"Ptolemy created a universe that lasted a thousand years. Copernicus created a universe that lasted four hundred years. Einstein has created a universe, and I can't tell you how long it will last."

- George Bernard Shaw

4. The Expanding Egg

Sanskrit is a beautiful language. Each word in Sanskrit tells its meaning itself. Each word has been thought carefully. Sanskrit is not a product of evolution from an earlier language. It has been designed to be what it is. When Vedic sages coded the knowledge of particle physics and cosmology, they were well aware of the possibility that one day the code may be lost due to the decline of their civilization. Therefore they chose the words very carefully to provide vital clues about the code. In this book we will dissect each word, go to its roots, and discover the lost Vedic science.


4.1: The Expanding Universe

The word for universe in Sanskrit is "Brahmanda", which is made by joining of words "Brahma" and "Anda". Brahma is derived from root "Briha" meaning to expand and "Anda" means egg. Thus "Brahmanda" means expanding egg. Concept of the universe as an egg is found in nearly all ancient civilizations, the source of which is obviously the Rigveda. The concept of Martanda discussed later in this chapter is related to the egg-shaped universe. The universe is described as an egg in most post-vedic scriptures.

"Apah were indeed Salila earlier. Desire arose in it. They labored. From that heat arose. From heat golden egg was born. Golden egg was swimming in that for a year."

Shatapatha Brahmana 11.1.6.1

"Whole universe including moon, sun, galaxies and planets was inside the egg. Egg was surrounded by ten qualities from outside."

Vayu Purana 4.72-73

"At the end of thousand years Egg was divided in two by Vayu."

Vayu Purana 24.73

"From that golden egg earth and heaven were made."

Manusmriti 1.13

In Matsya Purana 2.25-30 following story is told about creation. After Mahapralaya, dissolution of the universe, there was darkness everywhere. Everything was like in a state of sleep. There was nothing, either moving or unmoving. Then Svayambhu, self-being, manifested, which is the form beyond senses. He created water first and established the seed of creation into it. That seed turned into a golden egg. Then Svayambhu entered in the egg, and he is called Visnu because of entering. The concept of the universe as an egg is based on sound scientific reasoning. We will discuss the scientific basis of this shape later in this book during the discussion of Vedic cosmology.

4.2: Birth of Gods

What happened during the initial moments of creation? The Big Bang cosmology gives a very dramatic account of first few moments. The universe was extremely hot and it went through a very rapid expansion stage initially called inflation. The Vedic viewpoint differs from this view. The initial moments of creation are described in the following hymn from the Rigveda:

Rigveda 10.72

Sage: Laukya Brihaspati or Brihaspati Angirasa or Dakshayani Aditi; Deity: Gods; Metre: Anustupa

1. We speak about the birth of Gods clearly. Who says the praises, will see them in later ages.
2. Brahmanaspati created these (everything in the universe) like an artisan. In the earlier age of gods manifest was born from unmanifest.
3. In the first age of gods, manifest was born from unmanifest. Then quarters of the heaven (asha) were born, after that one whose legs are extended.
4. From the one whose legs are extended, was born Bhu, and from Bhu were born quarters of the heaven (asha). From Aditi Daksha was born, and from Daksha Aditi was born.
5. Daksha, your daughter Aditi gave birth. Gracious, immortal bonded gods were born from her.
6. When gods were sitting in this Salila firmly established, from their dance penetrating dust came up.
7. When gods pervaded whole universe, then in ocean sun was brought near.
8. Those eight sons born to Aditi, with seven she went to gods, and left Martanda away.
9. With seven sons Aditi went to earlier age. For the birth and death of people, (she) accepted Martanda again.


4.3: The Dead Egg

The last two verses tell us about Martanda, and here lies the seed of a gigantic misconception that man was created in the beginning of the universe. Martanda means dead egg. Egg is the universe itself, so dead egg means a universe that had no life. The formation of the universe was not a spontaneous process. The universe had to expand in order to exist, but forces of expansion and contraction were in a delicate balance in the beginning. The universe did not keep on expanding continuously is the Vedic viewpoint. After an initial expansion, the universe started to contract. This is the meaning of Aditi going to earlier age. In the Shatapatha Brahmana there is an interesting story about Martanda.

