Famous map of the stationary earth from 1893 published by Orlando Ferguson
Citing Four Hundred Passages in the Bible That Condemn
the Globe Theory or the spinning Earth Space Ball.
THE STATIONARY EARTH
and circling luminaries above
Description from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
There are many things we do know as facts from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. As far as the earth is concerned the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam does not describe it as a ball spinning in space.
In the Bhāgavatam the earth is described stationary with the luminaries circling above. We can say that for an absolute fact. It is certainly not spinning or moving in any way. Because all the movements we see in the sky are explained in the Bhāgavatam as movements of the wheel of time [sisumara chakra, which has all stars fixed on it in the constellations and that whole thing is rotating in the sky] and the sun, moon and planets move with the sisumara chakra but have their own independent movements also.
The wheel of time, a gigantic wheel consisting of all the stars, constellations, etc, all fixed in their respective places is connected to the wheel of the chariot of the sun god. It has an axle that rotates once every twenty-four hours. That causes the whole wheel of time to rotate 360 degrees in 24 hours. And this is the rotation that scientists mistakenly presume is the earth rotating. That is what makes the sun and moon and stars rise and set every day.
The axle of the sun god’s chariot is resting on the top of Manasottara mountain, which is a huge ring of mountains circling the whole Bhu-mandala island complex. In 360 days the axle of the sun god’s chariot moves all the way around the 360 degrees of the Manasottara mountains. This movement accounts for the different rising and setting positions of the sun, moon and stars, and also accounts for the seasons. So these two movements of the wheel of time, sisumara-chakra, prove that the earth is stationary and everything else is moving around the earth. So that accounts for all the movements we see in the sky that the scientists presume are caused by the earth rotating.
Śiśumāra Chakra – wheel of time
The Movements of the Sun
The sun is not stationary; it is also moving like the other planets. The sun’s movements determine the duration of night and day. When the sun travels north of the equator, it moves slowly during the day and very quickly at night, thus increasing the duration of the daytime and decreasing the duration of night. Similarly, when the sun travels south of the equator, the exact opposite is true—the duration of the day decreases, and the duration of night increases. When the sun enters Karkaṭa-rāśi (Cancer) and then travels to Siṁha-rāśi (Leo) and so on through Dhanuḥ-rāśi (Sagittarius), its course is called Dakṣiṇāyana, the southern way, and when the sun enters Makara-rāśi (Capricorn) and thereafter travels through Kumbharāśi (Aquarius) and so on through Mithuna-rāśi (Gemini), its course is called Uttarāyaṇa, the northern way. When the sun is in Meṣa-rāśi (Aries) and Tulā-rāśi (Libra), the duration of day and night are equal. (SB/5/21/21_summary)
The learned say that the sun travels over all sides of Manasottara Mountain in a circle whose length is 95,100,000 yojanas. On Mānasottara Mountain are the abodes of four demigods. East of SumeruMountain is Devadhānī, where King Indra lives, and south of Sumeru is Saṁyamanī, the abode of Yamarāja, the superintendent of death. Similarly, west of Sumeru is Nimlocanī, the abode of Varuṇa, the demigod who controls the water, and north of Sumeru is Vibhāvarī, where the demigod of the moon lives. Sunrise, noon, sunset and midnight occur in all these places because of the movements of the sun. Diametrically opposite the place where the sunrise takes places and the sun is seen by human eyes, the sun will be setting and passing away from human vision. Similarly, the people residing diametrically opposite the point where it is midday will be experiencing midnight. The sun rises and sets with all the other planets, headed by the moon and other luminaries. (SB/5/21/7)
The living entities residing on Sumeru Mountain are always very warm, as at midday, because for them the sun is always overhead. Although the sun moves counterclockwise, facing the constellations, with Sumeru Mountain on its left, it also moves clockwise and appears to have the mountain on its right because it is influenced by the daksinavarta wind.
The entire kāla-cakra, or wheel of time, is established on the wheel of the sun-god’s chariot. This wheel is known as Saṁvatsara. The seven horses pulling the chariot of the sun are known as Gāyatrī, Bṛhatī, Uṣṇik, Jagatī, Triṣṭup, Anuṣṭup and Paṅkti. They are harnessed by a demigod known as Aruṇadeva to a yoke 900,000 yojanas wide. Thus the chariot carries Ādityadeva, the sun-god. Always staying in front of the sun-god and offering their prayers are sixty thousand sages known as Vālikhilyas. There are fourteen Gandharvas, Apsarās and other demigods, who are divided into seven parties and who perform ritualistic activities every month to worship the Supersoul through the sun-god according to different names. Thus the sun-god travels through the universe for a distance of 95,100,000 yojanas(760,800,000 miles) at a speed of 16,004 miles at every moment. (SB/5/21/21_summary)
Although Aruṇadeva sits in front seat of the sun-god and is engaged in driving the chariot and controlling the horses, he looks backward toward the sun-god. (SB/5/21/16)
From the Mahabharata: Aruna-deva is the god of red-morning.
The Sun God And His Driver: Vivasvan is the sun god who regularly governs the movements of the sun. He is the representative of Narayana, thus known as Surya-Narayana. He sits on a chariot of seven horses which has one wheel. When it moves, it is followed by millions of gandharvas and kinnaras who constantly sing the hymns dedicated to Vivasvan. Sixty thousand sages known as Vālikhilyas who are as small as the human thumb steadily offer surya-namaskaras in front of the divine chariot. In such gargantuan procession Vivasvan moves further with great pride.
The meaning of Aruna: Aruna is the driver of the chariot of the Sun. The meaning of Aruna is ‘one whose hue is reddish brown, red, ruddy, crimson or maroon.’
Driver is First: In the vehicle the driver sits in front of the passenger. Thus, when the sun rises the driver is witnessed first by the viewers. The Aruna ascents before the sun rises. Hence, the sky turns red at dawn before the appearance of the sun.
Prayer to Aruṇa-deva:
अरुणदेवं तं प्रभापति सर्वलोहितकारणम्।
तत्तेजो मण्डलाकारं त्विषा तत्र मनोहरम्॥
स्थुलसूर्यरथमारूढं प्रभात तत्कर्मणा सदाफलम्।
रागरक्त सर्व भूतानां त्वं दीप्तिदेवं प्रणमाम्यहम्॥ [इति सौर पुराणे]
aruṇadevaṁ taṁ prabhāpati sarvalohitakāraṇam|
tattejo maṇḍalākāraṁ tviṣā tatra manoharam||
sthulasūryarathamārūḍhaṁ prabhāta tatkarmaṇā sadāphalam|
rāgarakta sarva bhūtānāṁ tvaṁ dīptidevaṁ praṇamāmyaham|| [iti saura purāṇe]
O Lord Aruṇa, the chief Lord of light who transforms the horizon red, your magnificent shine is like a mandala, the circle which represents the cosmos. You enthusiastically drive the mighty car of Surya-deva and thus make possible the arrival of dawn. To you who is the color of blood in all living beings, who is the commander of light, I offer my obeisances.
The chariot of the sun-god has only one wheel, which is known as Saṁvatsara. The twelve months are calculated to be its twelve spokes, the six seasons are the sections of its rim, and the three cātur-māsya periods are its three-sectioned hub. One side of the axle carrying the wheel rests upon the summit of Mount Sumeru, and the other rests upon Mānasottara Mountain. Affixed to the outer end of the axle, the wheel continuously rotates on Mānasottara Mountain like the wheel of an oil-pressing machine. (SB/5/21/13)
Affixed to the outer end of the axle, the wheel continuously rotates
on Mānasottara Mountain like the wheel of an oil-pressing machine
As in an oil-pressing machine, this first axle is attached to a second axle, which is one-fourth as long [3,937,500 yojanas, or 31,500,000 miles]. The upper end of this second axle is attached to Dhruvaloka by a rope of wind. Like bulls yoked to a central pivot, all the planetary systems revolve around Dhruvaloka, impelled by eternal time. [SB/5/21/14]
My dear King, the carriage of the sun-god’s chariot is estimated to be 3,600,000 yojanas [28,800,000 miles] long and one-fourth as wide [900,000 yojanas, or 7,200,000 miles]. The chariot’s horses, which are named after Gāyatrī and other Vedic meters, are harnessed by Aruṇadeva to a yoke that is also 900,000 yojanas wide. This chariot continuously carries the sun-god.
The seven horses yoked to the sun-god’s chariot are named Gāyatrī, Bṛhati, Uṣṇik, Jagatī, Triṣṭup, Anuṣṭup and Paṅkti. These names of various Vedic meters designate the seven horses that carry the sun-god’s chariot. (SB/5/21/15)
The Orbits of the Planets
According to the movements of the moon and other planets, all the inhabitants of the universe are prone to auspicious and inauspicious situations. This is referred to as the influence of the stars.
Residing in outer space, which is in the middle of the universe, between Bhuloka and Bhuvarloka, the sun rotates through the time circle of the zodiac, represented by twelve rasis,or signs, and assumes different names according to the sign he is in. For the moon, every month is divided into two fortnights. Similarly, according to solar calculations, a month is equal to the time the sun spends in one constellation; two months constitute one season, and there are twelve months in a year. The entire area of the sky is divided into two halves, each representing an ayana, the course traversed by the sun within a period of six months. The sun travels sometimes slowly, sometimes swiftly and sometimes at a moderate speed. In this way it travels within the three worlds, consisting of the heavenly planets, the earthly planets and outer space.
King Pariksit inquired from Sukadeva Gosvami: My dear lord, you have already affirmed the truth that the supremely powerful sun-god travels around Dhruvaloka with both Dhruvaloka and Mount Sumeru on his right. Yet at the same time the sun-god faces the signs of the zodiac and keeps Sumeru and Dhruvaloka on his left. How can we reasonably accept that the sun-god proceeds with Sumeru and Dhruvaloka on both his left and right simultaneously? (SB 5.22.1)
Śrī Sukadeva Gosvami clearly answered: When a potter’s wheel is moving and small ants located on that big wheel are moving with it, one can see that their motion is different from that of the wheel because they appear sometimes on one part of the wheel and sometimes on another. Similarly, the signs and constellations, with Sumeru and Dhruvaloka on their right, move with the wheel of time, and the antlike sun and other planets move with them. The sun and planets, however, are seen in different signs and constellations at different times. This indicates that their motion is different from that of the zodiac and the wheel of time itself. (SB 5.22.2)
When the moon is waxing, the illuminating portions of it increase daily, thus creating day for the demigods and night for the pitas. When the moon is waning, however, it causes night for the demigods and day for the pitas. In this way the moon passes through each constellation of stars in thirty muhurtas [an entire day]. The moon is the source of nectarean coolness that influences the growth of food grains, and therefore the moon-god is considered the life of all living entities. He is consequently called Jiva, the chief living being within the universe. (SB 5.22.9)
The moon is situated 100,000 yojanas above the rays of the sunshine. Day and night on the heavenly planets and Pitrloka are calculated according to its waning and waxing. Above the moon by a distance of 200,000 yojanas are many stars, and above these stars is Sukra-graha (Venus), whose influence is always auspicious for the inhabitants of the entire universe. Above Sukra-graha by 200,000 yojanas is Budha-graha (Mercury), whose influence is sometimes auspicious and sometimes inauspicious. Next, above Budha-graha by 200,000 yojanas, is Angaraka (Mars), which almost always has an unfavorable influence. Above Angaraka by another 200,000 yojanas is the planet called Brhaspati-graha (Jupiter), which is always very favorable for qualified brahmanas. Above Brhaspati-graha is the planet Sanaiscara (Saturn), which is very inauspicious, and above Saturn is a group of seven stars occupied by great saintly persons who are always thinking of the welfare of the entire universe. These seven stars circumambulate Dhruvaloka, which is the residence of Lord Visnu within this universe.
Situated 1,100,000 yojanas above Saturn, or 2,600,000 yojanas above earth, are the seven saintly sages, who are always thinking of the well-being of the inhabitants of the universe. They circumambulate the supreme abode of Lord Visnu, known as Dhruvaloka, the polestar. (SB 5.22.17)
The Śiśumāra Planetary System
All the planetary systems take shelter of the polestar, Dhruvaloka. It also describes the totality of these planetary systems to be Śiśumāra, another expansion of the external body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Dhruvaloka, the abode of Lord Viṣṇu within this universe, is situated 1,300,000 yojanasfrom the seven stars. In the planetary system of Dhruvaloka are the planets of the fire-god, Indra, Prajāpati, Kaśyapa and Dharma, all of whom are very respectful to the great devotee Dhruva, who lives on the polestar.
Like bulls yoked to a central pivot, all the planetary systems revolve around Dhruvaloka, impelled by eternal time. Those who worship the virāṭ-puruṣa, the universal form of the Lord, conceive of this entire rotating system of planets as an animal known as śiśumāra. This imaginary śiśumāra is another form of the Lord.
The head of the śiśumāra form is downward, and its body appears like that of a coiled snake. On the end of its tail is Dhruvaloka, on the body of the tail are Prajāpati, Agni, Indra and Dharma, and on the root of the tail are Dhātā and Vidhātā. On its waist are the seven great sages.
The entire body of the śiśumāra faces toward its right and appears like a coil of stars. On the right side of this coil are the fourteen prominent stars from Abhijit to Punarvasu, and on the left side are the fourteen prominent stars from Puṣyā to Uttarāṣāḍhā. The stars known as Punarvasu and Puṣyā are on the right and left hips of the śiśumāra, and the stars known as Ārdrā and Aśleṣā are on the right and left feet of the śiśumāra. Other stars are also fixed on different sides of the Śiśumāra planetary system according to the calculations of Vedic astronomers. To concentrate their minds, yogīs worship the Śiśumāra planetary system, which is technically known as the kuṇḍalini-cakra.
When bulls are yoked together and tied to a central post to thresh rice, they tread around that pivot without deviating from their proper positions—one bull being closest to the post, another in the middle, and a third on the outside. Similarly, all the planets and all the hundreds and thousands of stars revolve around the polestar, the planet of Mahārāja Dhruva, in their respective orbits, some higher and some lower. Fastened by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to the machine of material nature according to the results of their fruitive acts, they are driven around the polestar by the wind and will continue to be so until the end of creation.
These planets float in the air within the vast sky, just as clouds with hundreds of tons of water float in the air or as the great śyena eagles, due to the results of past activities, fly high in the sky and have no chance of falling to the ground. (SB/5/23/3)
Dhruvaloka, the abode of Lord Viṣṇu within this universe, is situated 1,300,000 yojanasfrom the seven stars. In the planetary system of Dhruvaloka are the planets of the fire-god, Indra, Prajāpati, Kaśyapa and Dharma, all of whom are very respectful to the great devotee Dhruva, who lives on the polestar. Like bulls yoked to a central pivot, all the planetary systems revolve around Dhruvaloka, impelled by eternal time. Those who worship the virāṭ-puruṣa, the universal form of the Lord, conceive of this entire rotating system of planets as an animal known as śiśumāra.
