travel at will not only within the 14 Lokas but also to Vaikuntam, the abode of Lord Vishnu, which was beyond the 14 lokas.

Creation of various Galaxies takes place even before creation of Manu. The Rishis and Devas were capable of travelling from one Galaxy to another at will. In the first stage, procreation was by cloning or by division. Most of the creations were Unisex.

Brahma at some stage creates Manu and Satharoopi (Adam and Eve of western Mythology) after splitting his body into male and female. It is Manu who asks Brahma for a place for his Progenies and Brahma directs him to Earth.

Mythology gives us a rough indication as to how long back was the previous Brahma Pralayam or Black Hole Phenomenon and when it is likely to happen again. We can calculate as to how long back was the Big Bang, if we assume there was only one Brahma prior to present one. The Calculations is somewhat like this. We know that 365 days constitute a year on earth. 64 such years makes a solar day . 360 solar days or one Solar year or (Divya Samvatsara) constitute a Yuga. That is one Yuga is approximately 23040 Years on Earth. Actually it works out to be 24000 years. There are 4 Yugas (Named as Kritha, Thretha, Dwaparam and Kali Yuga) in each Galaxy year cycle and 71 such Yuga cycle constitute a Manwanthara. Thus one Yuga cycle is 4x24000, which is 96000 years. Approximately 100,000 years and one Manwantharam will be 7.1 million years. There are supposed to be 14 Manwantharas in each Brahma Kalpa. The dormant period between the Manwantharas or end of one manwanthara and before the next one start, is supposed to be Brahma's night, which is another 7 million years, then the total period of Brahma Kalpa will be 200 million years.

We are in the middle or twentyeight (28th) cycle of chathur Yugas, (Ashta Vimsathi thame) of the Seventh Manwanthara called "Vivaswatha Manwanthara" on this Brahma Kalpa, which is called "Swetha Varaha Kalpam". We are in the first quarter or Pradama Padam of this Kali yuga. (Recall Maha Sankalpam words "Swetha Varaaha Kalpay, Vivaswatha Manwantharey, Ashta vimsathi thame, Kali Yugay, Pradhamay Padhay)

We have so far covered 4700 years in this Kali Yuga and 3.0 Million years in Vivaswatha Manwanthara. Present 28th Chathur Yuga cycle will end and Pralayam will come after another 18000 years. Thank God. "It will be 3.5 Million Years for the Next Brahma Pralayam." Oh! What a relief.

Contributed By:
K N Ramanathan gets these random thoughts sitting through a well-deserved retired life after a checkered career in various Public Sector and private sector organizations in India. Sri Ramanathan has his roots in Kavasseri, Palakkad & Tali, Calicut and currently spends his days at Boston, USA and Chennai.

All rights reserved. Copyright © 2002 K.N.Ramanathan. This article may not be reproduced in whole or in part without prior permission of the author.