Echoes Across Eras: Ancient Hindu Cosmology and the Modern Quest for Time

 

The nature of time has captivated humanity for millennia, from the earliest philosophers to contemporary theoretical physicists. The desire to comprehend and potentially manipulate time is a universal pursuit. Intriguingly, long before Albert Einstein revolutionized physics with his theories of relativity or the concept of wormholes permeated science fiction, ancient Hindu scriptures like the Mahabharata and the Puranas offered profound, layered explorations of journeys through time.

These sacred texts feature narratives that strikingly parallel modern scientific principles such as Time Dilation, Wormholes, and even the Multiverse. This overview delves into these age-old concepts, drawing comparisons with current scientific models to explore the remarkable consonance between ancient insights and modern, cutting-edge science.

 The Universe's Rhythm: Time as Relative and Cyclical

A foundational tenet of Hindu cosmology is the view of time as cyclical rather than linear. Departing from the typical Western linear model, Hinduism depicts time as an endless succession of monumental, repeating cycles, each known as a Kalpa.

• Example of Scale: A single day for the deity Brahma is described as equaling  $4.32$ billion human years.

This inherent cyclicality points toward a sophisticated understanding of how time functions on vastly different scales—an early, mythological foreshadowing of the modern scientific concept of relativity.

This cosmic clockwork includes the Yugas, or epochs: Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga. The completion of these four Yugas marks one full cycle of cosmic time. The combined perspective of time as both relative and eternal closely resonates with modern physics' understanding of space-time and the variable nature of time flow.

 

Time Dilation in the Mahabharata: The Legend of King Kakudmi

One of the most frequently cited ancient narratives concerning time travel is the story of King Kakudmi and his daughter Revati from the Mahabharata.

Seeking the most suitable spouse for his daughter, King Kakudmi travels with Revati to the celestial dwelling of Brahma. After a very brief audience with the creator god, Kakudmi is told that an astonishing span of many thousands of years has elapsed on Earth during his short divine visit. All the potential suitors he had considered are long deceased, and the world has undergone drastic transformation.

This narrative shares an uncanny parallel with the scientific principle of Time Dilation, a consequence of Einstein's theory of relativity. Modern physics confirms that time can pass at differing rates, influenced by factors such as velocity and gravitational fields. King Kakudmi’s transit to Brahma’s realm implies a dimension or location where the flow of time is fundamentally altered, much like the effects experienced near the speed of light or an extremely massive gravitational body.

 

The Multiverse in Vishnu’s Cosmic Breath

Hindu cosmology ventures into concepts that align with contemporary theories regarding the Multiverse. In the Puranas, the deity Vishnu is depicted reclining upon the cosmic serpent Shesha. During his cosmic sleep, it is said that complete universes are created and annihilated with each breath he takes.

The notion of an infinite number of universes existing concurrently is a highly active area of investigation for modern physicists. Vishnu’s mythological power to spontaneously generate and dissolve universes finds a strong echo in the modern theoretical framework of parallel universes, albeit expressed through rich, poetic, and mythological imagery in the Hindu texts.

 

Cosmic Passages: Narada and the Parallel to Wormholes

The theoretical scientific concept of a Wormhole—a hypothetical tunnel connecting two distinct points in space-time—finds a mythological counterpart within the Puranas and other Hindu writings.

Divine travelers, such as the sage Narada, are consistently described as possessing the ability to traverse both time and space effortlessly. Narada's journeys often span countless realms, suggesting a kind of cosmic shortcut between widely separated points in the space-time continuum.

• Scientific Analogy: Wormholes, a prediction arising from Einstein’s equations, are theoretical conduits that could allow for near-instantaneous travel across vast astronomical distances.

The recurring motif of gods and sages crossing immense space and time instantly, frequently returning to find that centuries have passed, remarkably mirrors the concept of a wormhole, where space and time are effectively collapsed to enable rapid transit.

