23/02/2024
Big Bang and Vedanta!
According to Vedanta, all beings, including the universe itself, emerge from the same ultimate source,
which is Brahman. Brahman is considered the substratum and underlying reality from which
everything arises.
• This is similar to the concept of the Big Bang in modern cosmology which posits that the universe began
as a singularity—a point of infinite density and temperature—and expanded from that initial state.
This expansion gave rise to the formation of galaxies, stars, planets, and eventually life forms. The Big
Bang theory suggests that all matter and energy in the universe can be traced back to this initial event.
• In Vedanta, the concept of creation is explained through the principle of Maya, which is the creative
power of Brahman. Maya manifests the universe, including all beings and forms, as an expression of
Brahman's infinite potential. The creation of the universe is seen as a projection or manifestation of
Brahman, like how the Big Bang theory describes the emergence of the universe from a singular state.
• Furthermore, both Vedanta and the Big Bang theory imply a cyclic nature of creation and dissolution.
In the Big Bang theory, the universe expands and then contracts, leading to the possibility of a new
cycle of creation. Similarly, in Vedanta, it is believed that Brahman goes through cycles of creation,
preservation, and dissolution, where the universe is manifested and then withdrawn back into
Brahman.
• In terms of beings returning to the same source, Vedanta teaches that individual souls, known as Jivas,
are essentially manifestations of Brahman. These souls, obscured by the veil of ignorance caused by
Maya undergoes the cycle of birth and death in various forms. Through spiritual practices and self-realization, the Jiva can attain liberation (moksha) and merge back into Brahman, realizing its
essential oneness with the ultimate source.
• So, both the Big Bang theory and Vedanta point to the idea that all beings and the universe itself
originate from a common source and have the potential to return to that source. While the scientific
perspective of the Big Bang focuses on the physical aspects of the universe's origin, Vedanta explores
the metaphysical and spiritual dimensions, emphasizing the underlying unity and the path to self-realization.
