14. Do other world living creatures really exist?

          In this article we are not trying to find an explicit answer to this question. Instead we will go through some scientific facts and also we will explore some of the major existing religious beliefs about the existence of other world creatures. Beliefs of christians, hindu and muslims are explored here. Finally a personal view on the existense of other world creatures is also expressed.

Modern Scientific Explorations:

         Let us first explore modern Scientific studies on other world creatures:
In scientific community, the term "Alien" is used mainly for other world creatures. The term "alien" is derived from the latin word " alienus" meaning stranger, foreign, belonging to another. In English, it means a hypothetical or fictional being from another world.

          Let us see what is mentioned in NASA's website on other world creatures. (URL reference given at bottom of the page in point 2 ) " No life beyond Earth has ever been found; there is no evidence that alien life has ever visited our planet. This does not mean, however that the universe is lifeless. The rover curiosity has firmly determined that ancient Mars was significantly more wet and warm, and was an entirely habitable place for microbial life".

          For an exoplanet to support life, the following criteria is essentially required according to NASA.( Reference URL given at bottom of the page in point 3)

           The planet should be about the size of the earth that orbit at just the right distance from their star - in a region termed the habitable zone. Planets in the habitable region is known as Goldilocks planets after the fairy tale because they orbit where conditons are just right for life. The habitable zone is the belt around a star where temperatures are ideal for liquid water which is considered as an essential ingredient for life as we know it. It has to be noted that finding the habitable zone around a star is still a difficult thing among astronomers since it depends on so many factors. But usually it is find out mainly by detecting the amount of radiation emitted by the star, radiation absorbed by the planet, and radiation emitted back from the planet. In addition to the above,  various geophysical and geodynamical aspects of the planet is also involved. Let us discuss a very few interesting points among them.

a) Mass:
         Low mass planets are poor candidates for life because of two reasons. First, their lesser gravity makes it difficult to hold the atmosphere needed for supporting life. Secondly, smaller planets probably wil be geologically dead, and lacking volcanoes, earthquakes and techtonic activities which supply the surface with life sustaining material and atmosphere with temperature moderators like carbon. But exeptional cases are also there. For example, Jupiter's moon Io (which is smaller than any of the terrestrial planets) is volcanically dynamic because of the gravitational stresses induced by its orbit, and its neighbor Europa may have a liquid ocean or icy slush underneath a frozen shell also due to power generated from orbiting a gas giant (Jupiter).

        In other case, if the planet's mass is more, then also, it is less likely to support life. it is likely to have massive atmosphere and solid iron core. This makes the planet to have a higher escape velocity. A combination of higher escape velocity to retain lighter atoms, and extensive outgassing from enhanced plate tectonics may greatly increase the atmospheric pressure and temperature at the surface compared to Earth. The enhanced greenhouse effect of such a heavy atmosphere would tend to suggest that the probability of life would be less there. So in short, planets should not be neither oversized nor too small to support life. So scientists are mainly looking for earth sized planets for searching life.

b) Orbit and rotation:
        Orbital eccentricity is the difference between a planet's farthest and closest approach to its parent star divided by the sum of said distances. It is a ratio describing the shape of the elliptical orbit. The greater the eccentricity the greater the temperature fluctuation on a planet's surface. If the fluctuation is great, the probability of the existence of life will be less. The Earth's orbit is almost wholly circular, with an eccentricity of less than 0.02; 

          If there is little or no axial tilt (or obliquity) relative to the perpendicular of the ecliptic, seasons will not occur and a main stimulant to biospheric dynamism will disappear. On the other hand, if the planet is having a significant tilt, this will also cause planet's climate to become unfavorable for sustaining life.

c) Heavy Metalicity:
         A smaller amount of metal makes the formation of planets much less likely, under the solar nebula theory of planetary system formation. Any planets that did form around a metal-poor star would probably be low in mass, and thus will be unfavorable for life. 

d) Low stellar variation:
         Changes in luminosity are common to all stars. But severity of such fluctions may be dangerous. Most stars are relatively stable, but a significant minority of variable stars undergo sudden changes in luminosity and hence the fluctuations in radiation going towards the planet will be fluctuating heavily and this would be dangerous for the organisms.

        In the year 2013, NASA has estimated that there are 40 billion earth sized planets in the habitable zones of sun like stars and red dwarfs in our milkyway galaxy. Modern science has various techniques to find exoplanets which are similar to that of our earth. Some of the major techniques are described here.

