The World of Cosmic Consciousness

Unlike the Western concept of linear time, the Hindus accept time as cyclical, with neither beginning nor end. At first, the concept of the Vedic kalpas (time units) might seem absurd, but when these figures are compared with modern astronomical scientific data, it is amazing to notice the patterns of similarity between the two. How could it have been possible to discover all this without any technology, without instruments, and without any computers? Ancient Hindu seers, or Rishis, who are credited with having invented the zero and decimal phenomenon, seem to have had a deep insight of cosmic events, based on the fundamental principle of harmony.

Although some scientists now concur with the viewpoint that the universe is eternal, most accept the modern scientific opinion that the whole cosmos was created by a “big bang” about 18 billion years ago. Our solar system was created 4.5 billion years ago. The solar system is a part of a larger galaxy of stars, the Milky Way. If we were seated in a spaceship zooming at the speed of light—186,000 miles per second—it would take 100,000 years to traverse from one end of the Milky Way galaxy to the other.

There are billions of other galaxies of stars like this one. Hindu scriptures have given stunning descriptions of these infinite, countless solar systems (brahmands) in the cosmos. The galaxies have been there from eternity. But the most surprising thing is that all these stars, their satellites, comets, and other phenomena are positioned with a faultless precision. Just by the direction and size of the shadows, we can calculate the time of day up to a fraction of a second. The ancient Hindu Rishis studied these complex astronomical structures minutely, giving the world authentic and deep knowledge of astronomy and astrology.

The Hindu Vedas also mention the time periods as kalpas. The time periods mentioned in these Vedic kalpas defy our imagination. One large time-period kalpa consists of 1000 smaller units, known as mahayugas.

The current mahayuga is further subdivided into four parts:
Satyayuga period: 1,728,000 years
Tretayuga period: 1,296,000 years
Dwaparyug period: 864,000 years
Kaliyuga period: 432,000 years

The total age of the current mahayuga is calculated as 4,320,000 years. (2)

The present period of time is kaliyuga.

The mythological significance of the various periods has been explained as:
Satyayuga represents age of total purity.
Tretayuga represents age of three-quarter purity.
Dwaparyuga represents age of half purity.
Kaliyuga represents age of total impurity.

Hindu Rishis stated that there are eternal cycles of evolutions, or srshti, and dissolutions (pralaya) taking place in the cosmos. Modern science is only now coming to grips with this understanding of the cosmic phenomenon. Even rocks, which are millions of years old, have a pattern. We can calculate the age of a rock by patterns of deposits through the millennia. A tree leaf has a unique design that has been constant for ages. This harmony and rhythm compels us to believe that our universe is built on a most solid foundation and that there is a supreme power, which regulates the universe. All these milky pathways of billions upon billions of stars have been in existence and have functioned for uncountable millennia. They existed before any religion came, before the earth was formed, before Lord Rama or Lord Krishna came, before Hindu Rishis or sages came, before any human being walked on the earth. The Rishis, however, recognized this cosmic phenomenon, and they called it Brahman—the transcendental, the supreme, the eternal soul, which pervades everything, everywhere, at all times. The world is there, and we are there because of this source of power behind us. In fact, all our power and intelligence is simply extended to us from this eternal source. The concept of universal Brahman sowed the seeds of spiritual unity. In modern times, this concept of Hindu thought has been vindicated by the use of the term panentheism, which is associated with many ancient religions and describes the Divine as the immanent principle of the entire cosmos.

Human beings have now started to realize how tiny a particle of this vast infinite cosmos of the Divine they are and should not, therefore, become arrogant about their own accomplishments and achievements, however big they might be. The ancient Rishis also recognized the utter vulnerability and weakness of man. They recognized the futility of man to depend upon his ego. They compared man to a wave of the ocean; it rises and moves because it is with the ocean. Separated from it, the wave will perish in a moment. They compared the man to a whiff of air, to a bubble of water, to a speck of dust, and to a grain of sand. Again and again they reminded mankind to be vigilant. They reminded man to strive to remain in connection and union with the source, the eternal God. Hindu Rishis sang and wrote thousands of hymns in tribute to this supreme power.

Union with the Divine, or yoga, as it is translated, is man’s avowed final destination, according to the Hindu philosophy. The Rishis taught that man can benefit only by accepting this authority of the Supreme Divine with grace and humility; that his best interest lies in becoming a compliant member of the cosmic family of the Supreme. He should therefore not become antagonistic to others; rather, he should choose a path of reverence and service to all beings. He should abandon the way of hatred and adopt the way of love and respect.

All religions teach the same thing in different ways. They teach that man must accept God in his own best interest. Pramukh Swami, the spiritual head of the Swaminarayan sect, who has personally supervised the erection of over five hundred elegant Hindu temples throughout the world in addition to many other philanthropic activities, was asked how he managed to do so much, despite his advanced age. He replied, “I completely trust the Supreme Lord. As I trust that the sun will rise in the morning and set in the evening, I trust that all things of life will be done with His grace. I don’t take any responsibility of the doer-ship on my shoulders. I simply work as per His instruction.” This simple spiritual attitude has yielded miraculous results, not only for Hindus but also for the saints, sages, and even ordinary people of all religions and all cultures throughout millennia.

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