This great machine, consisting of the stars and planets, resembles the form of a śiśumāra [dolphin] in the water. It is sometimes considered an incarnation of Kṛṣṇa, Vāsudeva. Great yogīs meditate upon Vāsudeva in this form because it is actually visible. [SB/5/23/4]
This form of the śiśumāra has its head downward and its body coiled. On the end of its tail is the planet of Dhruva, on the body of its tail are the planets of the demigods Prajāpati, Agni, Indra and Dharma, and at the base of its tail are the planets of the demigods Dhātā and Vidhātā. Where the hips might be on the śiśumāra are the seven saintly sages like Vasiṣṭha and Aṅgirā. The coiled body of the Śiśumāra-cakra turns toward its right side, on which the fourteen constellations from Abhijit to Punarvasu are located. On its left side are the fourteen stars from Puṣyā to Uttarāṣāḍhā. Thus its body is balanced because its sides are occupied by an equal number of stars. On the back of the śiśumāra is the group of stars known as Ajavīthī, and on its abdomen is the Ganges that flows in the sky [the Milky Way]. [SB/5/23/5]
On the right and left sides of where the loins might be on the Śiśumāra-cakra are the stars named Punarvasu and Puṣyā. Ārdrā and Aśleṣā are on its right and left feet, Abhijit and Uttarāṣāḍhā are on its right and left nostrils, Śravaṇā and Pūrvāṣāḍhā are at its right and left eyes, and Dhaniṣṭhā and Mūlā are on its right and left ears. The eight stars from Maghā to Anurādhā, which mark the southern course, are on the ribs of the left of its body, and the eight stars from Mṛgaśīrṣā to Pūrvabhādra, which mark the northern course, are on the ribs on the right side. Śatabhiṣā and Jyeṣṭhā are on the right and left shoulders. [SB/5/23/6]
On the upper chin of the śiśumāra is Agasti; on its lower chin, Yamarāja; on its mouth, Mars; on its genitals, Saturn; on the back of its neck, Jupiter; on its chest, the sun; and within the core of its heart, Nārāyaṇa. Within its mind is the moon; on its navel, Venus; and on its breasts, the Aśvinī-kumāras. Within its life air, which is known as prāṇāpāna, is Mercury, on its neck is Rāhu, all over its body are comets, and in its pores are the numerous stars. [SB/5/23/7]
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura estimates that Dhruvaloka, the polestar, is 3,800,000 yojanas above the sun. Above Dhruvaloka by 10,000,000 yojanas is Maharloka, above Maharloka by 20,000,000 yojanasis Janaloka, above Janaloka by 80,000,000 yojanas is Tapoloka, and above Tapoloka by 120,000,000 yojanas is Satyaloka. Thus the distance from the sun to Satyaloka is 233,800,000 yojanas, or 1,870,400,000 miles. The Vaikuṇṭha planets begin 26,200,000 yojanas(209,600,000 miles) above Satyaloka. Thus the Viṣṇu Purāṇa describes that the covering of the universe is 260,000,000 yojanas(2,080,000,000 miles) away from the sun. The distance from the sun to the earth is lower planetary systems called Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talātala, Mahātala, Rasātala and Pātāla. Below these lower planets by 30,000 yojanas, Śeṣa Nāga is lying on the Garbhodaka Ocean. That ocean is 249,800,000 yojanas deep. Thus the total diameter of the universe is approximately 500,000,000 yojanas, or 4,000,000,000 miles.
” In the Bhāgavatam the earth is described stationary with the luminaries circling above. ”
Where does it say in the Srimad Bhagavatam that the earth is described stationary ?
Can some body please quote. Thank you.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
It is nowhere found in the Srimad Bhagavatam that the earth is described as stationary.
On the contrary, Srila Prabhupada described it as floating in orbit.
SB 4.17.34
My dear Lord, You are always unborn. Once, in the form of the original boar, You rescued me from the waters in the bottom of the universe. Through Your own energy You created all the physical elements, the senses and the heart, for the maintenance of the world.
PURPORT
This refers to the time when Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared as the supreme boar, Varāha, and rescued the earth, which had been merged in water. The asura Hiraṇyākṣa had dislocated the earth from its orbit and thrown it beneath the waters of the Garbhodaka Ocean. Then the Lord, in the shape of the original boar, rescued the earth.
Another evidence:
SB 2.7.1, Purport:
Since the beginning of creation, the demons and the demigods, or the Vaiṣṇavas, are always the two classes of living beings to dominate the planets of the universes. Lord Brahmā is the first demigod, and Hiraṇyākṣa is the first demon in this universe. Only under certain conditions do the planets float as weightless balls in the air, and as soon as these conditions are disturbed, the planets may fall down in the Garbhodaka Ocean, which covers half the universe. The other half is the spherical dome within which the innumerable planetary systems exist. The floating of the planets in the weightless air is due to the inner constitution of the globes, and the modernized drilling of the earth to exploit oil from within is a sort of disturbance by the modern demons and can result in a greatly harmful reaction to the floating condition of the earth. A similar disturbance was created formerly by the demons headed by Hiraṇyākṣa (the great exploiter of the gold rush), and the earth was detached from its weightless condition and fell down into the Garbhodaka Ocean. The Lord, as maintainer of the whole creation of the material world, therefore assumed the gigantic form of a boar with a proportionate snout and picked up the earth from within the water of Garbhodaka.
If the earth is described as stationary, then how did Lord Varaha lift it from the bottom of the Universe? The above purport also suggests that the earth is globe-shaped, not flat.
Inconceivable (adj) dictionary definition (Collins) : Incapable of being conceived, imagined or considered.
It is admitted by the great rsi Sukadeva Gosvami that no one can perfectly understand or describe this material universe. However, as following in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada, some misconceptions should be addressed, with proper information received through the parampara system. This is important when the general people are misled by atheistic leaders, scientists and so-called scientists in materialistic way of life.
Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada
It is so very true what Gauranga das says : ” However, as following in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada, some misconceptions should be addressed, with proper information received through the parampara system.”
Gauranga Prabhu also says ; ” If the earth is described as stationary, then how did Lord Varaha lift it from the bottom of the Universe? The above purport also suggests that the earth is globe-shaped, not flat. ”
It is not clear from where such writing of Earth is described as stationary comes from ? Only the web master can clarify it because s/he did the Head lining using the reference of Srimad Bhagavatam.
It is accepted and understood that Earth is Globe Shaped with the understanding of the following definition of Globe as follows ;
” Definition of globe. : something spherical or rounded: such as. a : a spherical representation of the earth, a celestial body, or the heavens.”
Is the Earth FLAT ? NO. Because it appears FLAT where one observes it, no doubt, but the entire shape of earth is the Leaf like shaped. As some portion of the Leaf is FLAT, it does not make the Shape of the Leaf as FLAT.
That is widely misunderstood and promoted by the Flat Earth agenda followers. Therefore, that type of misconception is always needed to be addressed with the knowledge based on the Authoritative Scripture.
OM TAT SAT.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
“The asura Hiraṇyākṣa had dislocated the earth from its ORBIT and thrown it beneath the waters of the Garbhodaka Ocean”
The word ORBIT strongly suggests the earth was not stationary:
THE TREE IS TURNING AND THEREFORE, ALL THE BRANCHES AND LEAVES TURN WITH THE TREE. THE PLANETS HAVE THEIR FIXED ORBITS, BUT STILL THEY ARE TURNING WITH THE TURNING OF THE GREAT TREE.
Auckland
27 April, 1976
76-04-27
Atlanta
My dear Svarupa Damodara Das,
Please accept my blessings. Now our Ph.D’s must collaborate and study the 5th Canto to make a model for building the Vedic Planetarium. My final decision is that the universe is just like a tree, with root upwards. Just as a tree has branches and leaves so the universe is also composed of planets which are fixed up in the tree like the leaves, flowers, fruits, etc. of the tree. THE PIVOT IS THE POLE STAR, AND THE WHOLE TREE IS ROTATING ON THIS PIVOT. Mount Sumeru is the center, trunk, and is like a steep hill, like the alps mountains which also have very high peaks. I have seen in Switzerland one mountain peak which was so high that is penetrated through the clouds. THE TREE IS TURNING AND THEREFORE, ALL THE BRANCHES AND LEAVES TURN WITH THE TREE. THE PLANETS HAVE THEIR FIXED ORBITS, BUT STILL THEY ARE TURNING WITH THE TURNING OF THE GREAT TREE. There are pathways leading from one planet to another made of gold, copper, etc., and these are like the branches. Distances are also described in the 5th Canto just how far one planet is from another.
WE CAN SEE THAT AT NIGHT, HOW THE WHOLE PLANETARY SYSTEM IS TURNING AROUND, THE POLE STAR BEING THE PIVOT. EACH PLANET HAS ITS ORBIT FIXED BUT THE SUN IS MOVING UP AND DOWN, NORTH AND SOUTH. IT IS NOT THAT WE SHALL ACCEPT THE THEORY THAT THE SUN IS FIXED UP AND THE OTHERS ARE ALL GOING AROUND THE SUN. THAT IS NOT CORRECT. EVEN THE 7TH STAR IS ROTATING ONCE AROUND THE POLE STAR IN EACH 24 HOURS. The whole universe is just like a big tree, that is a fact. I do not think that the modern astronomers have any such idea that the whole universe is like a big tree. The planets which are full of living entities are one after another, one above the other. The relative positions of the planets is fixed up but the whole thing is turning. The sun is going north and south, it has its own orbit below the moon. So now you all Ph.D.’s must carefully study the details of the 5th Canto and make a working model of the universe. If we can explain the passing seasons, eclipses, phases of the moon, passing of day and night, etc. then it will be very powerful propaganda.
I am sending this letter to you, and you can make photocopies of it and send to our other Ph.D.’s and begin serious research into the matter in detail. But one thing, I am convinced that the universe is just like a great tree as described therein.
I hope that this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/pks
IS THE EARTH SPINNING? or stationary?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda?
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Is the earth also spinning?
Prabhupāda: No.
Morning Walk, March 18, 1976, Māyāpura
ARE THE LUMINARIES ABOVE THE EARTH?
The stars referred to herein are 1,600,000 miles above the sun, and thus they are 4,000,000 miles ABOVE THE EARTH. (sb/5/22/11)
DO THE STARS ROTATE (circling, rotating, revolving, turning)
There are many stars located 200,000 yojanas [1,600,000 miles] above the moon. By the supreme will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they are fixed to the wheel of time, and THUS THEY ROTATE with Mount Sumeru on their right, their motion being different from that of the sun. There are twenty-eight important stars, headed by Abhijit. (sb/5/22/11)
This Śiśumāra is the pivot FOR THE TURNING of the complete universe, and it is called the navel of Viṣṇu [Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu].
„When bulls are yoked together and tied to a central post to thresh rice, they tread around that pivot without deviating from their proper positions—one bull being closest to the post, another in the middle, and a third on the outside. Similarly, all the planets and all the hundreds and thousands of stars REVOLVE AROUND the polestar.“
THE EARTH IS NOT FLOATING AND SPINNING BUT IS RESTING ON THE HOODS OF ŚEṢA-NĀGA
The support is ananta. They say “law of gravitation”; we say Saṅkarṣaṇa. Saṅkarṣaṇa. So He is holding every planet, and it is said that all these universes are resting on the hood of Śeṣa-nāga just like a small grain of mustard. Lecture on SB 1.3.7 — Los Angeles, September 13, 1972:
The modern understanding of the Earth as a globe in space has no correlation whatsoever with the nature of the Earth described in Srimad Bhagavatam, and the attempt to merge the Earth globe concept into the description of Bhu-mandala simply leads to a misrepresentation and undermining of a transcendental concept of reality that Krishna is trying to reveal to the world.
WHEN DID BHARATA-VARSHA BECOME A GLOBE IN SPACE?
The Vaishnava acharyas in their commentaries to the fifth canto strictly follow Sukadeva Goswami’s description of the Earth as a great circular plane with all its fantastic and colossal features. Our area of the Earth (Bharata-varsha) is part of the colossal super-continent named Jambudwipa which is at the center of the Bhu-mandala. One would imagine that if Bharata-varsha (which is on the surface of Bhu-mandala), somehow, suddenly came to be a globe floating in space, surely such a remarkable phenomena would have been mentioned by the great acharyas in the past, and that Srila Prabhupada would have presented the shastric conclusions regarding the Earth as they come down in disciplic succession. In fact, the acharyas in their commentaries on the Vedic cosmology section of Srimad Bhagavatam, never mention any Earth globe floating in space. So let’s think about this point for a moment: if one wants to move from Srimad Bhagavatam’s description of Bharata-varsha’s location on the Bhu-mandala, to the idea that Bharata-varsha is a planet floating in space, it’s obviously going to take a lot of explanation.
TKG’s DIARY
“When Srila Prabhupada awoke after a night’s rest, he opened his eyes and said, “They go from Los Angeles. You all think over it. Then I shall tell you.” Srila Prabhupada was referring to the question which we had not yet solved: If the world is not a globe but part of Jambudvipa, which is the center of the huge, lotus-like Bhumandala, how does an airplane fly from Los Angeles to Hawaii to Tokyo and on to India? The scientists explain by saying that the airplane circles the globe. But according to Srimad-Bhagavatam, there is no planet earth as the scientists say, floating in space. Rather, there is Bharatavarsha with its seven continents and oceans and Himalayan Mountains.” (TKG’s Diary: Prabhupada’s Final Days, July 3, 1977)
“When Srila Prabhupada awoke after a night’s rest, he opened his eyes and said, “They go from Los Angeles. You all think over it. Then I shall tell you.” Srila Prabhupada was referring to the question which we had not yet solved: If the world is not a globe but part of Jambudvipa, which is the center of the huge, lotus-like Bhumandala, how does an airplane fly from Los Angeles to Hawaii to Tokyo and on to India? The scientists explain by saying that the airplane circles the globe. But according to Srimad-Bhagavatam, there is no planet earth as the scientists say, floating in space. Rather, there is Bharatavarsha with its seven continents and oceans and Himalayan Mountains.” (TKG’s Diary: Prabhupada’s Final Days, July 3, 1977)
TAKE THE VERSION OF BHAGAVATAM
“Take the version of Bhagavatam…we have to accept shastra”. (Discussion on Bhu-mandala, July 5, 1977, Vrindavana)
Prabhupada: Exactly to the description of Fifth Canto, we want.
(Room Conversation, May 8 1977, Hrishikesh)
Prabhupada: So why shall we not believe just that statement of planetary system? If they are so correct… Planetary system is already there, but they are foretelling what in future, it will happen. That is my conviction. Therefore I do not believe anyone except Bhagavata, Bhagavad-gita. That is my science. They speculate. I don’t believe it. Why shall I…? And in the beginning Vyasadeva said, kim anyaih sastraih: “Take only Srimad-Bhagavatam as the book of knowledge. Bas.You need not read any other.” Nigama-kalpa-taror galitam phalam idam: [SB 1.1.3] “This is essence of all Vedic knowledge.”
(Morning Conversation, April 23, 1977, Bombay)
In the above conversation, Srila Prabhupada presents a rhetorical question to his disciples: “So why shall we not believe just that statement of planetary system?” This is a question for every devotee to ask themselves: why do I not believe the Srimad Bhagavatam’s statement about the Earth?
THE VERSION OF THE BHAGAVATAM
According to the vedic scriptures our particular egg-shaped universe is divided across the middle by a flat horizontal plane called Bhu-mandala, which literally means the Earth circle, or Earth plane.
The actual description of the Earth in Srimad Bhagavatam is that of a vast circular plane 4 billion miles in diameter. In other words, the Earth described in Srimad Bhagavatam, does not curve in the shape of a globe, nor does it float in space; rather, the Earth is described as a continual plane that crosses the center of the universe. It is, in fact, the largest feature in the Vedic universe, which is perhaps the reason why one of Bhumi’s names is Mahi (the great). In the central region of this massive plane are seven islands and oceans measuring 202,800,000 miles upon which the human beings and other varieties of life live. Bharata-varsha (where the continents of our own Earth are situated) is just a tiny area on this vast landscape.
