BHU-MANDAL

(by Mahesh Raja)

Note: What is Bhu-mandala? Bhu-mandala is DUAL COMPOUND word. Bhu means earth and mandala means group. So the Bhu-mandala PLANETARY System means that there are EARTHLY PLANETS grouped together and the total number of these planets is SEVEN (SAPTA).

Our planet is called JAMBUDVIPA is in that GROUP of SAPTA (SEVEN) EARTHLY PLANETS.(1) JAMBU, (2) Saka, (3) Salmali, (4) Kusa, (5) Kraunca, (6) Gomeda, or Plaksa, and (7) Puskara. The word (dvipa) ISLAND is used in this sense because there is OCEAN OF SPACE and the EGG SHAPED PLANETS are floating in that OCEAN OF SPACE. Our planet JAMBUDVIPA is surrounded by SALT water ocean: there are various kinds of oceans in other planets. Somewhere there is an ocean of milk, somewhere there is an ocean of oil, and somewhere there is an ocean of liquor and many other types of oceans.

730930BG.BOM Lectures
That point is missing. Real enjoyer or proprietor is Krsna. Bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka-mahesvaram. He’s the proprietor. Sarva loka, not only of this loka, earthly planet, but there are innumerable planets within this universe and there are innumerable universes also, not one universe. Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti. Jagad-anda means universe. It is just like EGG SHAPE. ANDA. You can see this universe, the sky is…, horizon. So it is just like egg shape. ALL THE PLANETS AND THE UNIVERSES, THEY ARE EGG SHAPED. THEREFORE they are called ANDA, jagad-ANDA, brahmANDA. So this jagad-ANDA.

SB 5.1.31 S   The Activities of Maharaja Priyavrata
  ye–that; va u ha–certainly; tat-ratha–of his chariot; carana–of the wheels; nemi–by the rims; krta–made; parikhatah–trenches; te–those; sapta–seven; sindhavah–oceans; asan–became; yatah–because of which; eva–certainly; krtah–were made; sapta–seven; bhuvah–of the Bhu-mandala; dvipah–islands.

                          TRANSLATION
  When Priyavrata drove his chariot behind the sun, the rims of his chariot wheels created impressions that later became seven oceans, dividing the planetary system known as Bhu-mandala into seven islands.

                            PURPORT
  Sometimes the planets in outer space are called islands. We have experience of various types of islands in the ocean, and similarly the various planets, divided into fourteen lokas, are islands in the ocean of space. As Priyavrata drove his chariot behind the sun, he created seven different types of oceans and planetary systems, which altogether are known as Bhu-mandala, or Bhuloka. In the Gayatri mantra, we chant, om bhur bhuvah svah tat savitur varenyam. Above the Bhuloka planetary system is Bhuvarloka, and above that is Svargaloka, the heavenly planetary system. All these planetary systems are controlled by Savita, the sun-god. By chanting the Gayatri mantra just after rising early in the morning, one worships the sun-god.

SB 5.16.1 P        A Description of Jambudvipa
  In this verse it is stated that the planetary system known as Bhu-mandala extends to the limits of the sunshine. According to modern science, the sunshine reaches earth from a distance of 93,000,000 miles. If we calculate according to this modern information, 93,000,000 miles can be considered the radius of Bhu-mandala. In the Gayatri mantra, we chant om bhur bhuvah svah. The word bhur refers to Bhu-mandala. Tat savitur varenyam: the sunshine spreads throughout Bhu-mandala. Therefore the sun is worshipable. The stars, which are known as naksatra, are not different suns, as modern astronomers suppose. From Bhagavad-gita (10.21) we understand that the stars are similar to the moon (naksatranam aham sasi). Like the moon, the stars reflect the sunshine. Apart from our modern distinguished estimations of where the planetary systems are located, we can understand that the sky and its various planets were studied long, long before Srimad-Bhagavatam was compiled. Sukadeva Gosvami explained the location of the planets, and this indicates that the information was known long, long before Sukadeva Gosvami related it to Maharaja Pariksit. The location of the various planetary systems was not unknown to the sages who flourished in the Vedic age.

 Note: Mandala means group
Adi 5.118    The Glories of Lord Nityananda Balarama
  sahasra–thousands; vistirna–spread; yanra–whose; phanara–of the hoods; mandala–group; surya–the sun; jini’–conquering; mani-gana–jewels; kare–do; jhala-mala–glittering.

Adi 5.228    The Glories of Lord Nityananda Balarama
  vrndavane–in Vrndavana; vaise–there are; yata–all; vaisnava-mandala–groups of devotees; krsna-nama-parayana–addicted to the name of Lord Krsna; parama-mangala–all-auspicious.
                          TRANSLATION
Adi 5.228    The Glories of Lord Nityananda Balarama
  All the groups of Vaisnavas who live in Vrndavana are absorbed in chanting the all-auspicious name of Krsna.

