Evolution from Eastern Philosophies - Part 2 - The Body of the Universe and The Dance of the Cosmos

Source: National Geographic

Vedic literature does not distinguish between Evolution and Creationism.  

Stark contrasts exist between Western and Eastern believes when it comes to Evolution and Creationism, while 42% of Americans believe Universe was created some 10,000 years ago by Gods (2014, Gallup Survey), 85% of Indians believe that our existence is the result of evolution that has occurred over billions of years.   

Evolution belief according to religious groupings  

Source: PewForun

Obviously, this difference in belief is born out of what is taught to us in form of scriptures written over 1000’s of year ago. The western beliefs are more influenced from Biblical believes that world was created in seven days, while East has been relying on Vedas for its learnings.   

Exploring Evolution through 3 part series: 

• In the first part, we discussed about Big Bang and the Sound of the universe    
• In this blog, the second part, I will discuss about Body of the Universe and Dance of the Cosmos   
• In the third part I will discuss about Evolution of Life on Earth.   

Part 2 – The Dance of the Cosmos or the Dance of Nataraja 

This part of evolution can be understood from two aspects of Vedic literature 

1. Rudra (The body of the universe)

2. Dance of Nataraja or the Dance of the Cosmos

Rudra 

Big Bang resulted in creation of Time (for this Cycle) and Space and the entire space was filled with Rudra, the body of the universe. The word Rudra is derived from two words Ru (Scream or Howl) and Dru (Moving or Running), thus Rudra is something which is continuously moving and making a howling sound. 

We know Universe contains various particles which are in continuous motion. The particles come together for creation of cosmic body, and simultaneously fall apart from destruction of it. The spread of particles left after the destruction of various stars and other cosmic bodies leads to creation of another cosmic body. The cosmic winds caused by the movement of these particles make their own howling sound all through the Universe. 

Dance of Nataraja 

Source: IshataDevata

Dance of Nataraja, Ananda Tandava as the Dance of Bliss, or cosmic cycles of creation and destruction or birth and death, was well understood by the traditional scholars of India. Nataraja is one of the forms of Lord Shiva – the creator of time and the god of creation and destruction. This dancing form of Shiva, Nataraja, has an outer ring of fire also called as Disc of Fire representing Time and its Cyclical Nature. 

Correlation with Modern Science. 

Ananda Coomerswamy, Philosopher and Metaphysicist, born in Sri Lanka and educated in England was interpreter of Indian Culture to the West acting as a bridge between east and the west. According to him 

“The dance of Shiva also represents his five activities:  

'Shrishti' (creation, evolution);  

'Sthiti' (preservation, support);  

'Samhara' (destruction, evolution);  

'Tirobhava' (illusion); and  

'Anugraha' (release, emancipation, grace)”  

As the developments in Astro Physics progressed in 1980s the modern physicist from the west starting drawing parallels with Eastern Philosophies. 

Fritjof Capra, an Austrian, Modern Physicist and Ecologist, in his book “Tao of Physics” writes: 

“Modern Physics has thus revealed that every sub atomic particle not only performs an energy dance but is also an energy dance; a pulsating process of creation and destruction” 

“The dance of Shiva (Nataraja) is the dancing Universe, the ceaseless flow of energy going through an infinite variety of pattern that melt into one another."

Carl Sagan, Astro Physicists, on physics and Indian thoughts: 

“The Hindu Religion is the only one of the world’s great faiths, dedicated to the idea that the cosmos itself undergoes an immense, indeed, an infinite number of deaths and rebirths.” 

“It is the only religion in which Time Scales correspond to those of modern scientific cosmology. No doubt by accident."

It is for this reason that a giant Idol of Dancing Shiva the Nataraja is established in world’s largest sub atomic laboratory CERN in Switzerland. 

Source: Fritjof Capra

Now if everything said here makes sense, Few things to ponder over: · 

• Is the creation of Earth and the Solar System is one of those random acts of Creation and Destruction, how long do we live · 
• If everything is made of Cosmic Particles flowing in the Universe, are we the physical manifestation of Cosmos 

Tell me your thoughts in the comments below:      

Thank You for your time,
The Unreal Mystic

Link to Part 1 - The Sound of the Universe - https://steemit.com/life/@bsameep/the-sound-of-the-universe-or-the-sound-of-big-bang-theories-of-evolution-from-eastern-part-of-the-world

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Sources:

1. Book, Understanding Shiva - D.K Hari
2. http://www.fritjofcapra.net/shivas-cosmic-dance-at-cern/
3. http://www.worldwisdom.com/public/authors/Ananda-K-Coomaraswamy.aspx
4. https://www.thoughtco.com/nataraj-the-dancing-shiva-1770458

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