SB 5.16.5 — The planetary system known as Bhū-maṇḍala resembles a lotus flower, and its seven islands resemble the whorl of that flower. The length and breadth of the island known as Jambūdvīpa, which is situated in the middle of the whorl, are one million yojanas [eight million miles]. Jambūdvīpa is round like the leaf of a lotus flower.
SB 5.16.6 — In Jambūdvīpa there are nine divisions of land, each with a length of 9,000 yojanas [72,000 miles]. There are eight mountains that mark the boundaries of these divisions and separate them nicely.
The 5. Canto SB describes in hundreds of verses the shape of the earth. So there is ample evidence for the plane within the lotus flower of Bhumandala, yet due to contradictory modern views and global consciousness promoted since the advent of the heliocentric globe model of Copernicus in 1543, there is doubt in the minds of people who have accepted modern mundane scientific views and hoax images of space .With the recent advent of the propaganda from the known hoax space agency nasa some devotees of Krsna have made a concerted effort to comform to the mundane views of modern scholars and space agency advocates.
“Prabhupāda: So we are also conditioned. But as far as possible we take description from Bhāgavata, try to. That is our… Suppose here is India, here is Los Angeles. You start from India, Los Angeles…, or India, you’ll come to Los Angeles. And again return to India. Similarly you start from this again going.(770703_-_Conversation_-_Vrndavana)
Why Did Srila Prabhupada Call the Earth a Globe?
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/01-18/editorials15675.htm
Pariksit Prabhu. You mention NASA who are all Freemason Illuminati, this is why all their statements are scripted. This is why they DON’T give the game away about ‘hoax moon mission’ as they would be ruined, framed or murdered so they just follow the script of the Illuminati.
Copernicus and Newton were also high level Freemasons. At the highest levels 30-33 degree they are devoted to Molloch, Satan, Jah-bul-on etc and are engaging in the most evil of activities infanticide, sodomy, drug addiction etc. At the time of Isaac Newton they were also known as Libertines. They hate God and vow to destroy and infiltrate all religions, faiths etc and invent their own also like the founders of Mormonism, Jehovas Witnesses, Wahhabism, Opus Dey, Scientology, Salvation Army ALL FREEMASON ILLUMINATI and now FISKCON also! In the last several centuries all controlled by Rothschilds!
NASA and Smithsonian Institute, Ivy-League Colleges and “Scientific Institutes” all founded, funded (through ‘tax free Foundations’, Rockerfeller, Carnegie, Ford…) and controlled by Freemason illuminati Lodges, Secret Societies etc. This has been their plan for centuries to destroy Dharma and promote their program of materialism, homo-sex and media brainwashing! This is their homage to Molloch!
SB 5.16.1, Purport: In this verse it is stated that the planetary system known as Bhu-mandala extends to the limits of the sunshine.
Planet earth is not the same as Bhu-mandala. Bhu-mandala is described by Srila Prabhupada as the planetary system. By definition a planetary system is a system with one or more planets which orbit around a star. Our planet earth is just one planet among many others in the planetary system known as Bhu-mandala. So, we should not confuse the planet earth and the planetary system known as Bhu-mandala. It is like one grain of rice in a bag of rice. One grain is not the same as a full bag of rice.
“IS THE EARTH SPINNING? or stationary?”
The two are not mutually exclusive. The earth is not spinning, but it is moving in orbit. This is why we see the stars rotating around pole star in the night. If earth is both spinning and orbiting along with the stars, the night sky would never change – all the stars would remain in the same position. That is why Srila Prabhupada answered that the earth is not spinning.
Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Pariksit Das:
IS THE EARTH SPINNING? or stationary?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda?
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Is the earth also spinning?
Prabhupāda: No.
Morning Walk, March 18, 1976, Māyāpura
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Mahesh:
The difference between SPIN and ROTATE:
1. verb
If something spins or if you spin it, it turns quickly around a central point.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/spin
1. verb
When something rotates or when you rotate it, it turns with a circular movement.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/rotate
Note: WATCH the sun AND the moon. The sun is doing BOTH spinning—- AND—– rotating in ORBIT.
If you SEE the moon – is that spinning like the sun? NO!
Similarly, earth is NOT spinning BUT it IS rotating in ORBIT: JUST LIKE THE EARTH HAS ITS ORBIT—IT IS ROTATING—SIMILARLY, EVERY PLANET IS ROTATING.
750128BG.TOK
Bhagavad-gītā 16.8
—
Tokyo, January 28, 1975
Nitāi: “They say that this world is unreal, that there is no foundation and that there is no God in control. It is produced of sex desire, and has no cause other than lust.”
Prabhupāda:
asatyam apratiṣṭhaṁ te
jagad āhur anīśvaram
aparaspara-sambhūtaṁ
kim anyat kāma-haitukam
[Bg. 16.8]
This is the atheistic theory, asatyam. They say that this material world is false. Brahma satyaṁ jagan mithyā. Jagat, jagat means this cosmic manifestation which is gacchati, going. In the material world, everything is going. Just like in your city you see the cars, motor cars. They are going here and there, gacchati, very busy. Every man is going here and there. SIMILARLY, THE WHOLE PLANETARY SYSTEM ALSO, BEGINNING FROM ITS BIRTH UP TO THE ANNIHILATION IT IS GOING, MOVING, ORBIT. IT IS GOING. EVERYTHING IS GOING, MOVING. EVEN THE SUN, IT HAS GOT ITS ORBIT. YAC-CAKṢUR EṢA SAVITĀ SAKALA-GRAHĀṆĀṀ RĀJĀ SAMASTA…, AŚEṢA-TEJĀḤ, YASYĀJÑAYĀ BHRAMATI SAMBHṚTA-KĀLA-CAKRAḤ. THE… JUST LIKE THE EARTH HAS ITS ORBIT—IT IS ROTATING—SIMILARLY, EVERY PLANET IS ROTATING. THE SUN IS ALSO ROTATING. And so far I calculate, it is sixteen thousand miles per minute or second. I calculated once. The sun is rotating sixteen thousand miles either per minute or per second. I forget now.
Note: ORBIT: WE CAN SEE THAT AT NIGHT, HOW THE WHOLE PLANETARY SYSTEM IS TURNING AROUND, THE POLE STAR BEING THE PIVOT. EACH PLANET HAS ITS ORBIT FIXED BUT THE SUN IS MOVING UP AND DOWN, NORTH AND SOUTH.
Auckland
27 April, 1976
76-04-27
Atlanta
My dear Svarupa Damodara Das,
Please accept my blessings. Now our Ph.D’s must collaborate and study the 5th Canto to make a model for building the Vedic Planetarium. My final decision is that the universe is just like a tree, with root upwards. Just as a tree has branches and leaves so the universe is also composed of planets which are fixed up in the tree like the leaves, flowers, fruits, etc. of the tree. THE PIVOT IS THE POLE STAR, AND THE WHOLE TREE IS ROTATING ON THIS PIVOT. Mount Sumeru is the center, trunk, and is like a steep hill, like the alps mountains which also have very high peaks. I have seen in Switzerland one mountain peak which was so high that is penetrated through the clouds. THE TREE IS TURNING AND THEREFORE, ALL THE BRANCHES AND LEAVES TURN WITH THE TREE. THE PLANETS HAVE THEIR FIXED ORBITS, BUT STILL THEY ARE TURNING WITH THE TURNING OF THE GREAT TREE. There are pathways leading from one planet to another made of gold, copper, etc., and these are like the branches. Distances are also described in the 5th Canto just how far one planet is from another.
WE CAN SEE THAT AT NIGHT, HOW THE WHOLE PLANETARY SYSTEM IS TURNING AROUND, THE POLE STAR BEING THE PIVOT. EACH PLANET HAS ITS ORBIT FIXED BUT THE SUN IS MOVING UP AND DOWN, NORTH AND SOUTH. IT IS NOT THAT WE SHALL ACCEPT THE THEORY THAT THE SUN IS FIXED UP AND THE OTHERS ARE ALL GOING AROUND THE SUN. THAT IS NOT CORRECT. EVEN THE 7TH STAR IS ROTATING ONCE AROUND THE POLE STAR IN EACH 24 HOURS. The whole universe is just like a big tree, that is a fact. I do not think that the modern astronomers have any such idea that the whole universe is like a big tree. The planets which are full of living entities are one after another, one above the other. The relative positions of the planets is fixed up but the whole thing is turning. The sun is going north and south, it has its own orbit below the moon. So now you all Ph.D.’s must carefully study the details of the 5th Canto and make a working model of the universe. If we can explain the passing seasons, eclipses, phases of the moon, passing of day and night, etc. then it will be very powerful propaganda.
I am sending this letter to you, and you can make photocopies of it and send to our other Ph.D.’s and begin serious research into the matter in detail. But one thing, I am convinced that the universe is just like a great tree as described therein.
I hope that this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/pks
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Note: ORBIT: The asura Hiraṇyākṣa had dislocated the earth from its ORBIT and thrown it beneath the waters of the Garbhodaka Ocean.
SB 4.17.34
My dear Lord, You are always unborn. Once, in the form of the original boar, You rescued me from the waters in the bottom of the universe. Through Your own energy You created all the physical elements, the senses and the heart, for the maintenance of the world.
PURPORT
This refers to the time when Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared as the supreme boar, Varāha, and rescued the earth, which had been merged in water. The asura Hiraṇyākṣa had dislocated the earth from its ORBIT and thrown it beneath the waters of the Garbhodaka Ocean. Then the Lord, in the shape of the original boar, rescued the earth.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Note: Here is what Srila Prabhupada says:
Mayapura, February 4, 1976
Bhavananda: Earth planet is also moving?
Prabhupada: ALONG WITH ALL OTHER STARS. That YOU CAN SEE AT NIGHT.
Tamala Krsna: They are all moving around the polestar.
Prabhupada: YES.
Hrdayananda: So that means that the more we learn material education, (we’re) just becoming more and more foolish.
Prabhupada: Yes. Material education means mudha. This is also material education, the movement of the sun. But they are not perfect.
THE WHOLE PLANETARY SYSTEM IS MOVING
Dear Readers,
We should not quote an incomplete statement of Srila Prabhupada to make our point of view. That is misleading.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda?
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Is the earth also spinning?
Prabhupāda: No.
Morning Walk, March 18, 1976, Māyāpura .
as quoted above by Pariksit Das in his comments when he says ;
IS THE EARTH SPINNING? or stationary? Simply quoting Srila Prabhupada answer ; No.
That is MISLEADING to make ones point without taking the whole context of the on going conversation into consideration
We have to read the complete conversation AS IT IS in its FULL context of the conversation of Srila Prabhupada to present the FACTS not a portion of it which creates CONFUSION and CONTRADICTION.
We can also read below continuing conversation for further clarification or better yet to read on the full conversation for a complete clear understanding ;
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Or is it simply the sun’s movements that causes the day and night, everything?
Prabhupāda: No planet is fixed except the sun. All are fixed up. But the whole thing is moving. That is Bhāgavatam. And that you can see at night.
Gurudāsa: What’d he say?
Pañca-draviḍa: No planet is fixed. The earth and sun, they’re all moving.
Gurudāsa: The sun is fixed.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, but they’re all moving.
Hari-śauri: But they’re all moving.
Prabhupāda: It is like a tree, just like this. This is moving, and the sun is moving, and all other planets, they are fixed.
Hari-śauri: How is it we see the moon coming in every day, then?
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Hari-śauri: How is it that we see the moon moving?
Prabhupāda: Moon, that is…, of course, I do not remember, but (laughs) the whole planetary system is moving.
Kindly read the full conversation.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
The name Bhu-gola is used synonymously with Bhu-mandala and refers to the greater earth plane of which Bharata-varsa is just a part:
“The great Rsi Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear King, there is no limit to the expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s material energy. This material world is a transformation of the material qualities [sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna], yet no one could possibly explain it perfectly, even in a lifetime as long as that of Brahma. No one in the material world is perfect, and an imperfect person could not describe this material universe accurately, even after continued speculation. O King, I shall nevertheless try to explain to you the principal regions, such as Bhu-goloka [Bhuloka], with their names, forms, measurements and various symptoms. (SB 5.16.4)
bhu-golaka-visesam—the particular description of Bhuloka; nama-rupa—names and forms; mana—measurements; laksanatah—according to symptoms; vyakhyasyamah—I shall try to explain.”
Note carefully that Pariksit Maharaja has asked for the ‘names,’ ‘measurements’ (manataha) and ‘characteristics’ (lakshanataha) of the Bhu-mandala (Earth circle). Sukadeva Goswami in reply gives him a very specific answer: bhu-golaka-visenam nama-rupa-mana-laksanato vyakhyasyamah: O King, I shall nevertheless try to explain to you the principal regions, such as Bhu-goloka [Bhuloka], with their names, forms, measurements and various symptoms (SB 5.16.4). Again, the Sanskrit words and English synonyms for this verse are: nama-rupa—names and forms; mana—measurements; laksanatah—according to symptoms; vyakhyasyamah—I shall try to explain.
In the above two verses, the name Bhu-gola is used interchangeable with the name Bhu-mandala to refer to the same place – the Earth circle. We know the name Bhu-gola is used synonymously with Bhu-mandala because, as requested, Sukadeva Goswami then goes on to explain the measurements and characteristics of the seven islands of Bhu-mandala up to the point of Lokaloka Mountain. The very name Bhu-gola indicates the Earth, and not the universe itself which is referred to using a whole different set of names such as anda, vishva, jagat, etc.
Now why are these Sanskrit words and names significant? The Sanskrit words used here are very significant because descriptions of ‘names,’ ‘forms,’ ‘measurements,’ and ‘characteristics’ provide means by which we can identify a certain thing. The word science means ‘to know,’ meaning originally to separate or distinguish one thing from another. A description thus enables one to identify a certain place, object, or person, as well as to distinguish it from something else. By following a description, we can avoid confusion by misidentifying one thing with another. By following Sukadeva Goswami’s description of the ‘names,’ ‘form,’ ‘measurements,’ and ‘various symptoms’ of the Bhu-gola or Earth circle, we see that they do not match in any way, to the names, forms, measurements, and general characteristics of the assumed Earth globe in space. This is a most important consideration because part of the argument in favour of depicting the Earth as a globe within the Temple Of Vedic Planetarium is to say that the name Bhu-gola is referring to the Earth globe. The Sanskrit word gola, however, can refer to anything round and does not necessarily imply a globe or ball shape. It can also mean a circular shape like a roundabout or Frisbee. By following the actual description of Bhu-gola, we can see clearly that Sukadeva Goswami is not describing the Earth or Bhu-gola as a globe in space, but rather, he is describing the Earth as a vast circular plane of 4 billion miles diameter. The size, location, and importance of the Earth or Bhu-gola is not an insignificant detail. The Bhu-gola is, in fact, the largest feature in the universe.
