Age of the universe :-

As per the estimates of modern scientific thinking our present universe is a couple of billion years old. Creation , along with space and time and the most primordial form of matter is supposed to have started with the big bang. The Big Bang itself is a very abstruse concept and many sharp minds have contributed towards that theory.

Let us leave aside the involved mathematical and scientific treatment and consider the time spam. If you are 80 years old or more and look back on your life it seems a long stretch indeed. With a bit more concentration you can ponder the time involved in a few generations back. With the help of printed, recorded matter called history you can travel down further and your grasp may reach up to the advent of the Christ and then may be another 3-4 thousand years before that, say like the Egyptian, Sumerian civilizations. That still adds up to 6-7 thousand years only. You can even venture to stretch your mind still further and go back at the most to ten thousand years.

Consider all that long period and after you are figuratively out of breath stop and ponder how long a billion years would be! The mind can only think of such a long period as a number and not as a palpable concept. Three or four billion years IS a very long period indeed.

In this context I am reminded of the concept of the age of the universe as propounded in the ancient Indian scriptures. It is quite interesting to compare the time spans they have outlined. Take a breather

and then proceed as below step by dizzy step( up or down, whichever way you like). Ready ? Here we go.

The first part consists of block of four ages called Yugas - Kali, Dwapara, Treyta and Krita somewhat along the lines of Brass, Iron, Silver and Golden ages, quality-wise. We are living at present in the Kali Yuga (brass or worse.)

Span of one Kali Yuga = 4,32,000 years

Dwapara = 8,64,000 years

Treta = 12,96,000 years

Krita = 1728, 000 years

Total 432,0000 years

This is a cycle of four Yugas. 1000 such cycles make half a day of Brahma, the creator of the universe. Add 1000 more such for his night. So one day of the creator Brahma equals 864,0000,000 years. (This Creator himself is like a deputy only, being created out of the Supreme Un-nameable, Inconceivable force.

If 360 such days pass for him, it will be one year in his reckoning. He is allowed to exist for 100 years.

So, the total comes to a whooping 31104,0000,000,000 years !!

Not bad eh? Frankly I do not know how many billions it comes to; nor do I care to conceive that period of time. The mind can only swoon in the attempt.

PS. A word, a whisper – Countless Brahmas like above have come and gone along with their creations.

Tags & Keywords : Universe, age, science, Creator, years Golden Age