 

🤔 Mythos or Mathematics: The Profound Question

We observe clear parallels to the relativity of time flow and the existence of multiple realities within ancient Hindu texts. This naturally leads to a profound question:

Are these narratives merely the product of extraordinary human imagination, or did the ancient sages, through deep meditation and insight, grasp cosmic principles that contemporary science is now striving to codify through complex mathematical models?

While these ancient sources do not furnish us with physics formulas, their imaginative depth directly addresses the core challenges modern science faces concerning the fundamental nature of time. Whether this ancient wisdom holds verifiable scientific accuracy remains the single biggest challenge for modern scientific inquiry.

 Modern Physics: Contextualizing Ancient Concepts

In the realm of modern physics, time travel is more than science fiction; it is firmly rooted in established scientific theories.

• General Relativity confirms that time is not a constant. Time Dilation is a experimentally verified phenomenon demonstrating that time’s flow is relative to gravity and velocity.
• Wormholes, while theoretical, are predicted by Einstein's equations as potential passages for ultra-rapid travel.

However, any hypothetical mechanism for traveling backward in time introduces the profound philosophical and physical challenge of causality, most famously illustrated by the 'Grandfather Paradox,' which remains the most significant obstacle for scientists.

 A Timeless Bridge: Connecting Mythology and Theory

The examination of time travel concepts in Hindu cosmology is particularly compelling because the ancient texts appear to anticipate many of the ideas modern science is only beginning to systematically explore. Time Dilation, parallel universes, and wormholes are embedded in Hindu mythology, presented in a rich, symbolic language.

The Hindu conception of time—as cyclical, relative, and eternal—does more than just mirror modern physics; it suggests that the deepest mysteries we currently chase were actively pondered thousands of years ago. As science continues to push the boundaries of space and time, we may discover that this ancient wisdom is not merely a collection of stories, but potentially an intuitive guide to unlocking the ultimate secrets of the universe.

Albert Einstein: The Untold Story of the Stateless Boy Who Transformed the Universe

   

 

 Some people arrive in history at the exact moment the world needs them. Leaders, inventors, thinkers — individuals whose influence becomes so powerful that it reshapes nations and the way humanity understands life itself. Albert Einstein was one such person. Yet, few could have predicted that the boy born on 14 March 1879 in Ulm, Germany, would someday transform modern science.

                                                     Albert And his child hood home

 

    From childhood, Einstein never fit neatly into any map — literally and intellectually. Geography bored him, and as an adult, he refused to accept citizenship from any nation. He chose to live as a “stateless person,” belonging nowhere, thinking beyond borders. Fortunately, in science he arrived at just the right time. Ptolemy, Copernicus, Kepler, Newton, and Halley had already prepared the stage. Einstein stepped onto it and built the Theory of Relativity — a revolution that changed physics forever.

He once said:

“If I have been able to see further, it is because I stood on the shoulders of giants.”

Growing Up in a Difficult Germany

    Einstein was born in a politically unstable Germany where nationalism was rising rapidly. Jews were increasingly marginalized, and Einstein’s family also felt the weight of discrimination. Financial struggles added to their burdens, forcing the family to move from Ulm to Munich when Albert was still an infant.

    Albert’s early years showed nothing extraordinary. He spoke very late — nearly at nine — and struggled academically. Doctors suspected a slow-developing brain; today, he might have been considered dyslexic. But inside him, a quiet curiosity was forming.

The Spark of Curiosity

 

    Einstein’s interest in science grew at home, not at school. His mother introduced him to music through the violin. His father showed him a compass — a moment that changed everything. Young Einstein couldn’t stop wondering what invisible force made the needle move.

    School, however, frustrated him. Strict teachers, rigid discipline, and subjects like botany and French left him bored. His curiosity thrived only through his uncles’ scientific toys, books, and models. A gifted science book he received at age ten became a turning point, introducing him to giants like Newton and Faraday.

Pushed Out of School — but Pulled Toward Science

    Einstein was eventually expelled from school for failing several subjects. His headmaster advised him to pursue a diploma in Switzerland — a decision that transformed his life. In Aarau, he experienced a teaching environment that valued creativity, experiments, and independent thinking. This suited him perfectly.