In reply to King Pariksit’s inquiry about the measurements and characteristics of the Earth circle, Sukadeva Goswami describes the seven islands and other features of Bhu-mandala up to the point of Lokaloka mountain. At this point Sukadeva Goswami summarizes his description in SB 5.20.38. Therein he states:
“Learned scholars who are free from mistakes, illusions and propensities to cheat have thus described the planetary systems and their particular symptoms, measurements and locations. With great deliberation, they have established the truth that the distance between Sumeru and the mountain known as Lokaloka is one fourth of the diameter of the universe—or, in other words, 125,000,000 yojanas [1 billion miles].” (SB 5.20.38)
Thus, the distance from Mount Meru (center of the universe) to Lokaloka Mountain is 125,000,000 yojanas (1 billion miles), which is a quarter of the overall size of Bhu-gola. Here again the word Bhu-gola is used synonymously with Bhu-mandala. The Sanskrit and English synonyms for this part of the verse are: panca-shat-koti—500,000,000 yojanas; gainitasya—which is measured at; bhu-golasya—of the planetary system known as Bhugolaka; turiya-bhagah—one-fourth; ayam—this; lokaloka-acalah—the mountain known as Lokaloka (SB 5.20.38).
In the verse quoted above (SB 16.20.38), Sukadeva Goswami clearly invokes the name Bhu-gola to mean the plane of Bhu-mandala. The acharyas in their commentaries attest to this synonymous usage:
“The extent of the entire earth is known to be 500,000 yojanas [4 billion miles] by great people. A fourth of it will be 125,000,000 yojanas [1 billion miles].” (Commentary to SB 5.20.38 by Sri Bhagavatprasadacharya)
Sukadeva Goswami gives the measurement from Mount Meru (the center of Bhu-gola or Bhu-mandala) to Lokaloka mountain as 1 billion miles (or a quarter of the overall diameter of the universe).
Why continue to equate the Bhu-gola with the assumed Earth globe when it is clearly pointed out that the measurement of Bhu-gola is 4 billion miles? Simply to quote statements by Srila Prabhupada wherein he also equates Bhu-gola with the Earth globe is not a justification to continue this malpractice. If the relevant verses describing the measurement of Bhu-gola had been brought to Srila Prabhupada’s attention, he would certainly not go against the authority of Sukadeva Goswami, but would have adjusted his understanding of Bhu-gola accordingly. We have discussed these statements of Srila Prabhupada on the Bhu-gola elaborately in section 1.2 below, and have provided a very simple and reasonable explanation as to why Srila Prabhupada imprecisely equates Bhu-gola with the Earth globe. One can only question the motive of the TOVP representatives to continue this false understanding of Bhu-gola when the measurement and characteristics of Bhu-gola are there in black and white for all to see.
The very name Bhu-gola tells us that it is a reference to the Earth, and not the universe. BHU means Earth, not universe, which has other Sanskrit names such as anda, vishva, jagat, etc. Some say that Bhu-gola is sometimes considered to be the universe because the first covering of the universe is made of the Earth substance. In any case, whether one believes Bhu-gola refers to the Universe, or to the circular Earth plane within the universal egg, it most certainly does not refer to the assumed Earth globe. Since a quarter of the Bhu-gola measures at 1 billion miles, it is obviously, clearly, and unequivocally, not a reference to the assumed Earth globe. So if anyone continues to argue that the Bhu-gola is a 24,900 mile globe floating in space when the description provided by Sukadeva Goswami clearly measures it at 4 billion miles, then one of three things must be happening: the person is either innocently or deliberately perpetrating a mistake, they are in illusion, or they are cheating. Otherwise, it is plainly stated that “Learned scholars who are free from mistakes, illusions and propensities to cheat have measured one fourth of the Bhu-gola as 125,000,000 yojanas [1 billion miles] (Sb 5.20.38).
To conflate the name Bhu-gola with the assumed Earth globe is clearly a mistake. The simple conflation of these two names has created a planet Earth out of thin air. The reader is advised to individually research the topic, otherwise one may be easily subject to someone else’s mistakes, illusions, and cheating propensity.
http://www.iskcon-truth.com/bhu-mandala/earth-shape-and-location3.html
Yes! I agree with your analysis, as both the Earth globe idea (24,900 mile wide) as a round ball and the floating ‘pizza in space’ notion (with ships falling off the edge!) are BOTH PSYOPS created by the Freemason Illuminati. You have based your analysis on many Shastric references, which have brought clarity to the debate. Excellent work!
Pariksit Das is MISLEADING again when he writes the following ;
” In the above two verses, the name Bhu-gola is used interchangeable with the name Bhu-mandala to refer to the same place – the Earth circle. We know the name Bhu-gola is used synonymously with Bhu-mandala because, as requested, Sukadeva Goswami then goes on to explain the measurements and characteristics of the seven islands of Bhu-mandala up to the point of Lokaloka Mountain. The very name Bhu-gola indicates the Earth, and not the universe itself which is referred to using a whole different set of names such as anda, vishva, jagat, etc. ”
It looks like he is copy pasting from MAYESVARA DASA MISDIRECTED writing.
In the Srimad Bhagavatama 5.16.4 reads as follows ;
TRANSLATION
The great ṛṣi Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, there is no limit to the expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s material energy. This material world is a transformation of the material qualities [sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa], yet no one could possibly explain it perfectly, even in a lifetime as long as that of Brahmā No one in the material world is perfect, and an imperfect person could not describe this material universe accurately, even after continued speculation. O King, I shall nevertheless try to explain to you the principal regions, such as Bhū-goloka [Bhūloka], with their names, forms, measurements and various symptoms.
In the verse of SB. 5.16.5 shows difference between the Bhu Mandala and the Bhuloka or Bhu-gola which reads as ;
TRANSLATION
The planetary system known as Bhū-maṇḍala resembles a lotus flower, and its seven islands resemble the whorl of that flower. The length and breadth of the island known as Jambūdvīpa, which is situated in the middle of the whorl, are one million yojanas [eight million miles]. Jambūdvīpa is round like the leaf of a lotus flower.
Dear Readers ;
Please read carefully ; ” Bhu-gola is used interchangeable with the name Bhu-mandala ” as quoted by Pariksit Das in his comment under reference appears clearly as MISLEADING.
It proves that these Self Interested Interpreters people duly motivated promote their own personal agenda through creating smoke screen of misrepresentation using Srila Prabhupada VANI.
Is it not the FACT ?
Why people are not following the instruction as given by our Jagat Guru Srila Prabhupada letter to Svarupa Damodara Das,
Auckland
27 April, 1976
76-04-27.
NO BODY ever refers and follows through the Instructions of the above mentioned Srila Prabhupada letter dated 76-04-27 in their presentation. WHY ???
I ask to all these concerned people who are involved in their respective presentation such as MAYESVARA DASA and this particular Swami ( sorry, I do not recall his name at this moment ) he is involved in the TOVP project and others.
It shows that people are SELF INTERESTED and MOTIVATED to fulfill their personal agenda.
OM TAT SAT.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
SB 5.16.4p states: “Bhūloka is explained to be that portion of outer space through which the heat and light of the sun extend. Therefore it is natural to conclude that this universe extends in space as far as we can see and encompasses the glittering stars.”
The above statement is based on SB 5.16.1: “King Parīkṣit said to Śukadeva Gosvāmī: O brāhmaṇa, you have already informed me that the radius of Bhū-maṇḍala extends as far as the sun spreads its light and heat and as far as the moon and all the stars can be seen.”
Therefore Bhūloka or Bhū-maṇḍala refers to the part of the universe which is illuminated with heat and light of the sun. Since Bhūloka or Bhū-maṇḍala includes earth, all the planets, moon and stars, it does not refer only to earth planet, but it is a whole system of planets – a planetary system.
“In this verse it is stated that the planetary system known as Bhū-maṇḍala extends to the limits of the sunshine.” SB 5.16.1p
It is said that there are more than 12 dimensions (13 at last count), the 4th being ‘time’. So we are trying to figure out using 3d model, which is like trying to paint a picture in full color for someone who is color blind and can only see black and white. The fact that this topic is in itself ‘inconceiveable’ makes it difficult to navigate using basic logic, even if we take many Shastric references.
Why didn’t everyone drown as the ‘Earth’ went ‘beneath’ the Garbodaka Ocean?……so many questions and we can only wonder about the answers? So many things in the Srimad Bhagavatam defy such explanation…How Jarasandha was born in two halves? We accept Srimad Bhagavatam but that doesn’t mean that we understand the inconceiveable. I disagree that Pariksit Prabhu is trying to ‘mislead’ with his explanation as I think that his contribution to this topic (as with the contribution of many others also) has helped to broaden my own personal understanding.
One thing I am absolutely certain of however is that the universe, is in no way, as it is presented by the Freemason Illuminati controlled NASA, Smithsonian, “Education” and Media Conglomerates, underpinned by a Satanic demonic World View.
In the 5th Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada never places Ilavrta-varsa in the geographical location of the planet earth. The differences are obvious as stated in SB 5.16.10, where Srila Prabhupada compares the greater mountainous areas of the universe with smaller mountains of this planet earth, like the mountainous region between Mexico and Caracas.
“There are so many mountains, even on this planet earth… we doubt whether their height, length and breadth have been properly measured… therefore… we should not try to comprehend the greater mountainous areas of the universe…” SB 5.16.10p.
Anyone’s claim that Ilavrta-varsa with its huge mountainous areas is a part of this earth which extends up to the edge of this universe (flat earth propaganda), is wholly and totally in disagreement with the statement of Srila Prabhupada that “there are so many mountains, EVEN on this planet earth”.
Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Gauranga Prabhu ;
TRANSLATION ; SB.5-16-10
” In the same way, west and east of Ilāvṛta-varṣa are two great mountains named Mālyavān and Gandhamādana respectively. These two mountains, which are 2,000 yojanas [16,000 miles] high, extend as far as Nīla Mountain in the north and Niṣadha in the south. They indicate the borders of Ilāvṛta-varṣa and also the varṣas known as Ketumāla and Bhadrāśva.”
Is Ilavrata -varsa NOT ruled by Maharaja Bharata, One of the 100 son of Shri Risbhadeva Maharaja under whose rule the Ilavrata versa became to be known as Bharat Varsa ?
If NO, then, please explain where the name of Bharata Varsa came into existence ?
Also, please explain, why Lord Shri Krishna addresses Arjuna as the Descendent of Bharata in the Bhagavad Gita ?
These questions arise out of your writing which reads as follow;
” In the 5th Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada never places Ilavrta-varsa in the geographical location of the planet earth. ”
Perhaps, may be, am I reading your comments out of context which please need to be corrected ?
Thank you.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Amar Puri prabhu, thank you for your comments in relation between Bharata-varsa and Ilavrta-varsa.
Here is what Srila Prabhupada said in Bhagavad-gita 6.43p:
“King Bharata, who took his third birth in the family of a good brāhmaṇa, is an example of good birth for the revival of previous transcendental consciousness. King Bharata was the emperor of the world, and since his time this planet has been known among the demigods as Bhārata-varṣa. Formerly it was known as Ilāvṛta-varṣa…”
Also, from the Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.18.19p:
“Here the earth planet is called ilā. This earth was formerly known as Ilāvṛta-varṣa, and when Mahārāja Parīkṣit ruled the earth it was called Bhārata-varṣa. Actually, Bhārata-varṣa is the name for the entire planet, but gradually Bhārata-varṣa has come to mean India. As India has recently been divided into Pakistan and Hindustan, similarly the earth was formerly called Ilāvṛta-varṣa, but gradually as time passed it was divided by national boundaries.”
From the above two passages, it is clear that this entire planet earth was previously called Bharata-varsa, and before that it was called Ilavrta-varsa.
Also, we can understand that the earth (planet earth) is described as varsa, one of the nine divisions of Jambudvipa. Those divisions are geographically separated by eight mountains.
The names of the nine divisions are given in Srimad-Bhagavatam 5th Canto. Particularly:
“Similarly, south of Ilāvṛta-varṣa and extending from east to west are three great mountains named (from north to south) Niṣadha, Hemakūṭa and Himālaya. Each of them is 10,000 yojanas [80,000 miles] high. They mark the boundaries of the three varṣas named Hari-varṣa, Kimpuruṣa-varṣa and Bhārata-varṣa [India].” SB 5.16.9
Here, it is described that Himalaya mountain stands between two different varsas, namely Bharata-varsa and Ilavrta-varsa. Therefore, these two varsas are not one and the same.
Formerly Bharata-varsa was called Ilavrta-varsa. That would mean that Ilavrta-varsa previously formed a larger area than what is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam, and gradually as time passed it was divided by national boundaries (Himalaya mountains) – into Ilavrta-varsa on the north and Bharata-varsa on the south.
This is all due to time, as we are discussing about the material world, which constantly changes.
This is how I understood this subject. Please correct me, prabhu, if I am wrong, as I come to my own conclusions from the deduction of the above statements. Thank you!
Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Gauranga das says:
19. July 2018 at 11:38 am
” In the 5th Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada never places Ilavrta-varsa in the geographical location of the planet earth. ”
Gauranga Prabhu, your above mentioned writing simply created my curiosity to ask you the questions I wrote in my writing.
Otherwise, your explanation is very correct. There is no doubt about it.
I hope that it did not create any inconvenience to you asking those my questions which arose as a result of your writing as stated above.
OR
Perhaps, my misunderstanding reading it caused to write those ignorant questions for which I offer my apology for any inconvenience caused to you, Prabhu.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I was not sure, Amar Puri prabhu, if my explanation is correct or not, since I simply used logical deduction, but I have not yet confirmed the conclusion with references from the scriptures.
Possibly there is a history about how this earth came to be known as Ilavrta-varsa, and later was named Bharata-varsa. Although, based on Srimad-Bhagavatam 5th Canto, the two varsas are geographically separated into different locations. I will hold the premise that Ilavrta-varsa previously covered larger geographical area than one described in Srimad-Bhagavatam 5th Canto as a hypothesis, until the evidence confirms it.
These are all interesting topics, and the topics about cosmology and geography, which clarify many misconceptions we may have gathered from non-reliable sources, which are prone to 4 defects.
As I am also ignorant, no need of apology for any misunderstanding. We can all learn by asking questions, as we also learn by answering the questions. Thank you!
Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Gauranga Prabhu, You have already given a satisfactory answer in one of your comments with references from the scriptures.
What else is there to confirm the conclusion that you are referring to?
Yes, prabhu, you are correct. The answer is based on common sense, and the sastric references are given which confirm the conclusion. Maybe I had some doubts in the beginning, but they are now clear. The conclusion is that Ilavrta-varsa was given to Bharata Maharaja to rule over it, but he was given only one division or parcel, not the whole land. Therefore, the whole Ilavrta-varsa cannot be placed geographically on this small planet earth, neither the land on the northern side of Himalaya mountains.
This is only to confirm that the planet earth is much smaller than both Ilavrta-varsa and Bharata-varsa joined. Therefore it is smaller than Jambudvipa. And we should also conclude that the planet earth is not to be regarded the same as the whole Bhu-mandala.
The size of the planet earth is different than the size of Bhu-mandala. The shape and movement must also be different, as they are two different worlds – planet earth and Bhu-mandala.
The above article suggested that the planet earth is non-different from Bhu-mandala, as far as it could be understood. And it also brings-in the speculative flat-earth theory with many unscientific claims into the picture of Srimad-Bhagavatam, which can only be laughable by the scientific community and discredit our spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada, and the whole guru-parampara, up to Lord Krsna.