1. Transit Method
         When a planet passes directly between its star and an observer, it dims the stars light by a measurable amount.
        
2. Radial Velocity Method
         Orbitting planets cause stars to wobble in space causing an observable shift in the color of thr stars light.
        
3. Micro Lensing Method
          Light from a distant star is bent and focused by gravity as a planet passes between the star and earth.
         
4. Imaging Method
          Astronomers can take pictures of exoplanets using techniques that remove overwhelming glare of the stars they orbit.

5. Spectroscopy
          When the light shot by a star reaches the atmosphere of a distant planet and when it gets reflected and reaches our telescope, we can analyse this reflected light. The effect  looks like a bar code. The slices missing from the light spectrum tells us that which constituents are present in the exoplanet atmosphere. One pattern of black gaps might indicate methane, another oxygen. Seeing those together could be a strong argument for the presence of life.

Religious views on existense of other world creatures:
         Now let us try to explore the other world living creatures mentioned in Bible, hindu mythology and in Muslim traditions.

In bible, 9 types of other world living creatures are mentioned. They are
1. Seraphim ( സ്രോപ്പെന്മാർ )
2. Cherubim ( ക്രൂബെൻമാർ )
3. Powers ( ഹൈലാവോസെൻമാർ  )
4. Dominions (മൊറാവോസെൻമാർ )
5. Thrones ( മൗത്‌ബെൻമാർ )
6. Authorities ( ശുൽത്തോനെന്മാർ )
7. Rulers ( ആർക്കാവോസെൻമാർ )
8. Arch Angels (റീശിനുവോസെന്മാർ )
9. Angels ( മാലാഖമാർ ) 

        In Christianity it is believed that all of the nine above mentioned creatures are inhabitants of heaven and created by God. It is also believed that the Arch angel Lucifer rebelled against God and as a consequence, he has fallen to our earth from heaven. Let us   have a look on the physical descriptions of these heavenly beings. In bible the physical descriptions of Seraphim and cherubim is only well described.

   
1. Seraphim ( സ്രോപ്പെന്മാർ )
       From Isaiah 6:2, we can understand that each seraphim have 6 wings. With two they cover their face, with two, they cover their feet. With two, they fly and praises "God is Holy"
      
2. Cherubim ( ക്രൂബെൻമാർ )
        In the book of Ezekiel 10, the cherub is depicted as having two pairs of wings and four faces. One that of a lion, one that of an ox, one that of a human and another one that of an eagle. Their whole body and even their conjoined wings are also covered with eyes.  Cherubim guard the way to the tree of life in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24)

3. Powers ( ഹൈലാവോസെൻമാർ )
         This angelic class have the primary duty to supervise movements of the heavenly bodies to ensure the order of the universe. The physical description of this angelic class is not available.
Reference:- 1 Peter 3:2, Ephesians 1:21 

4. Dominions (മൊറാവോസെൻമാർ )
          This angelic class is beleived to regulate the duties of lower angels. They are believed to look like divinely beautiful humans with a paired of feathered wings.
Reference:- Collosians 1:16, Ephesians 1:21

5. Thrones ( മൗത്‌ബെൻമാർ )
        This class of celestial beings are mentioned by Paul the Apostle in Collossians 1:16. They are living symbols of God's justice and authority. Physical description is not available in bible.
Reference:- Daniel7:9, Collosians 1:16, Revelation 4:2-6

6. Authorities ( ശുൽത്തോനെന്മാർ )
          These angels are believed to have the authority to do signs and miracles in the world
Reference:- Ephesians 1:21, 3:10, Collosians 1:16, 1 peter 3:2

7. Rulers ( ആർക്കാവോസെൻമാർ )
             This class of angelic beings are believed to guide and protect nations, or group of peoples and institutions such as church. Their physical description is not available
Reference:-Ephesians 1:21,3:10 Collosians 1:16

8. Arch Angels (റീശിനുവോസെന്മാർ )
           The word archangel comes from the greek word "archangelos" meaning chief angel. This is derived from the greekword " archein" and "angelos". "archein" means to be first in rank or power. Angelos means messenger. Michael is an archangel. Lucifer or Satan is also an arch angel who has rebelled with God.
Reference:- Daniel 10:13-21, 12:1, Luke 1:19, 26, 1 Thesselonians 4:16,  Jude 9

9. Angels ( മാലാഖമാർ )
          The word Angel is derived from the greek word " Angelos" meaning messenger. These angels are sent as messengers to humanity. Angel Gabreal belongs to this grouo who had visited Mary and  the priest Zecharia.                     
Reference:- Genesis: 18:2, Mathew 1:20, Acts12:15, Luke 1:1

         Now let us look some of the mythical creatures mentioned in hindu mythologies.