Madhya 20.391 Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Instructs Sanatana Gosvami in the Science
  aiche–in the same way; krsnera–of Lord Krsna; lila-mandala–groups of different pastimes; caudda-manvantare–in the duration of fourteen Manus; brahmanda-mandala–all of the universes; vyapi’–spreading through; krame krame–gradually; phire–return.

Note: Bhu means earth

SB 1.17.8 S       Punishment and Reward of Kali
  na–not; jatu–at any time; kaurava-indranam–of the kings in the Kuru dynasty; dordanda–strength of arms; parirambhite–protected by; bhu-tale–on the surface of the earth; anupatanti–grieving; asmin–up till now; vina–save and except; te–you; praninam–of the living being; sucah–tears in the eyes.

Note: Earthly PLANETS are also called ISLANDS sapta (seven) situated in OCEAN OF AIR with EACH having different LIQUID OCEAN eg salt, milk, ghee etc:

SB 5.1.32     The Activities of Maharaja Priyavrata
  The names of the islands are JAMBU, Plaksa, Salmali, Kusa, Kraunca, Saka and Puskara. Each island is twice as large as the one preceding it, and each is surrounded by a LIQUID substance, beyond which is the next island.

Madhya 20.218 Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Instructs Sanatana Gosvami in the Science
  “Within the universe the Lord is situated in different spiritual manifestations. These are situated on seven islands in nine sections. Thus Their pastimes are going on.

                            PURPORT

  The seven islands are mentioned in the Siddhanta-siromani:

            bhumer ardham ksira-sindhor udaka-stham
               jambu-dvipam prahur acarya-varyah
              ardhe ‘nyasmin dvipa-satkasya yamye
                ksara-ksirady-ambudhinam nivesah

                sakam tatah salmala-matra kausam
                krauncam ca go-medaka-puskare ca
                dvayor dvayor antaram ekam ekam
                  samudrayor dvipam udaharanti

 The seven islands (dvipas) are known as (1) JAMBU, (2) Saka, (3) Salmali, (4) Kusa, (5) Kraunca, (6) Gomeda, or Plaksa, and (7) Puskara. The planets are called dvipa. Outer space is like an OCEAN OF AIR. Just as there are islands in the watery ocean, these PLANETS in the OCEAN OF SPACE are called dvipas, or islands in outer space.

There are NINE KHANDAS, known as (1) Bharata, (2) Kinnara, (3) Hari, (4) Kuru, (5) Hiranmaya, (6) Ramyaka, (7) Ilavrta, (8) Bhadrasva and (9) Ketumala. THESE ARE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE JAMBUDVIPA. A valley between two mountains is called a khanda or varsa.

Madhya 20.218 Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Instructs Sanatana Gosvami in the Science
The seven islands (dvipas) are known as (1) JAMBU, (2) Saka, (3) Salmali, (4) Kusa, (5) Kraunca, (6) Gomeda, or Plaksa, and (7) Puskara. The PLANETS are called dvipa. OUTER SPACE IS LIKE AN OCEAN OF AIR. JUST AS THERE ARE ISLANDS IN THE WATERY OCEAN, THESE PLANETS IN THE OCEAN OF SPACE ARE CALLED DVIPAS, OR ISLANDS IN OUTER SPACE. There are NINE KHANDAS, known as (1) Bharata, (2) Kinnara, (3) Hari, (4) Kuru, (5) Hiranmaya, (6) Ramyaka, (7) Ilavrta, (8) Bhadrasva and (9) Ketumala. These are different PARTS of the Jambudvipa. A valley between two mountains is called a khanda or varsa.

KB 1                  Advent of Lord Krsna
  In the Vedic mantras, there is a particular type of prayer called Purusa-sukta. Generally, the demigods offer their obeisances unto Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by chanting the Purusa-sukta. It is understood herein that the predominating deity of every planet can see the supreme lord of this universe, Brahma, whenever there is some disturbance in his planet. And Brahma can approach the Supreme Lord Visnu, not by seeing Him directly, but by standing on the shore of the ocean of milk. There is a planet within this universe called Svetadvipa, and on that planet there is an ocean of milk. It is understood from various Vedic literatures that just as there is the ocean of salt water within this planet, there are various kinds of oceans in other planets. Somewhere there is an ocean of milk, somewhere there is an ocean of oil, and somewhere there is an ocean of liquor and many other types of oceans. Purusa-sukta is the standard prayer which the demigods recite to appease the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Ksirodakasayi-Visnu. Because He is lying on the ocean of milk, He is called Ksirodakasayi-Visnu. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, through whom all the incarnations within this universe appear.

