The cycles in nature, such as the daily movement of the sun and seasonal transitions, have long intrigued humanity. Ancient cultures, like the Hindus, conceived elaborate notions of time encompassing both linear and cyclical elements. By observing cycles like seasons and the movement of planets spanning vast durations, they hinted at a cosmic rhythm beyond direct observation [1]. Supported by Hindu belief, Singh (2018) notes that time is the expanse of a one-time creation leading to an impending apocalypse upon the completion of four ages: Satya, Treta, Dwapara, and Kali Yuga [2]. In the early 1900s, scientists debated whether the universe truly had a starting point.
Albert Einstein questioned the idea of a singular origin, proposing a static, spherical, and ideally symmetric and timeless cosmos in 1919, despite his general relativity giving clues in the opposite direction [3]. However, Edwin Hubble's 1930 observations, revealing the universe's expansion, led to the formulation of the Big Bang theory [4], [5]. In the 1940s, physicist Richard Tolman suggested a cyclic or oscillating universe—Big Bang, expansion, contraction, and a new Big Bang—presenting an alternative concept [5].
Subsequent challenges arose, including the second law of thermodynamics implying a finite past for these cycles. Nevertheless, proponents of a cyclic universe propose that these cycles could extend infinitely into the past, challenging the notion of a single beginning and prompting contemplation of a timeless cosmic reality, as entropy would have been out of control [6]. This makes us think about time in a different way, considering the possibility of a timeless and never-ending cosmic reality where cosmic events take place in cycles without a clear beginning.
In conclusion, this alternative perspective not only challenges mainstream scientific thinking but also resonates with ancient wisdom, envisioning a reality outside our conventional understanding of time. The concept of a cyclical universe, lacking a distinct start or end, compels us to reconsider our perception of time and cosmic development. Contemplating these ideas introduces a new perspective, suggesting that our present cosmic state might be just one phase in an unending, rhythmic cosmic progression.
References:
[1] Hindu American Foubdation, “ Time in Hinduism,” HAF, p. 2, 2017, [Online]. Available: https://www.hinduamerican.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/TimeinHinduism2.00_1-2.pdf
[2] R. . Singh, “Apocalypse in hindu mythology and culture,” Pune Res. Int. J. ENglish), vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 1–5, 2018, [Online]. Available: http://puneresearch.com/media/data/issues/5c0f6fde1c6db.pdf
[3] M. Gleiser, “The Universe According To Albert Einstein: Relativity,” Cosmos and Culture. Accessed: Dec. 25, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2018/03/14/593156411/the-universe-according-to-albert-einstein relativity#:~:text=Einstein%20was%20the%20first%20to,perfection%20and%20of%20Ockham%27s%20Razor.
[4] C. S. Brown, “Evidence of Expending Universe,” Khan Academy. Accessed: Dec. 25, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/big-history-project/big-bang/how-did-big-bang-change/a/edwin-hubble#:~:text=Hubble%27s Law basically states that,Georges Lemaitre%3A the Big Bang.
[5] W. Z. Canoy, “The Origin of the Universe,” Facebook. Accessed: Dec. 25, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://m.facebook.com/notes/earth-and-life-science/11-the-origin-of-the-universe/1957640861139227/#:~:text=The Oscillating Universe Theory%2C also,Bang and the Big Crunch.
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