VEDIC COSMOLOGY AND THE ENIGMA OF DARK MATTER: PHILOSOPHICAL INTERPRETATIONS

Modern astrophysics is confronted with the mystery of Dark Matter; an invisible, non-luminous substance that constitutes the majority of the universe’s mass and influences its structure through gravity. Though the Vedas do not explicitly mention dark matter, their philosophical and cosmological frameworks offer profound metaphysical ideas that resonate with contemporary cosmological theories. This article explores interpretive parallels between Vedic cosmology and the concept of dark matter, focusing on principles such as Avyakta (Unmanifest), Prakriti, Tamas, Akasha, Maya, and the subtle realms described in yogic and Puranic texts. Keywords: Vedic Cosmology, Dark Matter, Prakriti, Avyakta, Maya, Akasha, Tamas, Sukshma Sharira, Gravitational Binding, Subtle Energy.