Bhagavat Gita, Quantum Physics and the Nature of Reality

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 20^th 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.