It would be better that the sincere disciples try to model the Vedic planetarium as ordered by Srila Prabhupada, which would show how the whole universe is revolving around pole star and all natural phenomena are scientifically explained, which was never thought before by both earth-centered and sun-centered astronomers. But, this flat earth propaganda is only deviating from this direction, focusing on concocted ideas, which lead to further ignorance. Is this the main goal of flat earth propagandists? Are they demons who are trying to stop Srila Prabhupada from fulfilling his desire to build the true Vedic planetarium, which would bring all imposture scientists down to their kneels? I would suggest this is the only reason why the real planetarium, as ordered by Srila Prabhupada, has not yet being build. The demons are always trying to obstruct the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna.
Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Pariksit Das: In the above two verses, the name Bhu-gola is used interchangeable with the name Bhu-mandala to refer to the same place – the Earth circle.
Mahesh: My point is : the term “Bhu mandala” Bhu(earth) mandala(circle) CAN also refer to “CIRCLE OF EARTHLY planets”.
Note: Location of EARTHLY planets:
Within the stem of the lotus there are fourteen divisions of planetary systems, and the EARTHLY planets are situated in the middle. Upwards there are other, better planetary systems, and the topmost system is called Brahmaloka or Satyaloka. Downwards from the EARTHLY planetary system there are seven lower planetary systems inhabited by the asuras and similar other materialistic living beings.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/1/3/2
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TEXT 18
ūrdhvaṁ gacchanti sattva-sthā
madhye tiṣṭhanti rājasāḥ
jaghanya-guṇa-vṛtti-sthā
adho gacchanti tāmasāḥ
SYNONYMS
ūrdhvam—upwards; gacchanti—goes; sattva-sthāḥ—one who is situated in the mode of goodness; madhye—in the middle; tiṣṭhanti—dwell; rājasāḥ—those who are situated in the mode of passion; jaghanya—abominable; guṇa—quality; vṛtti-sthāḥ—occupation; adhaḥ—down; gacchanti—go; tāmasāḥ—persons in the mode of ignorance.
TRANSLATION
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.
PURPORT
In this verse the results of actions in the three modes of nature are more explicitly set forth. There is an upper planetary system, consisting of the heavenly planets, where everyone is highly elevated. According to the degree of development of the mode of goodness, the living entity can be transferred to various planets in this system. The highest planet is Satyaloka, or Brahmaloka, where the prime person of this universe, Lord Brahmā, resides. We have seen already that we can hardly calculate the wondrous condition of life in Brahmaloka, but the highest condition of life, the mode of goodness, can bring us to this.
The mode of passion is mixed. It is in the middle, between the modes of goodness and ignorance. A person is not always pure, but even if he should be purely in the mode of passion, he will simply remain on this earth as a king or a rich man. But because there are mixtures, one can also go down. People on this earth, in the modes of passion or ignorance, cannot forcibly approach the higher planets by machine. In the mode of passion, there is also the chance of becoming mad in the next life.
The lowest quality, the mode of ignorance, is described here as abominable. The result of developing ignorance is very, very risky. It is the lowest quality in material nature. Beneath the human level there are eight million species of life: birds, beasts, reptiles, trees, etc., and, according to the development of the mode of ignorance, people are brought down to these abominable conditions. The word tāmasāḥ is very significant here. Tāmasāḥ indicates those who stay continually in the mode of ignorance without rising to a higher mode. Their future is very dark.
There is opportunity for men in the modes of ignorance and passion to be elevated to the mode of goodness, and that system is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness. But one who does not take advantage of this opportunity certainly will continue in the lower modes.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/bg/14/18
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Note:bhūḥ-lokasya—of the EARTHLY planets
TEXT 26
upary adhaś ca ye lokā
bhūmer mitrātmajāsate
teṣāṁ saṁsthāṁ pramāṇaṁ ca
bhūr-lokasya ca varṇaya
SYNONYMS
upari—on the head; adhaḥ—underneath; ca—also; ye—which; lokāḥ—planets; bhūmeḥ—of the earth; mitra-ātmaja—O son of Mitrā (Maitreya Muni); āsate—do exist; teṣām—their; saṁsthām—situation; pramāṇam ca—also their measurement; bhūḥ-lokasya—of the EARTHLY planets; ca—also; varṇaya—please describe.
TRANSLATION
O son of Mitrā, kindly describe how the planets are situated above the earth as well as underneath it, and also please mention their measurement as well as that of the EARTHLY planets.
PURPORT
Yasmin vijñāte sarvam evaṁ vijñātaṁ bhavati. This Vedic hymn declares emphatically that the devotee of the Lord knows everything material and spiritual in relationship with the Lord. Devotees are not simply emotional, as is ill conceived by certain less intelligent men. Their direction is practical. They know everything that is and all the details of the Lord’s domination over the different creations.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/3/7/26
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So to become Kṛṣṇa conscious, that is the highest perfection of life. Paraṁ Brahman. Paraṁ Brahman. Brahman, impersonal effulgence. Just like the sunshine. Then localized sun, the sun globe. Then further, if you able to enter the sun globe, you’ll find there is a predominating deity. There are also cities and palaces—everything, just like this planet. But this planet is made PROMINENTLY of earth, and that planet is one of the elements, material elements, earth, water, fire, air. So if this planet is made of earth, why not other planet MADE OF FIRE? What is the scientific reason to deny it? Because I cannot live in the fire, it does not mean other living entities cannot live there. There are different kinds of living entities. Just like you cannot live within the water, within the ocean, but there are other living entities… Just like fish. They live very comfortably within the water. So why should we conclude that there is no life in the sun planet or moon planet? This is not perfect knowledge. From Vedic books we can understand that this moon planet is one of the heavenly planets and people live there. They are demigods. Their duration of life is very long.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/sb/1/2/16/vrndavana/october/27/1972
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TEXT 13
tatraika-sthaṁ jagat kṛtsnaṁ
pravibhaktam anekadhā
apaśyad deva-devasya
śarīre pāṇḍavas tadā
SYNONYMS
tatra—there; ekastham—one place; jagat—universe; kṛtsnam—completely; pravibhaktam—divided in; anekadhā—many kinds; apaśyat—could see; deva-devasya—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; śarīre—in the universal form; pāṇḍavaḥ—Arjuna; tadā—at that time.
TRANSLATION
At that time Arjuna could see in the universal form of the Lord the unlimited expansions of the universe situated in one place although divided into many, many thousands.
PURPORT
The word tatra (there) is very significant. It indicates that both Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa were sitting on the chariot when Arjuna saw the universal form. Others on the battlefield could not see this form because Kṛṣṇa gave the vision only to Arjuna. Arjuna could see in the body of Kṛṣṇa many thousands of universes. As we learn from Vedic scriptures, there are many universes and many planets. SOME OF THEM ARE MADE OF EARTH, some are made of gold, some are made of jewels, some are very great, some are not so great, etc. Sitting on his chariot, Arjuna could see all these universes. But no one could understand what was going on between Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/bg/11/13
Pariksit Das: In the above two verses, the name Bhu-gola is used interchangeable with the name Bhu-mandala to refer to the same place – the Earth circle.
Mahesh: My point is : the term “Bhu mandala” Bhu(earth) mandala(circle) CAN also refer to “CIRCLE OF EARTHLY planets”.
My concern is that the definition of Bhu Mandala and Bhu Goloka ( Bhu- Loka ) is clearly described with the clear distinction which does not interchange the word Bhu Mandala with Bhu- Loka. That is my Important Point.
Accepting as ” interchangeable ” misleads totally to the Flat Earth followers who create smoke screen with their manufactured word ” INTERCHANGEABLE ” which totally MISLEADS so that they can promote their agenda.
Whereas when we read and understand CAREFULLY in the following description in the Srimad Bhagavatam 5.16.5 shows difference between the meaning of the Bhu Mandala and the Bhuloka or Bhu-gola which reads as ;
TRANSLATION
” The planetary system known as Bhū-maṇḍala resembles a lotus flower, and its seven islands resemble the whorl of that flower. The length and breadth of the island known as Jambūdvīpa, which is situated in the middle of the whorl, are one million yojanas [eight million miles]. Jambūdvīpa is round like the leaf of a lotus flower. ”
Kindly allow me to walk you through how we should understand Bhu Mandala as per SB 5.16.5 Translation ;
” The planetary system known as Bhū-maṇḍala resembles a lotus flower, and its seven islands resemble the whorl of that flower. ” That is the DESCRIPTION of the Bhu- Mandala which refers to the area of several islands known as Mandala.
Is it NOT a FACT ?
Further we read and understand clearly from the same translation as follows ;
” The length and breadth of the island known as Jambūdvīpa, which is situated in the middle of the whorl, are one million yojanas [eight million miles]. Jambūdvīpa is round like the leaf of a lotus flower. ”
Since, Jambudvipa is one of the Island ( of the Seven Islands resemble the whorl of that flower is called and known as Bhu Mandala ) in which one of the Tract of the land of the further Nine Division of Jambudvipa is the land of Illaverta later known as Bharat versa in the Jambudvipa which is called and understood as Bhu-Goloka or Bhu-Loka as described in the SB. 5.16.4 translation reading Bhu-Loka as follows ;
” …….. O King, I shall nevertheless try to explain to you the principal regions, such as Bhū-goloka [Bhūloka], with their names, forms, measurements and various symptoms.”
Therefore, Jambudvipa is considered and referred to as one of the Principal regions such as Bhu-goloka (Bhu Loka ).
That is the difference between the Bhu-Manadala and the Bhu-Loka or Goloka.
As described in the SB. 5.16.5, Jambūdvīpa is round like the leaf of a lotus flower.
Thus, the Earth ( Bhu-Loka ) is also like the leaf of a lotus flower.
That is why it is so very very very Important that all of us must follow the Letter Instructions of our Jagat Guru Srila Prabhupada to Svarupa Damodara Das,
Auckland
27 April, 1976
76-04-27.
NO BODY ever refers and follows through the Instructions of the above mentioned Srila Prabhupada letter dated 76-04-27 in their presentation.
WHY ???
Can some body please answer these particular important questions before we go on further discussion on this topic ?
OM TAT SAT.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Pranams
From my notes somewhere in the 5th canto Srila Prabhupada simply says that “The earth doesn’t spin”
However, you will never find any video or otherwise proof that the Earth spins. Does not exist. Srila Prabhupada has stated in the same 9th Canto that the Moon is 1 million 600 thousand miles above the solar orbit or 94 million 600 thousand miles away. So we must surmise that being farther away than the Sun the Moon must be very very large.
Hasti Gopala dasa
Dandavats,
I beg to differ. Being above the orbit doesn’t infer that it is necessarily further away.
If the Moon is further away than the Sun, please explain how it appears as a thin crescent when it approaches a conjunction with the Sun (either a New Moon or a Solar Eclipse). Common sense or rational logic dictates that if the Moon was behind the Sun it would be completely illuminated and appear full to us from our perspective. But it ain’t. It’s a crescent when nearing a conjunction. Therefore it must pass between the Earth and the the Sun. Our senses may be imperfect but that doesn’t imply that we can’t make sense from our observations. Otherwise we would all be truly lost.
I agree that “the Moon is higher than the Sun” — as far as my understanding of Astronomy/Astrology goes, I think the variance in orbital inclination is reffered referredto as the technical term ‘declination’, the orb or degree it is off the plane of the ecliptic to our point of view here on Earth. In layman’s terms, this explains how outside of the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn in Northern and Southern latitudes greater than 23.5° the Sun is never directly overhead (90 degrees to the horizon) at while the Moon, being of 5° difference in declination, can appear much higher (or lower) than the Sun.
This is why we see the Moon is strange positions higher or lower in the skies than all the planets in our Solar System – which follow more closely the plane of the ecliptic.
To my mind, declination satisfactorily describes “higher than the Sun”. It is a quite acceptable definition, given that the stated yojana distance may be purely comparative, for perspective. After all, a yojana is an arbitrary measure, “the distance at which a cow’s bellowing can be heard”. In dry conditions this may equate to a fraction of how far sound travels in moist, humid, monsoonal weather. No-one can agree on the exact distance a yojana represents.
Perhaps one should not blindly take the scriptures literally without proper consideration and context. For instance Garuda Purana Chapter 109 “two things improve with beating; a drum and a woman” is an example of an atrocious translation that stupid people use as an excuse to justify poor behaviour. One must always apply common sense. In the same way that the Kama Sutra has been misportrayed as a pornographic sex mag by the Western “scholars” rather than a detailed manual on how to systematically execute Tantra Yoga, we should be careful that the Europeans may have tampered with the Vedic Scriptures, even to the point of substituting Devanagari text to suit their purposes.
Hare Kṛṣṇa, all glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda
Bhakta Sam, we the followers – devotees of Srila Prabhupada subscribe only to the authorized explanation given in the Vedic Scripture.
Any other explanations on the Vedas by the mundane scholars or philosophers which seem contradiction to the authorized explanation of the Vedic scripture is totally waste of time in discussing on such topics.
Therefore, we refrain from getting into such useless and meaningless discussion.
Hope it meets you well.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Dear Learned Readers,
From the following Letter Instructions of our Jagat Guru Srila Prabhupada to Svarupa Damodara Das,
Auckland
27 April, 1976
76-04-27
Atlanta
My dear Svarupa Damodara Das,
Please accept my blessings. Now our Ph.D’s must collaborate and study the 5th Canto to make a model for building the Vedic Planetarium. My final decision is that the universe is just like a tree, with root upwards. Just as a tree has branches and leaves so the universe is also composed of planets which are fixed up in the tree like the leaves, flowers, fruits, etc. of the tree. THE PIVOT IS THE POLE STAR, AND THE WHOLE TREE IS ROTATING ON THIS PIVOT. Mount Sumeru is the center, trunk, and is like a steep hill, like the alps mountains which also have very high peaks. I have seen in Switzerland one mountain peak which was so high that is penetrated through the clouds. THE TREE IS TURNING AND THEREFORE, ALL THE BRANCHES AND LEAVES TURN WITH THE TREE. THE PLANETS HAVE THEIR FIXED ORBITS, BUT STILL THEY ARE TURNING WITH THE TURNING OF THE GREAT TREE. There are pathways leading from one planet to another made of gold, copper, etc., and these are like the branches. Distances are also described in the 5th Canto just how far one planet is from another.
WE CAN SEE THAT AT NIGHT, HOW THE WHOLE PLANETARY SYSTEM IS TURNING AROUND, THE POLE STAR BEING THE PIVOT. EACH PLANET HAS ITS ORBIT FIXED BUT THE SUN IS MOVING UP AND DOWN, NORTH AND SOUTH. IT IS NOT THAT WE SHALL ACCEPT THE THEORY THAT THE SUN IS FIXED UP AND THE OTHERS ARE ALL GOING AROUND THE SUN. THAT IS NOT CORRECT. EVEN THE 7TH STAR IS ROTATING ONCE AROUND THE POLE STAR IN EACH 24 HOURS. The whole universe is just like a big tree, that is a fact. I do not think that the modern astronomers have any such idea that the whole universe is like a big tree. The planets which are full of living entities are one after another, one above the other. The relative positions of the planets is fixed up but the whole thing is turning. The sun is going north and south, it has its own orbit below the moon. So now you all Ph.D.’s must carefully study the details of the 5th Canto and make a working model of the universe. If we can explain the passing seasons, eclipses, phases of the moon, passing of day and night, etc. then it will be very powerful propaganda.
I am sending this letter to you, and you can make photocopies of it and send to our other Ph.D.’s and begin serious research into the matter in detail. But one thing, I am convinced that the universe is just like a great tree as described therein.
