“Everything is interconnected and interdependent” – Alexander von Humboldt on Nature.

The quote reflects ‘unity of nature’ and this issue of ‘Towards Unification of Sciences’, volume 2, number 3, is profoundly based on this philosophy. The first three papers by Prof. Bishnu Charanabinda Mohanty, one way or the other, stick to this principle. The first one ‘New findings on placement of orbital bodies and new characterization of motion of orbital celestial bodies’ aims at rectifying the defects in understanding of the structure of solar system (macro domain) so that the new understanding helps in explaining the structure of planetary atomic model (micro domain). Prof. Mohanty started from the basic idea that, since planets go around the sun, the vital parameters of rotation of the sun (such as: axis of rotation, direction of rotation, North Pole, South Pole, equator and equatorial plane) should become the reference for characterizing the orbital and rotational parameters of planets of the sun. Such characterization is relevant for the gravity-based dynamics of sun-planet system. Similar principle should follow for planet – satellite systems. With this philosophy in mind, instead of describing the North Pole end of axis of the earth with reference to a distant star Polaris, as done at present, he went ahead to describe the motion of the axis of the earth relative to the sun. By modifying Bode’s law, along with a new concept of sub-orbits of a principal orbit, he worked out a new model for correlating the distances of orbital bodies and went ahead to successfully explain sun-based characterization of the fixed inclination of axis of the earth and other planets; elliptical orbit of planets and satellites with common directional orientation; analysis on erroneous characterization of North Pole, and erroneous retrograde revolution of satellites. Prof. Mohanty feels that this new finding on discrete nature of orbits in solar system opens up new scope of finding similarity between solar system and atomic system. 

The second paper of Prof. Mohanty is titled ‘Orbital reality of planets and satellites in solar system.’ Here, he attempts to promote the discrete nature of orbit, developed in the first paper, with addition of further appropriate justification for the same. His analysis moves ahead with two accepted features. The first one is that each celestial body has an extra nuclear space structure which along with the celestial body form one integral system, when the celestial body moves or rotates the nuclear space structure also moves and rotates along with it. He calls it space fluid since the space structure contains space matter particles within it. The second one is the newly identified celestial charge (non-electric charge) field which has a prominent role in providing stability to orbital bodies. With these two features, he has provided justification why the orbits are close to ellipse, why the orbital distances are expanding order, and why the major axes of the ellipse of all orbital bodies of central gravitating body are oriented in one direction. Prof. Mohanty extends this new fluid-dynamics model to provide a proper justification to prograde rotation and revolution of planets and satellites in the third paper ‘Direction of revolution and rotation of orbital bodies.’ Here, he first introduces the pre-conditions of fluid dynamics model and then provides justification for the prevailing prograde motion with the help of tangential velocity profile of space fluid in the extra nuclear space structure of a celestial body. Basically, his arguments revolve around the philosophy of ‘unity of nature,’ which, he feels, can help to develop the atomic model close to reality similar to the reality of solar system.  

The 4th paper ‘Advaita Vedanta: Towards unification of knowledge’ focuses on the science and philosophy of religion based on Indian Sankhya and Vedanta thought systems as narrated by Swami Vivekananda at various places in United States of America and Europe during 1893 – 1896. He has lucidly explained to the western audience about the depth of ancient Indian philosophical thoughts which even touched upon scientific manifestations such as the creation of the universe from an infinitesimally small, yet with infinite energy primordial stage, both the micro-world and macro-world are built on the same plan, matter and energy are nothing but the same, indeterminacy to be the innate characteristic of nature, unity of nature is inbuilt through interconnectedness of its species etc. It has also been shown that some of his statements were supported later through scientific discoveries. The 5th paper ‘A reality that begins at zero: The play of the union between consciousness and nature’ brings in the concept of ‘Eternal Space’, or, ‘Baishnav State’ in which the fundamental cosmic energy always leaves its altered physical form and comes into its original form, working to provide a foundation to the universe. Dr. Archana Mukherjee and her coauthors start from the basic thermodynamic postulation of absolute zero, where the entropy of a perfect crystal approaches a constant minimum. Then, they discuss the role of quantum mechanics, fundamental cosmic energies and their mutual interactions, quantum fluctuations, creation of virtual particles, formation of all particles, and conclude that ‘the true definition of zero is this eternal space with the fundamental cosmic energy, the driver of seamless creation and sustenance of the processes of the universe.’ The 6th paper ‘Rulers of Indus valley civilization,’ by Prof. Dhanus Dhari Mishra, based on Shastras namely the epic Mahabharat and the Puranas, provides the names of the rulers, as well as the periods when they ruled in the Indus valley civilization. Interestingly, though over 1400 sites of Indus valley civilisation have been discovered and there is a rich collection of archaeological information, the historians and archaeologists have no clue about the rulers and the system of governance of the settlements. Prof. Mishra, logically locates the beginning of Kaliyuga when Lord Krishna left his mortal body and the then king Yudhisthira abdicated in favour of king Parikshit, then follows the count of Kaliyugabda till today, and with critical examination of the descriptions of Shanti Parva, Anushasan Parva and Ashvamedha parva of Mahabharat and other Puranas, successfully puts down a list of rulers who ruled the Indus valley civilization. He also makes a possible periodisation such as consolidation phase during 3300 – 2600 BC, mature phase during 2600 – 1900 BC, and localisation phase during 1900 – 1300 BC. 

Thus, another issue successfully makes its journey ‘towards unification of sciences’. 

By,

Dr. Raja Kishore Paramguru