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One of the most significant breakthroughs in modern science has been the discovery of antimatter. Even though this discovery was made in 1959, it still remains now almost five decades later one of the greatest achievements of modern science. Of course the existence of antimatter is nothing new to those who are learned in the ancient Vedic science. The existence of both matter and antimatter is clearly described in the 5,000 years old Bhagavad-gita by Lord Krishna as follows: 

sad asac caham Arjuna

"O Arjuna, both antimatter and matter are in Me."
Bhagavad-gita 9.19

So what is matter? And what is antimatter? Matter is broken down into eight gross and subtle material elements described in the Bhagavad-gita as follows:

bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh
kham mano buddhir eva ca
ahankara itiyam me
bhinna prakrtir astadha

"Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego -- all together these eight constitute My separated material energies."
Bhagavad-gita 7.4

Antimatter consists of innumerable antimaterial particles. What is the nature of those antimaterial particles? They are also described in the Bhagavad-gita.

na jayate mriyate va kadacin
nayam bhutva bhavita va na bhuyah
ajo nityah sasvato 'yam purano
na hanyate hanyamane sarire

"The antimaterial particle, which is the vital force, is never born or created. It exists eternally. It has neither birth dates nor death dates. It is neither repeatedly created nor repeatedly destroyed. It is eternally existing, and therefore it is the oldest of the old, and yet it is always fresh and new. Although the material particle is annihilated, the antimaterial particle is never affected." Bhagavad-gita 2.20

So antimatter is the stuff of which we, the living entities, are made. Each one us is an antimaterial particle, the atomic soul. At the present moment in that material world we, the antimaterial particles, are foolishly misidentifying ourselves with matter. Antimatter is eternal, full of bliss, and full of knowledge, while matter is temporary, full of ignorance and misery. To misidentify ourselves with matter is the biggest mistake we can ever make. To do so completely ruins our ability to taste the unlimited happiness, which is our constitutional birthright and to see things as they are. In its natural state the antimaterial particle is a liberated being. It is only in an unnatural state that it is covered by matter. 

My spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, explains, "The perfection of science will occur when it is possible for the material scientists to know the qualities of the antimaterial particle and liberate it from the association of nonpermanent, material particles. Such liberation would mark the culmination of scientific progress."

Now that science has discovered antimatter, we sincerely hope that it will progress further now to perfect knowledge of matter, antimatter, and liberation.