I hope that this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/pks
NOTE ; THE EMPHASIS IS ADDED IN BLOCK LETTER.
we learn from the above said letter that this Universe ( Brahmanda ) resembles as THE WHOLE TREE which IS ROTATING ON THE PIVOT of the Pole Star aka as the Spiritual Planet ruled by the Maharaja Dhruva as per SB. description.
THE TREE IS TURNING AND THEREFORE, ALL THE BRANCHES AND LEAVES TURN WITH THE TREE. The Branches signify as the the different Division ( Spheres aka LOKA in the Universe ) and the Leaves represent as the Planets in this Brahmanda or Jagadanda.
Therefore, THE PLANETS HAVE THEIR FIXED ORBITS, BUT STILL THEY ARE TURNING WITH THE TURNING OF THE GREAT TREE which is shape like an ANDA means Egg shape, aka Brahmanda or Jagadanda.
No doubt, as the Branches (different Lokas in the Spheres of the Universe ) and its Leaves ( Planets ) are situated with the main Trunk of the Tree , therefore, in the same manners, we can understand that the Mount Sumeru being in the Centre of the Universe serves the purpose as the Trunk in this Universe.
Is my inference correct, Dear Readers ?
Further, we read from Srila Prabhupada letter that ” There are pathways leading from one planet to another made of gold, copper, etc., and these are like the branches.”
It means that each and every Planets are connected. But we have no ACCESS to such Path way which connects to the other Planets because we are not qualified as it appears.
Distances are also described in the 5th Canto just how far one planet is from another.
WE CAN SEE THAT AT NIGHT, HOW THE WHOLE PLANETARY SYSTEM IS TURNING AROUND, THE POLE STAR BEING THE PIVOT. EACH PLANET HAS ITS ORBIT FIXED BUT THE SUN IS MOVING UP AND DOWN, NORTH AND SOUTH. IT IS NOT THAT WE SHALL ACCEPT THE THEORY THAT THE SUN IS FIXED UP AND THE OTHERS ARE ALL GOING AROUND THE SUN. THAT IS NOT CORRECT. EVEN THE 7TH STAR IS ROTATING ONCE AROUND THE POLE STAR IN EACH 24 HOURS. The whole universe is just like a big tree, that is a fact. I do not think that the modern astronomers have any such idea that the whole universe is like a big tree. The planets which are full of living entities are one after another, one above the other. The relative positions of the planets is fixed up but the whole thing is turning. The sun is going north and south, it has its own orbit below the moon.
So now you all Ph.D.’s must carefully study the details of the 5th Canto and make a working model of the universe. If we can explain the passing seasons, eclipses, phases of the moon, passing of day and night, etc. then it will be very powerful propaganda.
UNFORTUNATELY, these presenters – followers or devotees of Srila Prabhupada, whatever is out there in this regard we read from their Self Interested Interpretations in the writing are all subject to the four defects and thus, as a matter of fact, they can not work together to solve their differences on account of their personal motivated agenda with their misrepresentation which mislead creating confusions and contradictions by adding and deleting in the Instructions of Srila Prabhupada VANI.
That is the Problem. That is why I ask humbly from all the learned Readers, their input so that we can at least try to present with the necessary Graphic Design and so on based on Srila Prabhupada Instructions as per Srimad Bhagavatam.
I am not a QUALIFIED person at all. Whatever little to NO QUALIFICATION I have, it is simply, I have UNFLINCHING FAITH in the VANI of our Jagat Guru Srila Prabhupada. That helps me truly going forward in cultivating my KC according to my ability and capability Lord Krishna has bestowed upon me through the mercy of sincere followers / Devotees association of Srila Prabhupada.
OM TAT SAT.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank-you Amar Puri Prabhu and Gauranga Prabhu for the very very interesting input. Here is something that Mayesvara das and folks(Pariksit das is pen name of Mayesvara das?????) project that the Islands are flat. However – they are PLANETS and ALL planets are EGG shaped and in ORBIT which is what they really want to AVOID: ALL THE PLANETS AND THE UNIVERSES, THEY ARE EGG SHAPED (730930BG.BOM).
Note: Sometimes planets are called dvīpa, or islands, and sometimes they are called boats.
TEXT 21
māṁ vipāṭyājarāṁ nāvaṁ
yatra viśvaṁ pratiṣṭhitam
ātmānaṁ ca prajāś cemāḥ
katham ambhasi dhāsyasi
SYNONYMS
mām—me; vipāṭya—breaking to pieces; ajarām—very strong; nāvam—boat; yatra—where; viśvam—all worldly paraphernalia; pratiṣṭhitam—standing; ātmānam—yourself; ca—and; prajāḥ—your subjects; ca—also; imāḥ—all these; katham—how; ambhasi—in the water; dhāsyasi—you will hold.
TRANSLATION
The cow-shaped earth continued: My dear King, I am just like a strong boat, and all the paraphernalia of the world is standing upon me. If you break me to pieces, how can you protect yourself and your subjects from drowning?
PURPORT
Beneath the entire planetary system is the garbha water. Lord Viṣṇu lies on this garbha water, and from His abdomen a lotus stem grows, and all the planets within the universe are floating in the air, being supported by this lotus stem. If a planet is destroyed, it must fall into the water of garbha. The earth therefore warned King Pṛthu that he could gain nothing by destroying her. Indeed, how would he protect himself and his citizens from drowning in the garbha water? In other words, outer space may be compared to an OCEAN OF AIR, and EACH AND EVERY PLANET IS FLOATING ON IT just as a boat or island floats on the ocean. SOMETIMES PLANETS ARE CALLED dvīpa, OR ISLANDS, and sometimes they are called boats. Thus the cosmic manifestation is partially explained in this reference by the cow-shaped earth.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/4/17/21
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Note:The planets are called dvīpa. 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 dvīpas, or islands in outer space
TEXT 218
ei-mata brahmāṇḍa-madhye sabāra ‘parakāśa’
sapta-dvīpe nava-khaṇḍe yāṅhāra vilāsa
SYNONYMS
ei-mata—in this way; brahmāṇḍa-madhye—within this universe; sabāra—of all of Them; parakāśa—manifestations; sapta-dvīpe—on seven islands; nava-khaṇḍe—in different sections, nine in number; yāṅhāra vilāsa—the pastimes of whom.
TRANSLATION
“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 Siddhānta-śiromaṇi:
bhūmer ardhaṁ kṣīra-sindhor udaka-sthaṁ
jambu-dvīpaṁ prāhur ācārya-varyāḥ
ardhe ‘nyasmin dvīpa-ṣaṭkasya yāmye
kṣāra-kṣīrādy-ambudhīnāṁ niveśaḥ
śākaṁ tataḥ śālmala-matra kauśaṁ
krauñcaṁ ca go-medaka-puṣkare ca
dvayor dvayor antaram ekam ekaṁ
samudrayor dvīpam udāharanti
The seven islands (dvīpas) are known as (1) Jambu, (2) Śāka, (3) Śālmalī, (4) Kuśa, (5) Krauñca, (6) Gomeda, or Plakṣa, and (7) Puṣkara. The planets are called dvīpa. 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 dvīpas, or islands in outer space. There are nine khaṇḍas, known as (1) Bhārata, (2) Kinnara, (3) Hari, (4) Kuru, (5) Hiraṇmaya, (6) Ramyaka, (7) Ilāvṛta, (8) Bhadrāśva and (9) Ketumāla. These are different parts of the Jambūdvīpa. A valley between two mountains is called a khaṇḍa or varṣa.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/madhya/20/218
Dear Readers and the Web Master,
From which source of the knowledge, the following QUESTIONABLE information comes from ?
Who has written the Article ?
” In the Bhāgavatam the earth is described stationary with the luminaries circling above. We can say that for an absolute fact. ”
The reason I am asking is that no where in the Srimad Bhagavatam we find such a reference.
I hope you are able to clarify it.
Thank you.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
750724mw.la Conversations
Prabhupada: No, they take all these stars as sun. But that is not fact. Sun is one. IN EACH UNIVERSE THERE IS ONE SUN IN THE MIDDLE. IN THIS UNIVERSE IN THE MIDDLE, FROM THE CIRCUMFERENCE, 200,000,000,000’S, NO, TWO BILLION.
Tamala Krsna: Two billion.
Prabhupada: AND ABOVE THE SUN THERE IS MOON. THEN MARS, THEN VENUS, LIKE THAT. 1,600,000 MILES ABOVE, ABOVE, ABOVE.
Tamala Krsna: So the moon is further away than the sun.
Prabhupada: YES. THEREFORE I SAY THEY HAVE NEVER GONE TO MOON. NEVER GONE.
751107mw.bom Conversations
Prabhupada: Yes, they have got, but we have also got. So it is little difference. JUST LIKE WE ARE CALCULATING THAT THE SUN IS THE BEGINNING OF THE PLANETS, SUN, THEN MOON. THEREFORE WE SAY “SUNDAY, MONDAY.” THIS IS VERY QUITE REASONABLE. TUESDAY.
Dr. Patel: And Tuesday is next word because Mangala.
Prabhupada: Yes. And planet is 1,006,000 miles above, above. And Saturday, Saturn is the last. So now sun is calculated to be 93,000,000’s miles from earth, AND IF THE MOON IS STILL FURTHER 1,600,000, THEN IT BECOMES ABOUT FIFTEEN HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES. NO. FIFTEEN MILLION MILES. SO HOW THEY ARE GOING, IN FOUR DAYS, FIFTEEN MILLION?
Dr. Patel: You ask me?
Prabhupada: Yes. (laughter)
Dr. Patel: Well, sir, there is no going and coming. All are what we are, wherever.
Prabhupada: No, no. That is another thing. THAT IS ANOTHER THING, THAT WITH THEIR THIS SPUTNIK, HOW THEY CAN GO IN FOUR DAYS FIFTEEN MILLIONS MILES?
720416LE.AUC Lectures
So where is your science in that way? Where is that artist within this material world? Where is that pleasure of that artistic work? These things should be enquired. It is called athato brahma-jijnasa. In the Vedanta-sutra this is the first aphorism, that “In the human form of life these enquiries should be made. These studies should be made.” This is a fact. You cannot manufacture such machine that automatically a rose flower is coming out. You cannot make a chemical combination or a tablet which contains a big banyan tree, automatically will come out. So don’t you think there is need of artistic brain and scientific brain? If you simply say, “It is nature,” that is not good explanation. But the Vedas gives us information, “No.” Janmady asya yatah: “The Absolute Truth is He from whom everything is being generated.” First aphorism is athato brahma-jijnasa. Greater thing. We are engaged in smaller thing. We become amazed when we see a small sputnik is flying in the sky, and it is trying to go to the moon planet, and we are giving all credit to the scientist, and scientist is challenging, “What is God? Science is everything.” But if you are cool brain, then you will see that now, in comparison to the sputnik, there are millions and trillions of planets and stars, big, big planets like sun planet, which is fourteen hundred thousand times bigger than this earth. Apart from sun planet, if we take this teeny planet, earthly planet, on which we are living, there are so many oceans, so many mountains, skyscraper buildings. But if you go above this planet a few thousand miles, oh, you will see just like a spot, this big planet. You will see just like a spot. Not only spot, this one planet, but there are millions of planets. They are floating in the sky like swabs of cotton. So if we give so much credit to the artist who has manufactured this sputnik, how much credit we shall give to the person who has manufactured this arrangement? This is Krsna consciousness, to appreciate the greatest artist. You are all artists, but when we appreciate the greatest artist, Krsna, then our life is successful. Otherwise, whatever we are doing, it is said that we are being defeated unless we come to the point to appreciate the greatest artist who has created all this arrangement.
751119mw.bom Conversations
Yasomati-nandana: THE UPPER PLANETARY SYSTEMS, ARE THEY BIGGER THAN THE LOWER ONES? IN OTHER WORDS, SUN IS BIGGER THAN THE EARTH, THE MOON IS BIGGER…
Prabhupada: YES, THERE IS MEASUREMENT. (break)
760808r2.teh Conversations
Prabhupada: They are saying that the moon is full of dust. And dust is so brilliant? We have to believe this? The rascals they are making this proposal. So what do you think?
Dayananda: I don’t think they know actually what they are talking about, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: Yes, actually this is fact. IT IS SIMILAR PLANET LIKE THE SUN, BUT IT IS SURROUNDED BY COLD ATMOSPHERE, THEREFORE IT IS SO PLEASING. AND BECAUSE IT IS FAR AWAY FROM THE SUN, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN MOON AND EARTH IS MORE THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE SUN AND THE EARTH. THEREFORE SUN LOOKS BIGGER AND IT LOOKS SMALLER. We are contemplating having a planetarium with electric arrangement. You’ll have to work. The whole planetary system is moving from east to west, and the sun, moon and… They are up and down. (to child): Come on, Hare Krsna, chant Hare Krsna. He can speak?
750717SB.SF Lectures
But Krsna conscious person, they know how things are going on, how nature is working, what is the effect. Everything we will find in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, how many different planetary systems are there, what is the situation each and every planet. You will get all this description in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. There are… We have got description. There are many planets. They are simply thousands and millions of miles only gold, thousands and millions of miles only copper. We have got this description from the Srimad-Bhagavatam. There are oceans of milk, oceans of liquor, oceans of oil, oceans of yogurt. These things are there. What information you have got? You do not know fully what is the material nature. Therefore we do not believe that these men went to the moon planet. WE HAVE GOT DIFFERENT DESCRIPTION OF THE MOON PLANET. THE MOON PLANET IS SITUATED 1,600,000’S OF MILES ABOVE THE SUN. WE HAVE GOT THIS DESCRIPTION: 1,600,000 MILES ABOVE THE… AND THERE IS ALSO BLAZING FIRE LIKE THE SUN PLANET. SUN PLANET IS VERY HOT, AND THE MOON PLANET IS SURROUNDED BY VERY COOL ATMOSPHERE. JUST LIKE WHEN THERE IS COLD AND HEAT TOGETHER, YOU ENJOY IT, SO MOON PLANET IS LIKE THAT. And those who are in the karma-kandiya, means fruitive activities, those who are actually acting very piously, they are allowed to enter into the moon planet. And there you get life, ten thousands of years’ duration of life. And that year is very, very big than our years. OUR SIX MONTHS EQUAL TO ONE DAY IN THE MOON PLANET. NOW, SUCH TEN THOUSANDS OF YEARS YOU CAN GET YOUR DURATION OF LIFE, AND VERY COLD. THEREFORE YOU CAN DRINK THERE SOMA-RASA.
So these are the explanation in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. AND IT IS SITUATED ABOVE THE SUN PLANET, AND ABOVE, THE DISTANCE IS ALSO GIVEN THERE: 1,600,000’S OF MILES. AND ABOVE THAT, SIMILARLY, 1,600,000 MILES, THERE IS MARS, THERE IS JUPITER, THERE IS VENUS, LIKE THAT. So universe is not so small that you can ride on your 747 and go. (laughter) It is not so easy. It is not so easy. So therefore, from the circumstances, we can conclude that they could not approach the moon planet. And now they are saying that “It is useless. There is no need of going there. The grapes are sour.” (laughter) The jackal jumping, jumping, jumping. When he could not get the grapes, then he is rejecting, “Oh, this is sour. It is no use.” So after jumping so many years and spending so much money, they are now rejecting: “The moon planet is not habitable.” But we get there. This is one of the heavenly planets, and it is habitable by the most advanced pious men. So these are the difference. Now it is your business to believe the so-called scientist or the sastra, as you like. But we cannot believe. Because we are Krsna conscious, we have to believe what is stated in the sastra.