KB 89           The Superexcellent Power of Krsna
  Seated on His chariot with Arjuna, Krsna began to proceed north, crossing over many planetary systems. These are described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam as SAPTA-DVIPA. Dvipa means island. All these planets, are sometimes described in the Vedic literature as dvipas. THE PLANET ON WHICH WE ARE LIVING IS CALLED JAMBUDVIPA. Outer space is taken as a great ocean of air, and within that great ocean of air there are many islands, which are the different planets. In each and every planet there are oceans also. In some of the planets, the oceans are of salt water, and in some of them there are oceans of milk. In others there are oceans of liquor, and in others there are oceans of ghee or oil. There are different kinds of mountains also. Each and every planet has a different type of atmosphere.

Note: There is earthly planets. Therefore earthly planetary system also. They are mistaking as flat Islands circles BUT these are ACTUALLY (BHU) EGG SHAPED EARTHLY PLANETS with different oceans salt,milk etc these are ISLANDS of the the AIR—– ALSO—- called PLANETS:

SB 1.17.8 S       Punishment and Reward of Kali
  na–not; jatu–at any time; kaurava-indranam–of the kings in the Kuru dynasty; dordanda–strength of arms; parirambhite–protected by; bhu-tale–on the surface of the earth; anupatanti–grieving; asmin–up till now; vina–save and except; te–you; praninam–of the living being; sucah–tears in the eyes.

Bg 14.18 T     The Three Modes Of Material Nature
  Those situated in the mode of goodness gradually go upward to the higher planets; those in the mode of passion live on the earthly planets; and those in the mode of ignorance go down to the hellish worlds.

680328SB.SF                 Lectures
Upendra: “This part of the spiritual sky, called the mahat-tattva, is only an insignificant portion of the whole spiritual sky, and within this mahat-tattva there are innumerable universes. All these universes collectively is produced by the Karanarnavasayi Visnu called also the Maha-Visnu who simply throws His glance only to impregnate the material sky to manifest.” Text 2. Translation: “Another plenary part of the purusa is lying down within the water of the universe from the navel lake of His body which has sprouted the lotus stem (which is the body of the universe) and on the top, from the lotus flower Brahma the master of all engineers of the universe, is generated.” Purport: “The First purusa is the Karanodakasayi Visnu. From the skinholes of Him innumerable universes have sprung up. In each and every one of them the purusa enters as the Garbhodakasayi Visnu. He is lying in half portion of the universe full with water of His body. And from the navel of Garbhodakasayi Visnu has sprung up the stem of the lotus flower the birth place of Brahma who is the father of all living beings and the master of all the demigod engineers engaged in the matter of perfect design and working of the universal order. Within the stem of the lotus there are fourteen divisions of planetary system and the earthly planets are situated in the middle. Upwards there are other better planetary systems and the topmost system is called Brahmaloka or the Satyaloka. Downwards the earthly planetary system there are seven downwards planetary systems domiciled by the asuras and similar other most materialistic living beings. From this Garbhodakasayi Visnu there is expansion of the Ksirodakasayi Visnu who is the collective Paramatma of all living beings. He is called Hari and from Him all incarnations within the universe are expanded.”

EARTHLY PLANETS:

SB 2.7.12

matsyo yugānta-samayemanunopalabdhaḥ

kṣoṇīmayonikhila-jīva-nikāya-ketaḥ

visraṁsitān uru-bhayesalile mukhān me

ādāya tatra vijahāra haveda-mārgān

SYNONYMS

matsyaḥ—incarnation of thefish; yuga-anta—at the end of the millennium; samaye—at the timeof; manunā—the would-be Vaivasvata Manu; upalabdhaḥ—seen;kṣoṇīmayaḥ—up to the earthly planets; nikhila—all;jīva—living entities; nikāya-ketaḥ—shelter for;visraṁsitān—emanating from; uru—great; bhaye—out of fear;salile—in the water; mukhāt—from the mouth; me—mine;ādāya—having taken to; tatra—there; vijahāra—enjoyed;ha—certainly; veda-mārgān—all the Vedas.

TRANSLATION

At the end of the millennium,the would-be Vaivasvata Manu, of the name Satyavrata, would see that the Lord in the fish incarnation is the shelter of all kinds of living entities, up to those in the EARTHLY PLANETS. Because of my fear of the vast water at the end of the millennium, the Vedas come out of my [Brahmā’s] mouth, and the Lord enjoys those vast waters and protects the Vedas.