"Aditi had eight sons. Only seven out of them were called Adityas. Eighth Martanda did not have differentiated organs. Adityas saw that he did not match with them, so they divided his organs. Then he turned into a man. He was named Vivasvana and all people were born from him."

Shatapatha Brahmana 3.1.3.3-4

Taittiriya Sanhita 6.5.6.1 says that Aditi gave birth to an immature egg. In Mahabharata, Harivansha Parva 9.5, Kashyapa says to Aditi due to ignorance that her son is not dead, but he is inside the egg. Therefore he is called Martanda. The gist of all these stories is that fundamental forces of nature were not fine tuned for the creation of the universe. After an initial expansion the universe started to collapse. Then the strengths of fundamental forces were adjusted, and the universe began to expand again. Once the universe became steady, it was named Vivasvana, where one could live. Shatapatha Brahmana 3.1.3.4 is the source of the myths that man was created in the beginning by God. It is important to note that Vivasvana is the universe and he could not possibly give birth to human beings. In Rigveda 10.17.1 Yama has been called son of Vivasvana, and in Rigveda 10.14.1 Yama has been called Vaivasvata meaning son of Vivasvana. The sage of hymns 8.27-31 in the Rigveda is Vaivasvata Manu. Vaivasvata means son of Vivasvana. In Indian scriptures Vivasvana is father of Manu, first king, and in Iranian scripture Vivangahvanta (i.e. Vivasvàna) is father of Yima (i.e. Yama), also the first king. Once the creation of human beings was accepted soon after the creation of the universe in post-vedic literature, the Vedas were assumed to be delivered to human beings in the beginning. Though the knowledge contained in the Vedas is eternal, the Vedas were discovered by the sages of the Indus-Sarasvati civilization. The universe is billions of years old, and history of human civilization is only 10,000 years old. Before 10,000 years ago human mind was not developed enough to comprehend the knowledge contained in the Vedas. Human history, and obviously history of India as well, is only 10,000 years old, and the concept of Indian history being millions of years old as described in the Puranas is wrong resulting from the confusion of the Vedic cosmology and human history. There is indeed human history in the Puranas, but that starts only when the Puranas stop describing the Vedic science as human history. This fact was indeed obvious to the authors of the Puranas. Vedic concepts are very abstruse, and such abstruse concepts can not keep ordinary people interested in Dharma, therefore the Puranas deliberately gave beautiful representations to these concepts. To ordinary Hindus they are spellbinding stories, but behind these stories is hard-core science, which educated Hindu is supposed to know. Unfortunately, long time back all Hindus forgot the science behind it, and then Hindus could no longer defend their Dharma from the onslaught of Christianity and Islam.


4.4: The Lord of Expansion

Verse 10.72.2 tells that Brahmanaspati created the universe like an artisan. Brahmanaspati means the Lord of expansion. Thus Brahmanaspati can be identified with the expansion of the universe, and this mantra tells that universe was created due to expansion. Another God in the Rigveda, who is used interchangeably with Brahmanaspati is Brihaspati, and the meaning of Brihaspati is also the same. Brihaspati in post-vedic scriptures becomes the priest of the gods. Word Brihaspati has been used 128 times in the Rigveda and the word Brahmanaspati 49 times. Eleven complete hymns are dedicated to Brihaspati (1.40, 1.190, 2.23, 2.24, 2.25, 2.26, 4.50, 6.73, 10.38, 10.67 and 10.182) and in two other hymns (4.49 and 7.97) he has been praised along with Indra. Rigveda 2.24 describes the glorious deeds of Brahmanaspati.

Rigveda 2.24
Sage: Gritsamada Bhargava Shaunaka; Deity: Brahmanaspati,
Metre: Jagati, 12,16 - Tristupa

