by Dr. Sudhir Prayaga
Generally, it is construed that religion and science are incompatible and that religion cannot explain many scientific observations. However, I feel that Hinduism is an exception to this rule and compatible with most scientific phenomena as per our current scientific understanding. In this article I am attempting to compare the major principles of Quantum Mechanics and how it is covered in Bhagavad Gita.
The Nobel prize for
Physics in 2022 was award to Alain Aspect, John Clauser and Anton Zeilinger for
their work on quantum entangled photons. Quantum physics deals with explaining
the nature of reality scientifically at the subatomic level. Quantum entanglement, a primary feature of quantum mechanics,
in simple terms is when two
particles interact even when they are far apart in space. Gita says that the supreme consciousness, which is ever present
and whose form we cannot imagine, in the form of subatomic particles (anoraniyam)
or photons (adithya varnam), can control and interact across the multiverse
or dark matter (thamasa parasthad), and responsible for everything that we
know.
കവീം പുരാണം മനുശാസിതാര
മണോരണീയാം സമനുസ്മരേദ്യഃ
സർവ്വസ്യ ധാതാര മചിന്ത്യ രൂപ
മാദിത്യവർണ്ണം തമസാ പരസ്താത്
kavim puranam anusasthara
manoraniyaam samanusmarodhya
sarvasya dhathara achinthya roopa
maadithya varnam thamasa parasthad
… Gita 8.9
There are many questions which
cannot be answered or addressed by science but can be explained philosophically.
For example, science explain everything in the universe in terms of matter and energy
but cannot answer what was before the big bang and creation of universe. Philosophically
Hinduism says that Brahman or the supreme consciousness is all-pervading
and the source of all material senses and qualities, it is always present and
there is no beginning or end (Gita 13.15).
It is responsible for the life energy in all creatures. Gita describes an organism as a machine (yantra)
made of material energy and the conscious-self rides in this machine as a passenger.
Ishvara in his aspect of material
controller directs the machine by way of the laws of maya (Gita 18.61). This
verse from Gita provides a mechanistic view of the biological phenomenon scientifically.
ഈശ്വര സർവ ഭൂതാനാം
ഹൃദേശേർജുന തിഷ്ഠതി
ഭ്രാമയൻ സർവ ഭൂതാനി
യന്ത്രാ രൂദ്ധാനി മായയാ
ishvarah sarva bhutanam
hridesherjuna
tishtathi
bhraamayan sarva bhutani
yantra ruddani mayaya … Gita 18.61
Quantum Mechanics describe the nature
of physical reality through kinetic interaction of subatomic particles. It assumes
that these subatomic particles are in constant motion and interaction (science
has no answer to the question why it is so), without which there is no existence.
Similarly, Bhagavad Gita also
says that nothing in the universe can remain motionless because of the nature
of their qualities or ‘gunas’. Ancient Hindu
philosophers (or scientists) had already recognized this fact.
നഹി കശ്ചിത് ക്ഷണമപി
ജാതു തിഷ്ഠത്യകർമകൃത്
കാര്യതേ ഹ്യവശ കർമ
സർവ പ്രകൃതി ജൈർഗുണൈഃ
nahi kaschit kshanamapi
jaatu thishtatyakarmakrit
kaaryate hyavascha karma
sarvah prakriti jairgunaih … Gita 3.5
Our Vedas teach us
that everything in the universe is in constant motion, except the Brahman or the Akshara. Anything that is in motion should be in
comparison to something immovable, for the universe that is the immutable Akshara or Iswara. Now modern science also
agrees with this concept, that everything in the universe is in a constant motion,
from subatomic particles to cosmic bodies. Until few centuries ago people in
the west thought that earth is flat and motionless. Gita also says that the whole universe function
due to yagna by the supreme consciousness
(Akshara).
