Brahman

In Brahman, the root word "brih," (meaning "to grow, increase, or expand") is added to the root word, "an" (meaning "to breathe" or "to live") to produce: "the Spirit/Breath which expands." In other words the life principle which has expanded to become an entire universe. The Vedas speak of the "day" and the "night" of Brahman, referring to unfathomably long periods of time during which this universal life principle is either manifest (like now, being the "day of Brahman") or unmanifest (like before the Big Bang, when there was nothing except a singularity- when the entire universe is shrunk down to less than the size of a neutrino, known as the "night of Brahman"). According to the ancient texts, this cycle goes on forever. Modern Astronomers are presently concerned that the universe may not recycle, however, and might instead continue expanding into a frigid future. Ninety-five percent of the universe is not matter like we see around us [but instead is] matter that can't be seen at all-- matter of a type that still mystifies astronomers and cosmologists...." [Two-thirds of this] is apparently an even more puzzling type of matter known as dark energy.... and is thought to be responsible for our universe's accelerating growth. Brahman is also sometimes used as a variant of Brahmin (see below)