1. Brihaspati, who rules the world, may he obtain our praises. We praise you by new great speeches, and your friend among us who praises you, may he refine our thoughts.
2. Brahmanaspati, who bent the bendable by his strength, who tore apart Shambaras in fury, who shook the unshakable, entered the Vasumanta mountain.
3. That is the work of the best god among the gods, that firm became pliant, hard became soft. He brought cows out, killed Bala by Brahma, hid the darkness and lighted the heaven.
4. The well with mouth of stone and stream of honey which Brahmanaspati broke by his strength, that was drunk by sun's rays. He watered the streams a lot at once.
5. He opened the door of waters, that have existed and that will form later, by months and years. The deeds that Brahmanaspati performed, one and the other use the waters effortlessly.
6. Searching on every side they discovered the remotest wealth hidden by Panis. Those wise ones after seeing the untruth, to enter it, went back to the place they had come from.
7. Truthful wise ones saw the untruth and stood on the great path again. They left Agni produced by their arms in the mountain, who was not there before.
8. Brahmanaspati uses bow with truth as string, wherever he wants, he pervades. Strings drawn to his ear he throws the successful arrows to see the men.
9. He organizes well, he leads well, he is well praised, he priest Brahmanaspati fights well. When all-seeing holds strength and wealth, then sun heats up without effort.
10. All these first to be known riches, which both kinds of people enjoy, belong to rain-producing Brahmanaspati, who provides vast capabilities.
11. All pervading Brahmanaspati shows his greatness even in smaller fights. The god expands far bigger than other gods, and envelops them from all side.
12. Wealthy Indra and Brahmanaspati, laws of both of you always hold, even waters can not violate your laws. Come straight towards our oblation and food like two horses connected to the chariot.
13. Fast moving horses hear, civilized wise people hold the wealth. May the strong, who is hostile to enemies, pay back our debt. He, Brahmanaspati, is vigorous in hostile encounters.
14. Fury of Brahmanaspati, performer of great deeds, became true as he wished. He brought the cows out, divided them by great procedure for heaven, and they started moving separately by his power.
15. Brahmanaspati, let us be the master of all well regulated food and wealth, our braves procreate braves. O lord of all, may you hear our hymns.
16. Controller Brahmanaspati, may you know this hymn. Nourish our children. Whom gods protect, he is very fortunate. We having brave children will speak the great knowledge.

Verse two tells that Brahmanaspati entered Vasumanta mountain. There is no mountain by this name. In the Rigveda surface of the universe is called the mountain. Expansion of the universe is not spontaneous, and the energy barrier is represented by mountain. Vasumanta means containing wealth, and thus this mountain is considered to have wealth hidden in it. This wealth is the matter and energy of the universe, which will manifest once the surface of the universe is pushed further back. In verse five Brahmanaspati is said to have opened the gates of waters. This is not ordinary water. The scientific meaning of these terms will become clear as we go along. In verse five Brahmanaspati is said to fight well. This fight is between the forces of expansion and contraction, and not between Aryans and Dravidians. In verse fourteen Brahmanaspati is said to free cows. Cows are often described in the Rigveda to be hidden in mountains, which are freed by Brahmanaspati.

"Cows hidden below were freed by two doors and cows above by one door."

Rigveda 10.67.4

"When Brihaspati found the place where cows were hidden and making sound, cows came out of mountain like birds come out of egg."

Rigveda 10.68.7

These cows are fundamental particles of nature, which are yet to manifest. In Rigveda 4.50.1 Brihaspati is called Trisadhastha, i.e. staying in three places. These three places are earth, atmosphere and heaven. In Rigveda 4.50.4 Brihaspati is called first-born and having seven mouth. These seven mouths are seven dimensions of earth, atmosphere and heaven. We will take up the discussion of these dimensions later.


4.5: Purusa and Aditi

Most of the verses in Vedas are mysterious. This is so because we don't know the actual scientific meaning of these verses. My aim in furnishing complete hymns is to give my learned readers as much information as possible, so that they can help in finding the lost Vedic science. One of these cosmic mysteries is of Aditi and Daksha giving birth to each other. This is impossible if they are considered human beings. Aditi is called the mother of gods. In post-vedic scriptures Purusa and Aditi form a pair and become Visnu-Lakshmi or Shiva-Shakti. In Shiva Purana, Daksha performs penance so that supreme mother Goddess Shakti could take human birth as his daughter Sati. This is only a representation of Aditi and Daksha giving birth to each other. Thus the Puranas did an excellent job of bringing abstruse Vedic concepts in an interesting style to the ordinary Hindus, and succeeded in preserving the invaluable Vedic wisdom for thousands of years. The Vedas are books of science, which are fully capable of keeping people mesmerized by the knowledge they contain, but once the means to disseminate the scientific knowledge were lost, people started questioning the authority of the Vedas. In the changed circumstances, the Puranas came to the rescue of Hinduism. The wise sages transformed the Vedic science in captivating stories to keep the ordinary Hindu interested in Dharma. Behind these stories there are all kinds of scientific information. Let's then go through a beautiful story of sage Agastya and his wife Lopamudra and see what is the science behind.


