Summertime Rendezvous: Age of the Universe

"Hey!"

"Wait up."

PANT.

PANT.

"You're too slow." 

"Baka."

"Mou..."

"You are slow as a snail, haha."

"Snail, snail, snail."

"That's it!"

"I'm gonna get you now!"

"Quick, run!"

"She's chasing us!"

"Hahaha."

Elementary school kids chased each other across the street, as they joyfully made their way to school.

"..."

I sure, envy them. 

Sleeping, eating, and playing, without a care in the world.

But most of all.

I envy their...

Innocence. 

In the process of becoming an adult, we lose our innocence. Controlled by our human desires, and hijacked by our raging hormones, we are unable to perceive each other, opposite sexes, with a pure mind.

But.

If we kept our innocence forever, we would never bring forth an important desire.

A moral desire.

The desire to procreate. 

To continue the lineage.

To continue the growth of the human race.

Otherwise, you and I, wouldn't even have taken birth, in this world of miseries. 

At least that was what it was meant for.

But that no longer holds true.

People waste their seeds, and degrade their bodies for temporary sensual pleasure.

Only to be sick and empty after.

It has become something, that people are openly proud of, something, people describe as 'normal'. And, it is only getting worse over time.

After all. 

We are living in an Age of Darkness.

"..."

Kali Yug.

The final age, before the Universe meets its end.

"..."

But.

How far are we, from witnessing the destruction of the Universe?

Is it soon?

Is it in the next decade?

Or is it tomorrow...?

Every day feels, like we are approaching the end.

So when?

"..."

We are still far.

Very far.

But to really answer that.

We need to understand.

Understand, the Age of the Universe.

"..."

Scientists will try, and try, in pursuit, to verify the true Age of the Universe.

But with science alone, it's impossible.

Estimates change, constantly, with new research and findings every decade. There are beliefs, that we are long overdue, for the destruction of the Universe. 

2012年12月21日 (Friday)  - The End of the World.

The day, when a huge fear-mongering event, took its course, and spread around the globe. It was thought that the world had reached the end of its cycle as per the Mayan calendar. 

But here we are, living our lives as normal.

"..."

If ancient calendars and modern science can't prove when the world will end, and how old the universe is.

Then, what can?

"..."

Well.

There is something.

Something, that has been calculated and written with such great precision. 

And that something, is all located in a certain group of ancient scriptures.

The Vedic scriptures.

Vedas.

From more than 5000 years ago.

People will be quick to ridicule this statement due to their natural arrogance. 

And it's normal.

People believe only what they see, and it's difficult, to trust a bunch of random ancient materials, especially after what had happened with the Mayan calendar. 

But the Vedas aren't just a bunch of long passages and writings.

It's knowledge. 

A collection of knowledge, that deep dives into the scientific world and provides the mathematical backbone to many questions scientists seek.

It is the knowledge that supports science, to reach its full conclusions. 

The same knowledge, that helped a certain scientist introduce the concept we know by as, Schrödinger's Cat. 

The same knowledge, that enabled Oppenheimer, to fulfil his duties and responsibilities, and become the Father of the Atomic Bomb.

The same knowledge, that inspired, Heisenberg, Tesla, Einstein, and the list goes on.

Everyone knows a thing or two about their contributions to the world, but not a single know, the source of their knowledge, the Vedas.

And this knowledge, isn't strictly for scientists.

This knowledge is for everyone.

Regardless of their profession and identity. 

The Vedas contain knowledge on benedictions, rituals, science, the Universal Truth, and so much more.

But most of all.

It contains.

The knowledge to live in this world of miseries.

Beautifully. 

Whatever you seek, the answers are all there.

Ready for you, waiting.

"..."

Now that we had a short brief on the Vedas, let's get back to the main question.

"..."

According to Vedas, the total Age of the Universe is 311.04 trillion years. 

Yes, you heard it right.

311.04 trillion years.

And currently, the Age of the Universe is around 155.52 trillion years - after rounding it up to two decimal points.

You could say we are halfway there before the Universe ends.

But it's easy to get this twisted.

Before we look at the total Age of the Universe.

We first need to understand the four Yugs (Ages) and the cycles of the Universe.

Yes, the Universe consists of cycles, many cycles. 

And as mentioned before, we live in the Age of Darkness, Kali Yug. 

But before Kali Yug, there are three other Yugs. 

Satya, Treta and Dwapara.

In Satya Yug, people are described to be very righteous and full of virtues. Almost 32 feet in height with an average life span of 100,000 years. They suffer from no diseases nor ailments. It is said that even demigods and angels are said to be living closely with humans.

Almost like a paradise in this very world.

But as the Universe naturally shifts towards the other Yugs, humans slowly decline in righteousness and virtues. So does the average lifespan of humans, from 10,000 years to 1000 years and finally to 100 years, while being plagued by diseases and ailments. 