760601SB.HON Lectures
So they were surprised, wherefrom these beautiful… They never experienced. Because these Yamadutas, they generally… Just like police. Police go to the thieves, rogues and criminals. They have very little opportunity to see very beautiful, aristocratic, nice family. They have no possibility because they are invited by this class (indistinct) or they are forced to go there. So these Yamadutas, they are accustomed to go to the sinful men like Ajamila and many others. Their business is to arrest the sinful soul and take the soul to Yamaraja. So they were very much surprised by seeing these beautiful Visnuduta. Visnuduta. So don’t think it is mythology. No. This is fact. Vyasadeva or big big saintly persons, they have no business to present before you something mythology. Why they should waste time in that way? It is simply rascaldom to think all the statement as mythology. Not mythology. We have no knowledge. In the sastra we understand, yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti. Yasya prabha. The rays of Krsna’s body, when it is expanded, brahmajyoti, within that brahmajyoti there are innumerable universes. Just like within the sunlight, sunshine, there are innumerable planets. We are seeing daily. Similarly, there are innumerable universes in the brahmajyoti. Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda- koti. And kotisu, and each and every universe, millions, kotisu. Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti-kotisu asesa-vasudhadi-vibhuti-bhinnam. Vasudha, vasudha means planet. Just like this is also vasudha, this planet here. We can see there are so many millions of planets, at night you can see, and each of them is peculiar, different from the others. WHY THEY HAVE FAILED TO UTILIZE THE MOON PLANET? IT IS A DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE. IT IS DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE. THESE RASCALS CANNOT GO THERE. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE. THEY HAVE SIMPLY MADE FALSE PROPAGANDA. THEY CANNOT GO THERE. SO BECAUSE THE ATMOSPHERE IS DIFFERENT… THERE IS ALSO BLAZING FIRE SURROUNDED BY ICE. THAT IS THE DESCRIPTION. I AM SPEAKING FROM THE DESCRIPTION. AND THEREFORE AT NIGHT IT IS SO PLEASING. YOU HAVE GOT EXPERIENCE. FIRE COMING THROUGH ICE, THE RAYS, THAT IS VERY PLEASING. THEREFORE SUNSHINE IS MAKING THE WHOLE THING VERY HOT, AND THE MOONSHINE MAKING IT PLEASING.
So God’s arrangement is so nice that everything is going on nicely. There is brain behind it. Why there is sunshine, why there is moonshine, everything described. YOU’LL READ IN THE SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM, MOON IS THE CAUSE OF VEGETATION, AND THERE IS NO VEGETATION, THAT’S ALL. MOON IS THE CAUSE OF VEGETATION IN ALL PLANETS, AND THEY SAY THERE IS NO VEGETATION, IT IS SIMPLY DUST. SO WE HAVE TO BELIEVE IT? And when you present actual fact, it is mysticism or mythology. Anyway, we are not concerned with their statement. Our process is to know things from the sastra. Sadhu-sastra-guru-vakya tinete kariya aikya. Our process is deductive, not inductive. We take knowledge, just like this Srimad-Bhagavatam written by Vyasadeva under the instruction of his guru, spiritual master, Narada. So Narada advised him that “You have written so many books: Puranas, Vedas, Vedanta.” Vyasadeva said, “Still I am not feeling very satisfied.” So Narada Muni advised him that “You are not feeling satisfied because you have not described about the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the defect. So now you have got mature experience. You describe simply about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna.” So therefore he wrote the Srimad-Bhagavatam, eighteen thousand verses. So each verse, we are reading suppose one verse daily, or two verses. So eighteen thousand verses, how long it will take? At least five thousand days. So five thousand days, how many years?
751004SB.MAU Lectures
“My dear Arjuna, how long I shall describe you about My opulence? I summarize it that this material world is only one-fourth manifestation of My opulence.” Ekamsena sthito jagat. This material world means… You have… We have got experience about this universe up to the sky, as far as we can see, the horizon. This is one universe. And there are millions of universes like this. That is stated in the Brahma-samhita, that yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti-kotisv asesa-vasudhadi-vibhuti-bhinnam. Yasya prabha. The Lord’s effulgence is Brahman effulgence. Within that Brahman effulgence there are innumerable universes, jagad-anda-koti. Jagad-anda means this brahmanda. Anda. It is round; it is not flat. Anda, just like egg. Koti. Koti means innumerable. And in each universe… Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti kotisv asesa-vasudhadi. In each brahmanda there are unlimited number of planets and stars, asesa-vasudha. And vibhuti-bhinnam. And each planet is differently situated. EACH PLANET HAS GOT SPECIFIC ATMOSPHERE, SPECIFIC ARRANGEMENT. JUST LIKE THE SUN GLOBE. THE SUN GLOBE IS FIERY. THE MOON, MOON PLANET, IT IS VERY PLEASING. THERE IS ALSO FIRE, BUT IT IS SURROUNDED BY COLD ATMOSPHERE; THEREFORE IT IS VERY PLEASING. SO VIBHUTI-BHINNAM. EACH EVERY PLANET HAS GOT DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE. AND EACH AND EVERY PLANET, THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF LIVING ENTITIES JUST SUITABLE FOR THAT ATMOSPHERE. DON’T THINK THAT IN THE SUN PLANET THERE IS NO LIFE. THERE IS ALSO LIFE. IF THERE IS NO LIFE, HOW KRSNA SAYS THAT IMAM VIVASVATE YOGAM PROKTAVAN AHAM AVYAYAM? VIVASVATE MEANS… THE KING OF SUN PLANET IS KNOWN AS VIVASVAN. SO KRSNA SPOKE WITH HIM, SO HOW YOU CAN SAY THERE IS NO LIFE? This is material world, many millions of universes. In another place it is said, yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya jivanti loma-bilaja jagad-anda-nathah.
760717CC.NY Lectures
Akhilam, entire; jagat, universe. So this is the manifestation of the potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just like we read in the Bhagavad-gita, Krsna says that imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam:” I first of all spoke this yoga system to Vivasvan, the sun-god.” The sun-god, the present sun-god, predominating Deity of the sun planet, is named as Vivasvan, and his son is called Vaivasvata Manu. This is the age of Vaivasvata Manu we are passing through. So Krsna is person, and Vivasvan the sun-god is also person. Otherwise how Krsna could speak to him? Imam vivasvate yogam. How He instructed him? Just like exactly Arjuna was instructed by Krsna. Krsna is person and Arjuna is person. Person-to-person talk. Similarly, that predominating deity in the sun planet is also a person, and there are many other persons. Just like when Krsna and Arjuna talked, there were many, many others, individual persons. SIMILARLY, IN THE SUN PLANET, NOT ONLY THE SUN-GOD HIMSELF IS A PERSON, BUT ALL THE POPULATION THERE, THEY ARE LIKE SUN-GOD, MADE OF FIRE, THEIR BODY IS MADE OF FIRE, THEY CAN STAY IN THE FIRE. JUST LIKE THE FISH, THEIR BODY IS SO MADE THAT THEY CAN LIVE WITHIN THE WATER. SIMILARLY, THERE ALSO THERE ARE MANY, MANY LIVING ENTITIES. THE SUN PLANET IS VERY, VERY BIG, FOURTEEN HUNDRED THOUSAND TIMES BIGGER THAN THIS EARTH. SO IT IS ALL CONGESTED WITH POPULATION. AND BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL FIERY, EVERYTHING MADE THERE FIERY, THEREFORE IT IS A BLAZING FIRE, AND THE ILLUMINATION IS COMING ALL OVER THE UNIVERSE. BUT THEY CANNOT UNDERSTAND THIS, THE SO-CALLED SCIENTISTS. IT IS NOT… BEYOND THEIR CONCEPTION. BUT THIS IS A FACT. AND THE MOON PLANET IS ALSO FIERY, EXACTLY LIKE THE SUN. THEREFORE THAT ILLUMINATION IS DISTRIBUTED. BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS, SO FAR I CAN REMEMBER, THAT THE MOON PLANET FIRE IS SURROUNDED BY COOL ATMOSPHERE. BECAUSE THE HEAT IS COMING THROUGH SOME COOL ATMOSPHERE, IT IS AT NIGHT SO PLEASING. IT IS NOT VACANT. THERE IS ALSO LIVING ENTITIES. THIS IS ONE OF THE HEAVENLY PLANETS. HEAVENLY PLANET BEGINS FROM THE SUN, THEN MOON, THEN MARS, JUPITER, LIKE THAT. WE HAVE CHALLENGED THIS, THAT MOON PLANET IS BEYOND THE SUN PLANET. THE MOON PLANET IS NOT THE FIRST PLANET. THE SUN IS FIRST, MOON IS SECOND. SO WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM VEDIC LITERATURE ALL THIS INFORMATION. MANY, MANY MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO THIS VEDIC LITERATURE WAS GIVEN TO US. SO ABOUT THESE PLANETARY SYSTEMS, EVERYTHING IS THERE, DESCRIBED. IT IS NOT UNKNOWN.
750602mw.hon Conversations
Harikesa: What do we call those planets that rotate around Jupiter and Saturn and… They will say those are also moons.
Prabhupada: Yes. Different planets, different position. JUST LIKE THIS SUN PLANET IS FIERY. THERE IS FIRE. SIMILARLY, IN MOON PLANET THERE IS FIRE, BUT IT IS SURROUNDED BY COLD ATMOSPHERE. THEREFORE IT IS COOLING.
Harikesa: So that’s the specific characteristic of this moon?
Prabhupada: Which moon? Yes, this is…
Harikesa: Our moon.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Harikesa: So the other moons that rotate around Saturn and Jupiter…
Prabhupada: OTHER MOON? THERE IS NO OTHER MOON.
751009mw.dur Conversations
Prahupada: So why it is not reflecting to other planets, only to the moon? Why special advantage to the moon? They have no reason. All rascals’ philosophy. Why particularly to the moon? Why not others? Simply theories and mental speculation. They have no scientific. AND THE SASTRA DEFINITELY GIVES THE DISTANCE OF THE MOON FROM THE SUN PLANET–1,600,000 MILES. THEN SIMILARLY 1,600 MILLION UP, THE MARS, THEN VENUS, THEN…, EVERYTHING. AND MOON IS SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED THAT “IT IS SO BRILLIANT BECAUSE THERE IS FIRE, BLAZING FIRE. AND THE BLAZING FIRE IS SO ILLUMINATING THAT EVEN AT NIGHT IT LOOKS WHITE, BRIGHT.” THIS IS REASONABLE BECAUSE… NOT THAT IT IS BEING REFLECTED BY THE SUN. THE SUN CAN REFLECT OTHER PLANETS, BUT IT IS THERE, FIRE. JUST LIKE SUN THERE IS FIRE, SIMILARLY, MOON THERE IS FIRE. THE SUN IS NOT COVERED BY COOL ATMOSPHERE, BUT THE MOON IS COVERED BY COOL ATMOSPHERE. THEREFORE IT IS PLEASING. WHEN THERE IS SUNSHINE AND BREEZE, IT IS VERY PLEASING. AND NO SUNSHINE, SIMPLY BREEZING–IT IS NOT PLEASING. And only sunshine, there is no cool atmo… That is also painful. But sunshine and breezing is very pleasing. So there is, like sunshine, blazing fire and surrounded by cool atmosphere. Therefore the moon is so pleasing.
Pusta Krsna: THAT’S A VERY REASONABLE ARGUMENT, BUT HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE MOON IS 1,600,000 MILES…
Prabhupada: IT IS STATED IN THE BHAGAVATA.
Pusta Krsna: DOES THAT MEAN THAT IT’S FARTHER AWAY FROM THE EARTH THAN THE… DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE EARTH IS FARTHER FROM THE MOON THAN FROM THE SUN?
Prabhupada: YES, CERTAINLY. SUN IS IN THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE, AND OTHER PLANETS THERE ARE ABOVE THE SUN AND LOWER THE SUN. SUN IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE UNIVERSE.
My reply is given here below in CAP. letter appended below the context of Gauranga Prabhu.
Gauranga das says:
22. July 2018 at 11:20 am
Yes, prabhu, you are correct. The answer is based on common sense, and the sastric references are given which confirm the conclusion. Maybe I had some doubts in the beginning, but they are now clear. The conclusion is that Ilavrta-varsa was given to Bharata Maharaja to rule over it, but he was given only one division or parcel, not the whole land. Therefore, the whole Ilavrta-varsa cannot be placed geographically on this small planet earth, neither the land on the northern side of Himalaya mountains.
IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS AN APPARENT CONTRADICTION IN THE ABOVE WRITING. GAURANGA PRABHU ACCEPTS THE SASTRIC REFERENCES GIVEN WHICH CONFIRM THE CONCLUSION, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY GAURANGA PRABHU SEEMS TO REJECT WHEN HE SAYS ;
” The conclusion is that Ilavrta-varsa was given to Bharata Maharaja to rule over it, but he was given only one division or parcel, not the whole land. ”
WITHOUT ANY FURTHER SASTRIC REFERENCE AS TO HOW HE REACHES THIS HIS OWN CONCLUSION ?
THE MASSIVE LAND OF ILAVRATA VARSA OF THE JAMBUDVIPA AKA BHU LOKA, THE ENTIRE BHU LOKA WAS ONCE RULED BY MAHARAJA YUDISHTIR BECAUSE THERE WERE ATTRIBUTIONS CAME ALL OVER FROM THAT PART OF THE LAND AS AN OFFERING TO MAHARAJA YUDISHTIR AT THE CEREMONY OF HIS RAJA SUYA YAGYA WHICH MEANS RULING UNDER ONE FLAG OF THE RULER OF THE SANATANA DHARMA DURING THE CONVERSATION OF DHARITRASTHRA MAHARAJA ENQUIRING FROM HIS SECRETARY SANJAYA AS PER THE PARVA KAND – (PART ) OF THE MAHABHARATA HISTORY.
This is only to confirm that the planet earth is much smaller than both Ilavrta-varsa and Bharata-varsa joined. Therefore it is smaller than Jambudvipa. And we should also conclude that the planet earth is not to be regarded the same as the whole Bhu-mandala.
BHU LOKA IS THE PLANET EARTH WHICH IS ON A HIGHER LEVEL AND A LOWER LEVEL AS WE UNDERSTAND FROM SRILA PRABHUPADA INSTRUCTIONS.
The size of the planet earth is different than the size of Bhu-mandala. The shape and movement must also be different, as they are two different worlds – planet earth and Bhu-mandala.
BHU MANDALA DESCRIPTION IS DIFFERENT THAN THAT OF THE BHU LOKA AS I POINTED OUT IN MY COMMENTS.
The above article suggested that the planet earth is non-different from Bhu-mandala, as far as it could be understood. And it also brings-in the speculative flat-earth theory with many unscientific claims into the picture of Srimad-Bhagavatam, which can only be laughable by the scientific community and discredit our spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada, and the whole guru-parampara, up to Lord Krsna.
PLANET EARTH INDEED IS THE PART OF THE BHU MANADA.
It would be better that the sincere disciples try to model the Vedic planetarium as ordered by Srila Prabhupada, which would show how the whole universe is revolving around pole star and all natural phenomena are scientifically explained, which was never thought before by both earth-centered and sun-centered astronomers. But, this flat earth propaganda is only deviating from this direction, focusing on concocted ideas, which lead to further ignorance. Is this the main goal of flat earth propagandists? Are they demons who are trying to stop Srila Prabhupada from fulfilling his desire to build the true Vedic planetarium, which would bring all imposture scientists down to their kneels? I would suggest this is the only reason why the real planetarium, as ordered by Srila Prabhupada, has not yet being build. The demons are always trying to obstruct the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna.