4.6: Agastya and Lopamudra

Agastya is a very famous Vedic sage. He is credited with spreading of Aryan culture in south India. He is also supposed to be the author of first Tamil grammar. Agastya is derived from word Aga, which is formed by adding prefix "a" meaning negation to root "ga" meaning to go. Thus Agastya means one who does not move, i.e. remains fixed. Wife of sage Agastya is Lopamudra. Lopa means disappearance and mudra means wealth, thus Lopamudra means disappeared wealth. Names in the Rigveda are not proper names, but they have a scientific meaning, which can be understood from its etymological meaning. The Rigveda is not about historical people, but it tells the story of the evolution of the universe by personifying scientific phenomena. In Vedic cosmology the universe has a center, and matter and energy is continuously being created at the surface of the universe as universe expands. Looking backward in time the universe had no matter, energy and space at time zero. There is a beautiful dialogue between Agastya and Lopamudra in the first book of the Rigveda, which explains the story of creation.

Rigveda 1.179
Sage: 1,2 - Lopamudra, 3,4 - Maitravaruni Agastya, 5,6 - disciple; Deity : Rati; Metre: Tristupa, 5 - Brihati

1. Lopamudra: I have been practicing self-restraint for several winters, getting old by the passage of days, nights and dawns. Old age takes away the beauty of body. Vigorous should go near his wife (before that happens).
2. Lopamudra: Those truth-speaking people of past, who spoke truth with gods, could not find the end of restraint. Wife met the mighty husband.
3. Agastya: Our labor has not gone waste, because gods protect us. We have defeated all our enemies. Let's win the match of hundred tricks here. Let's meet like couple and produce children.
4. Agastya: Like a restrained river, desire has come to me from here, there and somewhere. Lopamudra is mating with strong husband, fickle-minded is enjoying the composed taking long breaths.
5. Disciple: I pray to Soma, who is near and in my heart. If we have sinned, then he forgive us, because mortals have many desires.
6. Disciple: Agastya excavated with spade desirous of children, descendents and strength. Fierce sage nourished the people of both color, and obtained true blessings among gods.

This dialogue is the representation of early universe devoid of matter, energy and space. Lopamudra represents the state of vanished matter and energy and Agastya represents the fixed center of the universe. The first verse tells that the expansion of the universe was not very rapid as in inflationary Big Bang model. Instead there was a long incubation period before the expansion could become steady. It also says that universe was cold in the beginning as opposed to the infinitely hot universe of Big Bang model. The third verse tells us that the battle between forces of expansion and contraction has finally been decided in the favor of expansion, and the process of the production of matter and energy is about to begin. Last two verses are told by a disciple of Agastya, who overheard the conversation between Agastya and Lopamudra. In verse five Soma is considered near and inside. I will take up a detailed discussion of Soma later in the book. Forgiveness is asked from Soma, as Soma could have an adverse effect on creation. Sixth verse relates excavation with creation. This excavation is the breaking up of mountains. The surface of the universe is represented as mountains, and the expansion of the universe is the excavation that results in the production of the children, i.e. matter and energy. Most importantly, the second half of the verse refers to the production of children of two colors. What could be these two colors? Black and white, of course. These two colors represent matter and anti-matter. This disproves the myth of Aryan invasion, the myth of Aryans of fair complexion overpowering the dark-skinned Dravidians. In the Rigveda matter is represented as white and anti-matter is represented as black, the colors white and black were chosen to represent the opposite nature of matter and anti-matter. Rigveda talks about the destruction of black-skinned people, but it is not about people, it is about annihilation of anti-matter. Our universe is matter-dominated and this could not have happened without the annihilation of anti-matter.
Now that you know the Vedic viewpoint that the expansion of the universe was not spontaneous, you must be wondering what caused the expansion? What are the forces that create expansion and what are the forces that oppose it? The battle between the forces of expansion and contraction is an epic battle in the Rigveda, immortalized in the battle between Indra and Vritra, and the scene of this battle is the edge of the universe.