    Even then, Einstein remained uninterested in anything except physics. His teacher August Tschopp once posed an important question:

“How can Newton’s gravity and Faraday’s electromagnetism ever be unified?”

This simple question planted the earliest seeds of relativity.

Stateless, Jobless — Yet Unstoppable

                                                                the Bern Patent Office

 

    Einstein renounced his German citizenship at sixteen and became officially “stateless.” Switzerland offered freedom but not immediate stability. Even after graduating from the Swiss Polytechnic, he struggled to find work. Schools rejected him due to low grades. Financially broke and emotionally drained, he nearly gave up.

    Finally, with the help of a friend, he secured a modest job at the Bern Patent Office. This ordinary desk job became the birthplace of extraordinary ideas. During breaks and late nights, Einstein thought, calculated, questioned, and dreamed.

 

The Miracle Year

    The year 1905 changed everything. While walking with his friend Michele Besso, Einstein found answers to questions he had carried for years.

                                                                friend Michele Besso

 

    He imagined the universe differently — as a place where the speed of light is the only constant, and everything else — time, distance, and motion — changes depending on perspective.

In 1905, he published three groundbreaking papers:

✅ Photoelectric Effect — Which earned him the Nobel Prize

✅ Electron Motion — Foundational for TV and laser technology

✅ Special Theory of Relativity — Which shook the world

    Max Planck, the father of quantum theory, personally ensured Einstein’s work got published.

                                                                     Max Planck

 

    Einstein later added an extra three pages — a supplement that introduced the most famous equation in history:

E = mc²

A simple formula that revealed matter and energy are two forms of the same thing.

A New Universe

    The world did not react instantly, but soon scientists realized that Einstein had rewritten the rules of the cosmos. Relativity shattered long-held beliefs and opened doors to modern physics, space science, and a deeper understanding of reality itself.

From a boy who spoke late…

from a student expelled from school…

from a jobless “stateless” youth…

…emerged the man who redefined time, space, and the universe.

Super Moon - The Moon at Its Brightest

                                          Shutterstock

 A Supermoon is not merely a larger or brighter-looking Moon; rather, it is the result of the confluence of the Moon's elliptical orbit around the Earth and a Full Moon.

 

1.  Orbital Geometry

The path the Moon travels around the Earth is not a perfect circle but an ellipse. Due to this elliptical orbit, the distance between the Moon and the Earth constantly changes.

                                          Getty Images

·         Perigee (પેરીજી): At this point, the Moon is closest to the Earth, averaging about 363,300 kilometers away.

·         Apogee (એપોજી): At this point, the Moon is farthest from the Earth, averaging about 405,500 kilometers away.

A Supermoon occurs when a Full Moon (when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are nearly in a straight line) and the Moon being at its Perigee point happen almost simultaneously. In astronomy, this alignment is also known as Perigee-syzygy.

2.  Supermoon Effect and Visibility

During a Supermoon, the Moon appears approximately 14% larger and 30% brighter than a normal Full Moon. However, this difference is somewhat challenging to notice with the naked eye unless you compare it to a Full Moon viewed at Apogee (the farthest point), which is sometimes called a Micromoon.

·         Moon Illusion: Often, when a Supermoon is near the horizon, it appears even larger. This is not specific to the Supermoon but is an 'optical illusion' of all Full Moons, known as the Moon Illusion. It's created when our brain compares the Moon to familiar objects on the Earth.

3. Effect on Tides

The Moon's gravitational pull generates tides in the Earth's oceans. When the Moon is closest to the Earth (Supermoon), this gravitational force is at its maximum.

·         As a result, the high tides around the time of a Supermoon are slightly higher than average (usually a few inches), a phenomenon called Perigean Spring Tides. However, this typically does not cause any major destructive changes.

 

4. Different Types of Supermoons

Based on the positioning of the Moon and Earth, other types of Supermoons are also observed:

·         Super Blood Moon (સુપર બ્લડ મૂન): Occurs when a total lunar eclipse coincides with a Super moon. During this time, the Moon appears red or orange because sunlight passes through the Earth's atmosphere to reach the Moon.

