Prof Raj Shree Dhar
In the beginning, the whole universe was enveloped in utter darkness. It was like a dark night and matter was in its elementary form. Lord of the universe evolved this cosmic world – the effect-out of the elementary matter-the cause.-Rigveda 10.129.3
Everlasting friends, Zero (Holder of Energy) and Infinity (Energy), are bound together in the narrative of the universe’s creation, offering insight into the infinite potential that arose from an initial state of “nothing”. Space or point is also called nothing, but lines are made up of points and squares, circles are made up of lines. God by the might of Their creative powers evolved the earth, mountains and all objects out of a point or nebula-nothing.
Zero being adventurous, spontaneous, and always dreaming of new experiences while Infinity being practical, a little cautious, and loves to plan things in detail. Both friends have different views on the creation of the Universe. They started to have a conversation on the creation of universe during their morning walk on the hill top of the beautiful valley surrounded by the Himalayan peaks.

international MATHEMATICS DAY

Zero: (Laughs) we had a lot of discussion on educational reforms last time. For the last some months, I am curious about the creation of universe as in modern cosmology, the Big Bang theory suggests that the universe began as an extremely hot and dense state, and recently I read Bhagavata Purana that changed my whole perspective. In the Bhagavata Purana prepared by the great saint Ved Vyasa, the beginning of life is connected with the creation of the universe and the emergence of various forms of existence. The Bhagavata Purana offers a detailed cosmology, including the creation of the world, the birth of gods, and the origins of life and provides a blend of philosophical, cosmological, and mythological elements.
Zero explains that before creation, the cosmos existed as a vast, undifferentiated ocean of cosmic waters (Ksheera Sagar), in which the supreme deity, Lord Vishnu, resides in a state of divine slumber, floating on the cosmic serpent Ananta. Vishnu is depicted as the eternal and undivided Supreme Being, and from his divine form and thoughts, the cosmos emanates. From Vishnu’s navel, a lotus grows on which Brahma, the creator god, appears. Brahma is often regarded as the first being to emerge and is tasked with the creation of the material world. This process is known as Srishti (creation). Brahma, being born from Vishnu’s navel, receives his powers from Vishnu and begins the task of bringing order to the chaos.
Infinity: Fine, fine. But you should study Shiv Puran and other Puranas also and of course Vedas too as Vedas were prepared before Puranas by Saint Ved Vyasa. You should try it once. It’ll change your whole perspective.
Zero: (shakes head) ok. I’ll just complete this one first. You know the Purana explains how the basic elements-earth, water, fire, air, and ether-emerge. These elements are combined in various ways to form the universe’s diverse forms of existence, including the celestial realms, mountains, rivers, and so on. After the formation of the physical universe, life begins to emerge. According to the Bhagavata Purana, Brahma creates the first living beings, including the gods, sages, and the first human beings. These early life forms are created to fill the newly created world. Life forms are classified into various categories based on their nature, with humans, animals, and other creatures coming into being. These are the first stages of the cycle of creation. Brahma then creates the first human, Manu, who is the progenitor of the human race. There are several Manus in Cosmology, each presiding over a different cycle of creation. Manu’s role is crucial, as he establishes the moral and social order for human beings, teaching them how to live virtuously. Vishnu’s role in creation is not limited to initiating the process; he also ensures its preservation. Vishnu helps sustain the universe, protect its inhabitants, and guide them toward spiritual liberation (moksha).
Infinity: Yes, you are right, Lord Shiva is considered to be bliss, consciousness, and existence, which together form the foundation of all being as described in Shiv Puran. The Shiv Puran is an ancient scripture that describes the mythology, history, cosmology. The authorship of the Shiv Puran, like many of the Puranas, is traditionally attributed to the sage Ved Vyasa, who is credited with compiling the Vedas, the Mahabharata, and various other important scriptures. Vyasa is traditionally credited with writing or compiling many of the Puranas, including the Shiv Puran. However, like most of the Pauranic literature, it is a compilation of stories, hymns, teachings, and philosophical discussions that were passed down orally before being written down. These texts were later organized into their final form. The Puranas, including the Shiv Puran, were then edited and expanded by many different sages and scholars over several centuries. Therefore, while Vyasa is traditionally regarded as the author, the work as we have it today is a product of multiple generations of authorship. The Shiv Puran contains stories, hymns, and teachings about Lord Shiva, his family (including Parvati, Ganesha, and Kartikeya), his various avatars, and his cosmic role. It covers aspects of Shiva’s mythology, philosophical teachings, rituals, and the importance of devotion to Shiva (bhakti).
Zero: I have heard of Kashmir Shaivism also. Could you please throw some light on that topic?
Infinity: Yes, In Kashmir Shaivism, the creation of the universe is viewed through a unique lens, deeply rooted in the understanding of consciousness, energy, and the divine. Kashmir Shaivism, which was revived around the 8th century CE, is a non-dualistic system of philosophy which holds that the ultimate reality is Shiva, the supreme, all-encompassing consciousness, and that everything in the universe is a manifestation of this consciousness. The creation of the universe in Kashmir Shaivism is described through the concepts of Shiva and Shakti (the divine energy or power of Shiva) in a highly mystical and metaphysical framework. In Kashmir Shaivism, the universe begins with Param-Shiva, the supreme and ultimate consciousness, which is formless, timeless, and beyond all distinctions. This is the one non-dual reality that transcends all categories of existence and non-existence. Param-shiva is complete and whole. It is infinite, and there is nothing outside of it. There is no division amongst the creator, the creation, and the created; all is contained within the essence of Shiva.
The process of creation begins with a spontaneous movement or vibration within Param-shiva, known as Spanda. The movement of Spanda within Shiva brings forth the manifestation of Shakti, the creative power or energy that is inseparable from Shiva. In Kashmir Shaivism, Shakti (also called Kundalini or Parashakti) is considered the dynamic, creative force that activates the cosmos. The creation and dissolution of the universe are seen as part of an ongoing cyclical process in Kashmir Shaivism. The universe emanates from Shiva, and at the end of each cycle, it is absorbed back into Him.
Zero: I will go through all these scriptures one by one to fulfill my curiosity. You know since I am an admirer of Mathematics, so I have gone through the ancient Sankhya philosophy that is quantitatively determined and Mathematics is also connected with the creation. You know 108 being highly auspicious number there are several reasons why 108 is sacred but I feel that the reason may be that there are 12 rasi of 30 degrees each in the zodiac and 9 planets are placed in these as per the birth of each life or individual and multiplication of 12 and 9 gives 108.
In Sankhya philosophy by the great saint Kapila, one of the oldest and most influential systems of Indian thought, the creation of the universe is explained through a dualistic framework involving two fundamental principles: Purusha (consciousness or the eternal soul) and Prakriti (nature or the material world). Sankhya is a system of enumeration, as it categorizes and describes the nature of reality in terms of 25 tattvas (principles or elements) and in Kashmir Shaivism there are 36 tattvas. The ultimate goal in Sankhya philosophy is Moksha (liberation), which is the realization that the individual soul (Purusha) is distinct from Prakriti. Liberation occurs when the soul understands its true, immutable nature as pure consciousness, transcending the material world and the cycle of birth and death.
Two hours had passed in this conversation and the Sun being hot now, Infinity smiled and felt the need to return to their homes so as to meet again during their morning walks to discuss a newer topic.
(The author is Dean, Cluster University of Jammu)

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