The Cosmology in Bhagavatam

The Cosmology in Bhagavatam
The modern day theoretical Physics is still struggling to explain how the
Universe came into being and also explain all the phenomena that occurs
in the Universe. It is believed that the Universe came into being with a big
bang in which matter and forces were born and burst out in all directions
to form a Universe which is still expanding today. While the four forces at
work in Universe, the gravitation, strong nuclear force, electromagnetism
and weak nuclear forces have been understood, the search to find a
unified theory which will explain all the forces is still eluding. Recently a
missing part of this puzzle, the Higg's Boson's foot print has been
observed.
However it is a fact that our Vedic scriptures like various Upanishads,
Bhagavata Puranam offer a .profound explanation about how the
Universe came into being. In fact the explanation offered goes beyond
creation. It has been stated that a large number of Universes are created
and clustered together that they appear like atoms in a huge
combination. The repeated creation and annihilation of Universe, the
period for which the Universe exists after which the dissolution takes
place, the structure of different planetary systems etc. are dicussed in
Bhagavatam. In rotatory motion we know that as the orbital diameter
increases the time taken by an orbiting body to complete one revolution
also increases.Following the same, it has been mentioned in Bhagavatam
( 3rd Canto, chapter 11) that atoms , planets, stars etc. in the Universe
are rotating in their orbits and each has its own samvatsara. It has also
been indicated that in the upper planetary systems duration of one day
and night is equal to one complete year of earth.The diameter of the
material world is indicated as 4 billion miles.
The evolution of Universe from Mahat- tattva when agitated by the
glance of God, beginning from sound to sky to air to fire to water to earth
is fascinating . ( 2nd canto chapter 5 and 3rd canto chapter 26) It has
also been indicated that at the time of annihilation the exact reverse
process takes place. Brief summary is attempted below.
In the Second Canto ( Chapter 5) of Bhagavatam, Narada asks his
father ,Brahma to explain the creation and conservation of the manifest
world and under whose control all this is done. Brahma answers that the
five elementary ingredients of creation ( earth, water, air, fire and sky/
ether) , the eternal time which sets up their interaction and mind of living
beings all are part and parcel of the external energy of the Lord. The
principle of material creation, the Mahat- tattva when agitated by the will
of Lord , there is transformation at first of the mode of goodness and
passion and later mode of ignorance , by which matter, knowledge and
activities come int o play. From tamas ahamkara ( Ego or sense of
identification with matter) first came Akasa having the only property of
Sound. ( big bang theory of Universe?). From Akasa came out Air having
quality of sound+ touch. Air also has breath energy, sense perception ,
mental power and bodily strength. From Air, came out in time , the
element of Fire which has the quality of Shape+ Touch + Sound. From
Fire evolved Water . Water has the quality of Taste+ Shape+ Touch +
Sound. From Water came out Earth which has quality of Smell+ Shape +
Touch + Sound. Thus the process of creation is an act of gradual evolution

from one element to another with additive qualities of one after another.
The faculty of sense perception is also evolutionary. From Ego in the mode
of Goodness came Mind and from Ego in the mode of passion came the
sense organs in the same order Ear, Skin, Eyes, Tongue , Nose, Mouth,
Hands, Legs, Genitals, Evacuation outlets,Intelligence and Living Energy.
; When all the individual elements are assembled under the
influence of time by force of energy of the Lord, the Universe comes into
being.
The fundamental principles of creation of the material world is also
explained in detail in Kapilamunis discourse to his mother Devahuti in
3rd canto ( chapter 26) of Bhagavatam. The unmanifest world ( from
which the material creations manifest) is ever existing since it is part of
the material energy of the Lord. The cosmic manifestations sometimes
appear from the material energy and some times it disappears. Pradhana
is the subtle undifferentiated sum total of 24 elements. Ie:- five gross
elements ( earth, water, fire, air and sky) + five subtle elements ( smell,
taste, color, touch and sound) + five senses for gathering knowledge
( sense for smell etc) + five outward organs of action ( organs for
speaking, working , travelling, evacuation, generation ) + four internal
senses ( mind, intelligence, ego and consciousness).
The twentyfifth element is time which is the mixing element. In fact time
factor is Lord.
When Pradhana is agitated by the glance of God into activity , it begins
to manifest itself under the influence of time as an unintelligent egg.
( Brahmanda). (The same principle applies for the creation of a living
form.) In the universe layers of water, air, fire, sky, ego and mahat tattva
increases in thickness one after the other. Each layer is 10 times thicker
than the previous one. Within this egg enters Hari as Virat Purusa covering
the 14 palnetary systems.
It is very surprising to note that the process of annihilation of the
Universe has been explained exactly in the reverse order by Shri Krishna
in the exposition of Sankhya philosophy to Uddhava in 11th Canto.
Chapter 24. Verse 28 in this canto is summarized below.
At the time of annihilation, body of the living being merges into food.
Food merges into earth. Earth merges into its subtle form of smell. Smell
merges into water and water into taste. Taste merges into fire which
merges into form. Form merges into touch and touch into sky. Sky merges
into sound. The senses merges into mind and mind to ego in mode of
goodness. Sound merges into ego in mode of ignorance . Ego merges into
unmanifest form which merges into time. Time merges into Lord as Virat
Purusa. The origin of all life merges into Vishnu.
The repeated creation and annihilation of the material world is also
referred in Bhagavad Gita. (9.7.8). At the end of each millennium, the
material world with living entities merge into Lord and are again
materialized at his will. According to past Karma, the living entities get a
material body.

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The Cosmology in Bhagavatam

Touch + Sound. Thus the process of creation is an act of gradual evolution

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