                                          Shutterstock

·         Super Blue Moon (સુપર બ્લૂ મૂન): Occurs when the second Full Moon in a single calendar month is also a Super moon. The term 'Blue Moon' refers to its frequency rather than the color of the Moon.

The Super moon is a regular, yet magnificent, spectacle in our sky, allowing us to experience the beauty of astronomical movements.

2025 PN7: Earth’s Temporary Second Moon — NASA’s Fascinating New Discovery

                                 

2025 PN7 is a recently discovered and highly intriguing celestial object that has captured the attention of scientists across the world. This small asteroid moves in such a way relative to Earth that it appears to be a “second moon.” In astronomical terms, such objects are called quasi-satellites or quasi-moons because they seem to orbit Earth, but in reality, they revolve around the Sun.

                                         

            The object was first detected on August 2, 2025, by the Pan-STARRS Observatory of the University of Hawai‘i, using its advanced telescopes. Astronomers from the university sent detailed findings of this discovery to the American Astronomical Society and NASA, both of which have officially confirmed it.

                                         

             2025 PN7 is a kind of co-traveler of Earth, moving around the Sun at almost the same speed as our planet — a phenomenon known as 1:1 orbital resonance. It always remains near Earth, sometimes slightly ahead, sometimes behind, but it completes its solar orbit in the same time as Earth does. The tiny asteroid has an estimated diameter of 18–19 meters, roughly the size of a large bus — detecting such a small object from Earth is a remarkable scientific achievement.

Its orbit is unique. On average, it stays 1.003 astronomical units from the Sun — just a little farther than Earth. The orbital inclination is only 2 degrees, meaning it moves almost in the same plane as Earth. Its eccentricity is 0.108, showing that its path is not a perfect circle but a slightly elongated ellipse.

When it comes closest to Earth, 2025 PN7 is about 300,000 kilometers away — roughly the same as the average distance to the Moon. Sometimes, it drifts several hundred thousand kilometers farther away, so it is not constantly near Earth but periodically returns to proximity. According to astronomical studies, it has been accompanying Earth in this co-orbital path for the past sixty years and will likely continue until around 2083. After that, minor gravitational influences may alter its orbit, sending it away from Earth.

Unlike the Moon, this object is not a permanent satellite, because it is not gravitationally bound to Earth. The Moon has been orbiting Earth for nearly four billion years, held firmly by Earth’s gravity, whereas 2025 PN7 is not. It independently revolves around the Sun, but its motion is synchronized in such a way that it appears to circle Earth. This temporary relationship is what defines a “quasi-moon.”

One of the most important facts about 2025 PN7 is that it poses no threat to Earth. NASA and University of Hawai‘i scientists have clarified that the asteroid never approaches closer than 400,000 kilometers and there is no chance of it entering Earth’s atmosphere. Therefore, it is considered completely harmless and an ideal subject for study.

From a scientific standpoint, this discovery is of great significance. Such objects help astronomers better understand the dynamics of near-Earth asteroids and the history of the Solar System. They reveal how subtle gravitational interactions maintain delicate orbital balances. Moreover, these co-orbital asteroids could serve as excellent targets for future space missions, since they stay close to Earth and require relatively low fuel to reach.

2025 PN7 belongs to the “Arjuna asteroid group” — a class of small bodies with orbits similar to Earth’s. Several other quasi-moons have been discovered before, such as 3753 Cruithne, 2003 YN107, and 469219 Kamoʻoalewa, all of which have shown similar co-orbital behavior. 2025 PN7 is the newest addition to this fascinating list.

Discoveries like this remind humanity that space around us still holds countless mysteries. Asteroids like 2025 PN7 show that Earth’s cosmic neighborhood is not just filled with the Moon and artificial satellites — it also hosts these tiny cosmic dancers, moving gracefully to the rhythm of the universe. Though small in size, 2025 PN7 greatly expands our astronomical understanding and rekindles human curiosity. It is a temporary yet remarkable companion of Earth, reminding us that in astronomy, the frontier of discovery is truly endless.