PURPORT

During one day of Brahmā there are fourteen Manus, and at the end of each Manu there is devastation up to THE EARTHLY PLANETS, and the vast water is fearful even to Brahmā. So in the beginning of the would-be Vaivasvata Manu, such devastation would be seen by him.There would be many other incidents also, such as the killing of the famous Śaṅkhāsura. This foretelling is by the past experience of Brahmājī, who knew that in that fearful devastating scene, the Vedas would come out of his mouth, but the Lord in His fish incarnation not only would save all living entities, namely the demigods, animals, men and great sages, but would also save the Vedas.

740601SB.GEN                Lectures
  There are three material modes of nature. If you keep yourself in touch with the material modes of nature of goodness, then you will be promoted to the higher standard of life. Urdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah. Therefore at least, you may enjoy material life, but you should keep yourself to the standard of brahminical culture. Then there is guarantee that you don’t degrade yourself; you get higher status of life in the higher planetary system: Janaloka, Maharloka, Tapoloka, Satyaloka. Then you will get… But if you keep yourself as it is, then you will remain in this planetary system. This is called bhur-loka. Bhur-loka. Om bhur bhuvah svah tat-savituh. You have gayatri-mantra. This is called bhu-loka. Bhuvar-loka. Then, above this, there is bhuvar-loka; then, above this, the heavenly planets. There is system. And if you keep yourself in the association of the modes of ignorance, or foolishness, then you go down. Jaghanya-guna-vrtti-stha adho gacchanti tamasah. Jaghanya-guna. Tamasika means abominable character. The abominable character means these four things: illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling. This is tamo-guna, exhibition of tamo-guna. So, if you continue to keep yourself in the association of the modes of ignorance, then you are going to become adhah. Adhah means down. Down means there are many other planetary system. Just like upper there are bhur bhuvah svah, Jana, Mahar, like that, and down also: Tala, Atala, Vitala, Talatala, Patala, like that. There is system.

SB 5.1.31 P   The Activities of Maharaja Priyavrata
  Sometimes the planets in outer space are called islands. We have experience of various types of islands in the ocean, and similarly the various planets, divided into fourteen lokas, are islands in the ocean of space. As Priyavrata drove his chariot behind the sun, he created seven different types of oceans and planetary systems, which altogether are known as Bhu-mandala, or Bhuloka. In the Gayatri mantra, we chant, om BHUR bhuvah svah tat savitur varenyam. Above the Bhuloka planetary system is BHUVARloka, and above that is SVARgaloka, the heavenly planetary system. All these planetary systems are controlled by Savita, the sun-god. By chanting the Gayatri mantra just after rising early in the morning, one worships the sun-god.

SB 5.1.32     The Activities of Maharaja Priyavrata
  The names of the islands are Jambu, Plaksa, Salmali, Kusa, Kraunca, Saka and Puskara. Each island is twice as large as the one preceding it, and each is surrounded BY A LIQUID SUBSTANCE, beyond which is the next island.

KB 1                  Advent of Lord Krsna
  In the Vedic mantras, there is a particular type of prayer called Purusa-sukta. Generally, the demigods offer their obeisances unto Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by chanting the Purusa-sukta. It is understood herein that the predominating deity of every planet can see the supreme lord of this universe, Brahma, whenever there is some disturbance in his planet. And Brahma can approach the Supreme Lord Visnu, not by seeing Him directly, but by standing on the shore of the ocean of milk. There is a planet within this universe called Svetadvipa, and on that planet there is an ocean of milk. It is understood from various Vedic literatures that just as there is the ocean of salt water within this planet, there are various kinds of oceans in other planets. Somewhere there is an ocean of milk, somewhere there is an ocean of oil, and somewhere there is an ocean of liquor and many other types of oceans. Purusa-sukta is the standard prayer which the demigods recite to appease the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Ksirodakasayi-Visnu. Because He is lying on the ocean of milk, He is called Ksirodakasayi-Visnu. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, through whom all the incarnations within this universe appear.

KB 89           The Superexcellent Power of Krsna
  Seated on His chariot with Arjuna, Krsna began to proceed north, crossing over many planetary systems. These are described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam as sapta-dvipa. Dvipa means island. All these planets, are sometimes described in the Vedic literature as dvipas. THE PLANET ON WHICH WE ARE LIVING IS CALLED JAMBUDVIPA. Outer space is taken as a great ocean of air, and within that great ocean of air there are many islands, which are the different planets. In each and every planet there are oceans also. In some of the planets, the oceans are of salt water, and in some of them there are oceans of milk. In others there are oceans of liquor, and in others there are oceans of ghee or oil. There are different kinds of mountains also. Each and every planet has a different type of atmosphere.