And during the final years of Kali Yug, people are described to be full of hypocrisy, committing and indulging in various sins. It is also said that people have a height of around 1 foot and they only live up to 12 years. 

Think of it as the world now, but a 1000 times worse. 

It's not a pretty picture, is it?

We are still in the early stages of Kali Yug but we can already see some of the signs emerging here and there.

But the biggest indicator of Kali Yug is, people forget, they forget Someone who is very dear to them.

Someone that has been with them, throughout innumerable lifetimes.

They forget...

But that Someone does not.

And that's...

Their creator.

"..."

God.

"..."

The next thing we know, God, descends to cleanse this world.

Most people may know this as Judgement Day.

And the concepts remain the same, regardless of the different religions all around the world.

Yet people still fight over minor differences, rather than understanding each other, to find similarities.

"..."

Right then.

Cycles.

The following information may be hard to grasp at first due to big numbers and maths. 

But it's as beginner-friendly as possible. 

I promise.

"..."

Each Yug lasts a certain duration. 

Satya has the longest duration, while Kali has the shortest duration.

The duration of each Yug is as follows:

Satya Yug - 1,728,000 years (1.728 million years).

Treta Yug - 1,296,000 years(1.296 million years).

Dwapara Yug - 864,000 years(0.864 million years).

And finally. 

Our current age.

Kali Yug - 432,000 years (0.432 million years). 

In total, that's 4,320,000 years (4.32 million years).

We call this.

Maha Yug.

This equates to only one cycle.

Equation:

Maha Yug = Satya (1.728 million years) + Treta (1.296 million years) + Dwapara (1.296 million years) + Kali (0.432 million years)

Maha Yug = 4,320,000 years (4.32 million years)

"..."

Wait a minute.

Only one?

Yes, that only equates to one cycle.

There are thousands more Maha Yugs (cycles).

It repeats from Satya to Kali, again and again.

So there has been more than one Judgement Day?

Yes.

Many, that you won't be able to count. 

"..."

And if we calculate the duration of these thousand Maha Yugs, that's exactly 4,320,000,000 years (4.32 billion years).

We refer to this unit of time as Kalp.

Or also known as One Day of Brahma.

Equation:

Kalp = Maha Yug (4.32 million years) x 1000

Kalp = 4,320,000,000 years (4.32 billion years)

"..."

If there is Day, then there must be Night.

Correct.

One Night of Brahma is equivalent to One Day of Brahma.

If we add them together.

That's 8,640,000,000 years (8.64 billion years).

Equation:

Complete Day = Day (4.32 billion years) + Night (4.32 billion years)

Complete Day = 8,640,000,000 years (8.64 billion years)

"..."

It is said that during the Day of Brahma, creations come to life, while during the Night of Brahma, creations dissolve. 

The total number of years of Brahma is 100 years. 

And each year of Brahma consists of the complete 360 days (day and night).

If we put that together.

That's 311,040,000,000,000 years (311.04 trillion years).

That is the total age of the Universe and Brahma.

We call this Maha Kalp.

Or also known as one breath of Vishnu. 

Equation:

Complete Day = Day + Night

Total Age of the Universe = One Complete Day x Number of Complete Days in One Year of Brahma x Total Number of Years of Brahma

Total Age of the Universe = 8,640,000,000 (8.64 billion years) x 360 days x 100 years

Total Age of the Universe = 311,040,000,000,000 years (311.04 trillion years).

"..."

It is said that when Vishnu inhales, all universes are sucked in, and Brahma dies as a result.

And when Vishnu exhales, all universes manifest once again, and a new Brahma is born. 

It isn't just one Universe, but a set of many universes.

Multiverse.

That's a topic for another day.

"..."

We are currently in the 50th year of Brahma. 

In a Kali Yug of one Maha Yug (cycle).

Once this Kali Yug ends, one Maha Yug is complete. And so begins a new Maha Yug, starting all the way from Satya Yug once again.

And the current age of the Universe is approximately, 155.52 trillion years. 

This figure is just a rough estimation.

In order to calculate this correctly, it requires a deep knowledge of the Vedas.

And it isn't easy.

But.

It's not impossible either.

The calculations are also completely different to what scientists have theorised, 13.8 billion years. 

But as science grows, it will surely reach close to this number sooner or later. 

Even faster, if they explore the Vedas.

"..."

It is difficult to grasp the age of the universe at first glance. 

It is even more difficult to grasp the many cycles and large units of time that represent the universe.

It makes us feel insignificant. 

A nobody.

It quenches our ego. 

"..."

Many cycles of rebirth and death.

Iterations after iterations.

Just when will we learn, and break out of this cycle?

"..."

Until that day comes, we need to live our lives to the fullest potential. 

"..."

I finally reached my station, ready to fight for my life to get on the train.