For Hindus Space is independent entity while time exist in space
For
Einstein space and time are not flat but stretched and warped and curved by gravity
of matter. On behalf of Einstein theory of space- time, the modern sciences are
studying cosmos to understand the starting and end of universe. At present the
theory of Einstein is so popular and verified that astro- physics is trying to
understand the nature of universe. For modern sciences, space is a fabric that
curved because of gravity and space and time is uniform theory.
Even all
that scientists are looking with mega telescopes to billions of light years and
informing how many galaxies are there, but they already admitted that the light
coming to their telescope immerse billions of years ago and therefore what they
are seeing and witnessing is the condition of universe far billions of light
years is the past and history of cosmos and they even do not know what actually
at present the space is and carrying how many present galaxies. There are certainly
more paradoxes that reality for scientists and it is good that youth at present
is studying sciences rather than practising religions.
But if we study deep into the Hindu
metaphysics of how this universe is formed and what space is they have clearly
observed and understand the meaning of universe and have specific definition of
space. The Hindus started with the Rig Vedas to understand the universe,
creation and observed what actually the space is made up of.
The
Hindus started with the formation of universe but actually not suggested the
big Bang theory of the creation but clearly specified the origin of universe in
the Nasayda Hymans. These Hymans was not delivered that how universe started
but it gives the picture of what actually the formation situation of
universe. The Hymans stated the
condition of before the Universe started and then how it proceeded-
“There was neither non-existence nor existence then.
There was neither the space nor the sky,
There was neither death nor immortality then.
There was no individual mark of night nor of day.
That One breathed, windless, by its own impulse.
Other than that there was nothing beyond.
Darkness was hidden by darkness in the beginning,
with no distinctive sign, all this was water.
The life force that was covered with emptiness,
that One arose through the power of heat.
....................................
Who really knows?
Who will here declare it?
Whence was it shaped?
Whence is this creation?
The gods came afterwards, with the creation of this universe.
Who then knows whence it has arisen?
Whence this creation has arisen
- perhaps it formed itself, or perhaps it did not -
the One who looks down on it,
in the highest heaven, only He knows
or perhaps even He does not know.”
In Hindus they were more concern on the issue of
metaphysics and they tried to understand the universe to know from where human
came from. Yes, at that time they have
not encountered the question of ‘Are We Alone?’ but the question which was
deeply discussed was, “How and Where We Are?’
For Hidus, space is the main element of Universe and
creation and without space nothing is possible to create such world. Space is
independent element, true in nature neither matter, nor fire, nor water and neither
form of air. Space is unique and different and without space there is no
evolution.
The Samkhyas
were the oldest philosophical thought of Hindus and they very much regarded the
importance of space. For them the five subtle elements in which space was one
of the elements. Though for them the elements is the part of Mahabhutas and
came very late. It is to say that space was not formed with the universe but it
came afterward when creation started and without space there would have no
creation. The gross elements were space, air, fire, water and earth which
constitute the universe.
Samkhyas maintain that earth the matter, fire the
energy, water the compound, and air the gases and space the fabric that made
this creation in universe happened. Samkhayas were the first who maintain the
existence of matter as independent. And from these elements the sense organs
came out to grasp. Samkhyas explained that the Prakriti which is matter and
independent is composed of attributes (gunas) and these three Gunas composed
the universe.
And similarly for Nyaya-Vaisheshika school of thoughts, the
creation of world as in-accordance to the Rig Veda. The Rig provided the order
of nature and Rig explained the laws of universe and an initial cause of
universe is identified. The Vishesha is
the term used for material universe and first time any old philosophical school
used the word ‘atom’ while explaining the universe. The Vishesha explained the
constitution of earth, water, air and fire as material but took space as
non-matter and stated that space is the atom which is non-matter and also
described the motion of matter to make to understand the cosmology and how the
universe work. For them space is not
matter and that could be non matter or anti matter or even can be dark matter
which at present scientists are studying with tightening belts. This school of
philosophy accepted matter as independent and responsible for creation,
dissolution and then again re-creation. These atoms conjoin and disjoin and
making new substances in the universe and dissolving old substance in the
process of recreation of the universe.
But Lokayata the materialist school of Hindus
rejected space as the element of creation of the universe. They maintained that
earth, water, air and fire are the only elements that created the universe
while space or sky is not perceptive and therefore it is not the part of
creation. Unfortunately we lost the original texts of Lokayata or Bhraspati or
Hindu materialism but certainly this school went with the scientific bend of mind
while explaining the reality of matter and also life in- accordance of material
world. But Lokayata never took space as an independent entity or element.
Advaita Vedanta took creation as relatively and talked only and only about the singularity as the absolute reality. Advaita does not deny the reality of the world or universe but for them the world or universe is relatively true till the singularity which is for them Brahma is not understood which singularity. They introduced concept of Maya which is like virtual games or simulation which is true till we feel or accept it as a true but ultimate reality is only Brahma which is shapeless, space less, colourless, attribute less and which is something cannot be explained.
In early Buddhism there were only four elements including earth, fire air and water and these are external elements based on material attributes but Jainism described space as a substance accommodating for the living souls and matter. This space is also for motion and for rest and first time philosophy of Hindus land in Jainism accepted that space is where time prevails. Jains claimed space is infinite and in that motion rest and even time which is eternal prevails in space. Time progress in infinite space and time in space is of two types (Vyavahara Kaal) which is feel and perceive by senses to human beings and another is (Nascaya Kaal) that is imperceptible, bring changes and go on continually and change all substances.
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