കർമ ബ്രഹ്മോത്ഭവം വിദ്ധി
ബ്രഹ്മാക്ഷര സമുത്ഭവം
തസ്മാത് സർവഗതം ബ്രഹ്മ
നിത്യം യജ്ഞേ പ്രതിഷ്ഠിതം
karma brahmodbhavam viddhi
brahamakshra
samudhbavam
tasmat sarvagatham brahma
nityam yagne
prathishtitham … Gita 3.15
Physicists now demonstrate that the
whole universe is pervaded or enveloped by what is called the Higgs field,
without which the universe may not exist. Higgs field is carried by particles
called Higgs Bosons (named after physicist Peter Higgs and Indian physicist Satyendra
Nath Bose), the so-called ‘God particle’. It is held together as beads on a
string and provide mass to all other subatomic particles and thus crucial to the
formation of the physical universe that we know. The allegory used by physicist
‘the God particle’ says it all, that there is no existence without these
particles pervading the whole universe. A
sloka or verse from Bhagavad Gita
(7.7) says exactly this, that the Brahman is everything in the universe.
That everything
in the universe is strung on Brahman like jewels on the thread of a
necklace, analogous to how Higgs Bosons are held together to make up the
universe.
മത്താ പരതരം നാന്യത്
കിഞ്ചിദസ്തി ധനഞ്ജയ
മയി സർവ്വമിദം പ്രോതം
സൂത്രേ മണിഗണാ ഇവ
matha paratharam naanyathu
kinchidasthi dhanajaya
mayi sarvamidham protham
suthre manigana
eva … Gita 7.7
According
to Einstein’s famous equation E=MC2, energy can be created from
matter and vice versa. It can only
change from one form to another but cannot annihilate matter or energy. Thus, universe
is a closed system with constant amount of matter and energy. This principle is
explained in Bhagavad
Gita (2.16), that something cannot be created out of nothing, and
something cannot be destroyed into nothing.
According
to Hindu philosophy, there is no beginning or end. It is always present and
changing from one form to another.
നാസതോ വിദ്യതേ ഭാവോ
നാഭാവോ വിദ്യതേ സതഃ
ഉപയോരപി ദൃഷ്ടോ അന്ത
സ്തോനയോസ് തത്ത്വദർശിഭി
naasadho vidhyathe bhaavo
nabhaavo vidhyathe
sadhaha
upayorapi dhreshto antha
sthonayo
thathwadharshibihi … Gita 2.16
The cosmic dance of Shiva may be
considered as an allegory for the space-time continuum that Albert Einstein established
in his general theory of relativity in 1915 that orchestrates everything in
this universe. After our death our soul is not waiting at some place for the
judgment day, just as God is not out there but in here. Gita further says that
the principle (akshara) which is responsible for the universe
(koodastham) is always there beyond space and time.
ദ്വാവിമൗ പുരുഷൗലോകേ
ക്ഷരശ്ചക്ഷര ഏവച
ക്ഷര സർവാണി ഭൂതാനി
കൂടസ്ഥോ അക്ഷര ഉച്യതേ
dhwavimau purushau loke
kshara ashara
evacha
kshara sarvani bhoothani
koodastho akshara uchayate … Gita 15.16
The Bhagavad-Gita provides a philosophical framework for the understanding the nature of the observer and the nature of the observer’s interaction with rest of the universe. This is akin to what modern physics and Quantum theory proposes, a description of observations, the subject, and the object of observations. What is incredible is that the Hindu philosophers and Maharishis have conceptualized these principles or ideas thousands of years ago while it took scientists like Einstein and Max Planck in 20th century for the westerns science to catch up. Unfortunately, we are undermining our own rich knowledge and heritage hidden in many of our books. Please read my article ‘7 Principles of Quantum Mechanics from Bhagavad Gita’ for more on this subject.
I understand this is a poor attempt
on my part in summarizing such vast scientific and philosophical thought based
on my imperfect knowledge. Everything in this article is my interpretation only
and I am solely responsible errors or misinterpretations. None of the ideas expressed
here are my original and are based on my thinking about aspects of science and philosophy
as I understand from various sources. My other articles can be found on my blog
- prayagaprinciples.blogspot.com.