1. Airavat
        This legendary white elephant is served as Lord Indra's mount. It is believed that this elephant was born when Brahma sang seven hymns over the two halves of the egg shell from which Garuda hatched. He is also behind the myth that elephant can bring clouds.

2. Garuda
       Garuda is the most famous winged beast in indian mythology. Garuda and his mother were enslaved by snakes. Inorder to be free, Garuda was asked to steal elixir from heaven. As told by snakes, Garuda brought elixir for snakes and garuda and his mother were freed. As the snakes were ajbout to drink elixir, As told by Lord vishnu, Garuda told snakes to clean themselves first before having elixir. When the snakes were away for cleaning themselves, Indira attacked Garuda and was able to protect himself from Indiras thunder bolt but could not keep elixir with him. However during this battle, a few drops of elixir fell down and snakes tried to lick it. Elixir was so strong and it burned their tounges. Apparently this is the reason that snakes have forked tounges.

3. Navagunjara
       This particular creature is composed of nine different animals. It has the head of a rooster standing on three feet, each of which was an elephant, a tiger and the deer or a horse. The fourth limb was a raised human arm carrying a lotus. The creature had the neck of a peacock, the hump of a camel, the waist of a lion, and the tail was a serpent.

4. Ganesha's mouse
        There are many stories behind why Ganesha rides on a mouse. One story suggests that the mouse symbolizes Ganehsha's victory over the rodent, that is the enemy of the farmer, an obstacle to the prosperity which points out the victory of Ganesha over the obstacles which prevents one's own inner prosperity.

5. Sheshanaag
         Sheshanaag is a serpent with 1000 heads that keeps the universe stable. Sheshanag had 1000 brothers who always caused troubles to every one surrounding them. He was fed up with his brothers actions and left to Himalays in sake of spirituality.  After great efforts, Lord Brahma appeared. Sheshanaag just asked to become a servent of Lord. Brahma was pleased on him and  had given the power to coil the universe. It is said that when sheshanaag coils forward, creation happens and when it coils backwards, universe cease to exist.

          Now let us have a look at some of the mystical creature mentioned in the Islamic traditions.

1. Buraq
         The word meaning of " Buraq" is lighting. It is a mythical creature that was said to be a transport for certain prophets. While Phrophet Mohammed was resting at Kaaba in Mecca, Angel Gabriel appeared to him bringing the buraq. Along with Gabriel, buraq carried Mohammed to the temple mount at Jerusalem. From this location, he was alighted to the seven different segments of heaven where he met with various prophets and finally met with God. Within Islam, this event signifies both spiritual and physical journey.

2. Houris
      Houris are beings in islamic traditions as splendid companions of equal age who will accompany the faithful in muslim paradise.

A personal view:
           The author of this article do not have enough wisdom to clearly say whether the mystical creatures mentioned in this article are really existing or not. One way is, we can consider these creatures as just visions  received by various prophets during their spiritual journey. Else we can either blindly believe in  those creatures or we can blindly reject those beliefs. Let us look at some latest scientific facts.
            NASA estimated that our universe consists of 68% of dark energy, 27% dark matter and only 5% ordinary matter. All living organisms on earth is made up of ordinary matter. Researchers have no idea what is the constituent of dark matter and dark energy. Even though dark energy and dark matter are invisible to our eyes and senses, researchers can observe the effects of dark energy and dark matter upon the ordinary matter. There are many candidate theories for dark matter and dark energy. But this mysterious substance is not yet found out. Similarly modern science is not sure whether any unknown type of other exotic matter exist in our universe or not.
            We cannot completely rule out the possibility of the existence of living beings which are made up of dark matter and dark energy. If this becomes true, there might be creatures even around us since dark matter is present everywhere according to modern science. We dont have to look many light years away in search of other world creatures. They might be roaming within our world. This is just a possibility. Not a proved fact.
            It is estimated that there are 100 billion galxies in our observable universe.  It is also estimated that there are 100 thousand million stars in our milky way galaxy alone and thus we cannot completely rule out the possibility for the existence of other world creatures  somewhere in our universe.

References:
1. https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/reference/glossary/

2. https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/about/

3. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/news/kepler20130717.html

4.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_habitability

5.https://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/focus-areas/what-is-dark-energy