IN THIS CONNECTION, SRILA PRABHUPADA GAVE THE FINAL INSTRUCTIONS IN HIS LETTER DATED 27 APRIL, 1976 TO SAVARUPA DAMODARA DAS WHICH HAS BEEN POSTED HERE ON THIS ARTICLE .
THAT IS WHY I WROTE MY COMMENTS IN ONE OF MY POSTING WHICH READS AS ;
UNFORTUNATELY, these presenters – followers or devotees of Srila Prabhupada, whatever is out there in this regard we read from their Self Interested Interpretations in the writing are all subject to the four defects and thus, as a matter of fact, they can not work together to solve their differences on account of their personal motivated agenda with their misrepresentation which mislead creating confusions and contradictions by adding and deleting in the Instructions of Srila Prabhupada VANI.
That is the Problem. That is why I ask humbly from all the learned Readers, their input so that we can at least try to present with the necessary Graphic Design and so on based on Srila Prabhupada Instructions as per Srimad Bhagavatam.
HOPE IT MEETS SATISFACTORY, PRABHU.
OM TAT SAT.
HARE KRISHNA. ALL GLORIES TO SRILA PRABHUPADA.
Your answer is satisfactory. However, you replied only how king Yudhistira ruled over Jambudvipa, but we know that king Bharata before him ruled over Bharata-varsa, which is a part of Jambudvipa, and different from Ilavrta-varsa, although both were once known as the the entire planet earth.
If Bhu-loka is the planet earth, how is it that the whole planet earth was once called Ilavrta-varsa and after that Bharata-varsa. Does it mean that the size and position of the planet earth changes in different ages, at one time it is situated at Ilavrta-varsa, at another time at Bharata-varsa, and then becomes situated at Jambudvipa?
How can we understand what is planet earth, and how it gets different names, positions, shapes and sizes at different periods of time? Now at this moment, Bharata-varsa (previously the whole planet earth) is geographically decreased only to India, and it may become smaller in the future, or even disappear. Due to all these contradictions of changing the size of varsas, it seems that the cosmology of Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the descriptions of planet earth do not follow mathematical, geometrical or geographical terms we are normally used with. And this may also constrain our endeavor to produce a reasonable and workable model of the Universe which should explain all natural phenomena in a scientific language. These are my main doubts related to understanding and building a Vedic planetarium.
Here is what Srila Prabhupada says in Bhagavad-gita 6.43p:
“King Bharata, who took his third birth in the family of a good brāhmaṇa, is an example of good birth for the revival of previous transcendental consciousness. King Bharata was the emperor of the world, and since his time this planet has been known among the demigods as Bhārata-varṣa. Formerly it was known as Ilāvṛta-varṣa…”
Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Gauranga Prabhu, Maharaja Bharata did rule the entire tract of the land of Ilavrta versa of Jambhudvipa which became to be known as Bharata versa. Therefore, it is not different from Ilavrat-varsa.
I do not know why are you thinking Bharat versa as different from Ilavrat versa ?
WHERE DID YOU GET IT ?
IS it NOT stated in the SB. description that Ilavrat versa which was ruled by Maharaja Bharata and later it became to be known as Bharata Varsa?
I wonder whether or not you have read my posting here which I reproduce for your convenience here below ;
Amar Puri says:
20. July 2018 at 5:56 pm
Dear Learned Readers,
From the following Letter Instructions of our Jagat Guru Srila Prabhupada to Svarupa Damodara Das,
Auckland
27 April, 1976
76-04-27
Atlanta
My dear Svarupa Damodara Das,
Please accept my blessings. Now our Ph.D’s must collaborate and study the 5th Canto to make a model for building the Vedic Planetarium. My final decision is that the universe is just like a tree, with root upwards. Just as a tree has branches and leaves so the universe is also composed of planets which are fixed up in the tree like the leaves, flowers, fruits, etc. of the tree. THE PIVOT IS THE POLE STAR, AND THE WHOLE TREE IS ROTATING ON THIS PIVOT. Mount Sumeru is the center, trunk, and is like a steep hill, like the alps mountains which also have very high peaks. I have seen in Switzerland one mountain peak which was so high that is penetrated through the clouds. THE TREE IS TURNING AND THEREFORE, ALL THE BRANCHES AND LEAVES TURN WITH THE TREE. THE PLANETS HAVE THEIR FIXED ORBITS, BUT STILL THEY ARE TURNING WITH THE TURNING OF THE GREAT TREE. There are pathways leading from one planet to another made of gold, copper, etc., and these are like the branches. Distances are also described in the 5th Canto just how far one planet is from another.
WE CAN SEE THAT AT NIGHT, HOW THE WHOLE PLANETARY SYSTEM IS TURNING AROUND, THE POLE STAR BEING THE PIVOT. EACH PLANET HAS ITS ORBIT FIXED BUT THE SUN IS MOVING UP AND DOWN, NORTH AND SOUTH. IT IS NOT THAT WE SHALL ACCEPT THE THEORY THAT THE SUN IS FIXED UP AND THE OTHERS ARE ALL GOING AROUND THE SUN. THAT IS NOT CORRECT. EVEN THE 7TH STAR IS ROTATING ONCE AROUND THE POLE STAR IN EACH 24 HOURS. The whole universe is just like a big tree, that is a fact. I do not think that the modern astronomers have any such idea that the whole universe is like a big tree. The planets which are full of living entities are one after another, one above the other. The relative positions of the planets is fixed up but the whole thing is turning. The sun is going north and south, it has its own orbit below the moon. So now you all Ph.D.’s must carefully study the details of the 5th Canto and make a working model of the universe. If we can explain the passing seasons, eclipses, phases of the moon, passing of day and night, etc. then it will be very powerful propaganda.
I am sending this letter to you, and you can make photocopies of it and send to our other Ph.D.’s and begin serious research into the matter in detail. But one thing, I am convinced that the universe is just like a great tree as described therein.
I hope that this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/pks
NOTE ; THE EMPHASIS IS ADDED IN BLOCK LETTER.
we learn from the above said letter that this Universe ( Brahmanda ) resembles as THE WHOLE TREE which IS ROTATING ON THE PIVOT of the Pole Star aka as the Spiritual Planet ruled by the Maharaja Dhruva as per SB. description.
THE TREE IS TURNING AND THEREFORE, ALL THE BRANCHES AND LEAVES TURN WITH THE TREE. The Branches signify as the the different Division ( Spheres aka LOKA in the Universe ) and the Leaves represent as the Planets in this Brahmanda or Jagadanda.
Therefore, THE PLANETS HAVE THEIR FIXED ORBITS, BUT STILL THEY ARE TURNING WITH THE TURNING OF THE GREAT TREE which is shape like an ANDA means Egg shape, aka Brahmanda or Jagadanda.
No doubt, as the Branches (different Lokas in the Spheres of the Universe ) and its Leaves ( Planets ) are situated with the main Trunk of the Tree , therefore, in the same manners, we can understand that the Mount Sumeru being in the Centre of the Universe serves the purpose as the Trunk in this Universe.
Is my inference correct, Dear Readers ?
Further, we read from Srila Prabhupada letter that ” There are pathways leading from one planet to another made of gold, copper, etc., and these are like the branches.”
It means that each and every Planets are connected. But we have no ACCESS to such Path way which connects to the other Planets because we are not qualified as it appears.
Distances are also described in the 5th Canto just how far one planet is from another.
WE CAN SEE THAT AT NIGHT, HOW THE WHOLE PLANETARY SYSTEM IS TURNING AROUND, THE POLE STAR BEING THE PIVOT. EACH PLANET HAS ITS ORBIT FIXED BUT THE SUN IS MOVING UP AND DOWN, NORTH AND SOUTH. IT IS NOT THAT WE SHALL ACCEPT THE THEORY THAT THE SUN IS FIXED UP AND THE OTHERS ARE ALL GOING AROUND THE SUN. THAT IS NOT CORRECT. EVEN THE 7TH STAR IS ROTATING ONCE AROUND THE POLE STAR IN EACH 24 HOURS. The whole universe is just like a big tree, that is a fact. I do not think that the modern astronomers have any such idea that the whole universe is like a big tree. The planets which are full of living entities are one after another, one above the other. The relative positions of the planets is fixed up but the whole thing is turning. The sun is going north and south, it has its own orbit below the moon.
So now you all Ph.D.’s must carefully study the details of the 5th Canto and make a working model of the universe. If we can explain the passing seasons, eclipses, phases of the moon, passing of day and night, etc. then it will be very powerful propaganda.
UNFORTUNATELY, these presenters – followers or devotees of Srila Prabhupada, whatever is out there in this regard we read from their Self Interested Interpretations in the writing are all subject to the four defects and thus, as a matter of fact, they can not work together to solve their differences on account of their personal motivated agenda with their misrepresentation which mislead creating confusions and contradictions by adding and deleting in the Instructions of Srila Prabhupada VANI.
That is the Problem. That is why I ask humbly from all the learned Readers, their input so that we can at least try to present with the necessary Graphic Design and so on based on Srila Prabhupada Instructions as per Srimad Bhagavatam.
I am not a QUALIFIED person at all. Whatever little to NO QUALIFICATION I have, it is simply, I have UNFLINCHING FAITH in the VANI of our Jagat Guru Srila Prabhupada. That helps me truly going forward in cultivating my KC according to my ability and capability Lord Krishna has bestowed upon me through the mercy of sincere followers / Devotees association of Srila Prabhupada.
OM TAT SAT.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Dear Gauranga Prabhu,
IMHO . the word EARTH is called where the Living entities reside.
Living Entities are on the Higher Level and on the Lower Level of the Earth, exactly like the Leaves on the stem of the Branches of the Tree. When the division of the Land is done, it becomes small part of the Original Land of the Earth. The division of the Land of the Earth is done by the greedy Human beings
So where does it create the contradiction ?
To produce a reasonable and workable model of the Universe which should explain all natural phenomena in a scientific language, Srila Prabhupada has given Instructions which needs to be followed and worked selflessly with the like minded people devotees of Srila Prabhupada without any personal agenda of the devotees.
That is why, I am just curious to form and be a part of such a group of people who are committed to follow and work in order to make a some sort of a model type the way it explains as per Srila Prabhupada’s Instructions.
The people at the TOVP and others who are involved in such a Project are all misleading simply in using Srila Prabhupada’s Instruction as a name sake for promoting their own personal agenda. That is why there are so many contradictions we find when we consult with Srila Prabhupada’s Instructions. They ( the presenters) do not wish to work with each other because of their personal High Ambition Agenda. That is the problem.
All we can do is all we can do and all we can do is NONE.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
This week, on Friday 27.07.2018, there will be total lunar eclipse, which will be visible from Australia and Asia to Europe and South America. During the eclipse the moon will appear red. The astronomers explain that the redness of the moon is due to scattering of the sun light in the earth atmosphere which then falls on the moon surface. If the earth was without atmosphere, there would be no light scattering and during the lunar eclipse the moon would appear black or invisible. In the photos the moon color changes to reddish, and there is no sign that would imply another planet covering the moon during an eclipse, since the red moon still looks the same, only a color or shade is different.
The astronomers’ explanation of the eclipses differs from that of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Also, the observational data are more inclined toward modern view of the movements and positions of planets in the solar system, than that of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
It should be obvious, from direct perception, that during lunar eclipse no dark planet will cover the moon.
But, Srila Prabhupada never accepted this idea, and insisted that the moon is covered by planet rahu, because this is the explanation from Srimad-Bhagavatam, which is regarded as infallible.
It seems that even we see something as obvious and reasonable, if it is against the teachings of Srimad-Bhagavatam, it is never accepted. So, the only thing left is which authority we should believe – our imperfect senses or the infallible Vedic scriptures. We cannot accept or serve both. Similar dedication we can also find in the Bible, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Srila Prabhupada just accepted the version of Srimad-Bhagavatam, without going into further discussion or detailed analysis, on who is right or who is wrong. It did not matter to Srila Prabhupada who’s explanation is better, but who is to be accepted as authority. Ultimately, the scientists, who rely on their senses, are always wrong, and Vedas which originate from Lord Krsna are always right. Srila Prabhupada was not an astronomer so he never went into details about the moon planet, which he considered as simple speculation and waste of time. What is said in the Vedas is accepted.
Here is one interesting conversation with Srila Prabhupada on how he deals with seemingly contradictory statements, when we start to question about details:
Prabhupāda: [Break]…beyond the sun.
Indian man: Beyond the sun. How would you explain about eclipse which we get?
Prabhupāda: That you ask some astronomer. I am not astronomer. But I understand from Vedic scripture that moon is beyond the sun.
Indian man: ‘Cause we have seen that the moon comes between…
Prabhupāda: Yes, eclipse, it is Rahu. It is Rahu between the sun and, sun and moon. Yes.
Indian man: Between the earth and the sun.
Prabhupāda: No earth. No, Rahu. Earth is…
Cyavana: What they see is Rahu, not moon. No.
Indian man: At night the planets which give light to this universe…
Prabhupāda: That is moon.
Indian man: Moon.
Prabhupāda: Yes. They say that every planet gives light. That is not fact.
Indian man: The reflection I think, of the sun…
Prabhupāda: No, there is fire.
Indian man: In the moon too there is fire? But it is cold, as the, our sages say.
Prabhupāda: It is surrounded by cooling atmosphere.
Indian man: It rotates?
Prabhupāda: In a different way, not as they explain.
Indian man: They rotate.
Prabhupāda: Just like my hands is moving… [break] …like that.
Indian man: And it does not go all around other planets?
Prabhupāda: No.
Cyavana: They all move together?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Cyavana: They move together?
Prabhupāda: Yes. The pivot is the polestar. Fixing, the pole-star, they are moving like this. And there is sun’s movement. So we shall go once again?
Cyavana: Yes. We can go back.
Indian man: [break]…friend, and I told him that you said these things. So he asked me the question about the eclipse. So I would like to know to explain to him about it.
Prabhupāda: The eclipse is… When the Rahu comes between sun and moon, there is eclipse.
Indian man: It does not eclipse the moon. But why people say that it’s the moon that covers the sun? Because they don’t know it’s…
Prabhupāda: They are misinformed.
Indian man: They suppose?
Prabhupāda: It is not the fact.
Indian man: Astronomers too say that.
Prabhupāda: It is up to the man to believe or not believe, but we have got authorities, different; they have got authorities, different. So if we follow our authorities, then we have to accept according to that.
Indian man: We get in a dilemma, we people who do not know more than they explain about.
We may believe the science or Vedas, but if we follow our authorities, then we have to accept according to that.
Now, when the moon eclipse occurs this Friday, and we see the red moon, whom we are going to believe? Or, should we not watch?
Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada
27–28 July 2018 — Total Lunar Eclipse
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2018-july-27
Garuranga Prabhu,
Thanks for bringing up the Lunar eclipse for information of the Readers.
No doubt, it will be one of the Longest Lunar Eclipse of the recent times on Friday the 27th of July and Mars would also be in exact opposition of the Earth. In addition to the Mars all four that is Mars, the Sun, the Moon and the Earth would be in a line.
These kind of eclipses when Rahu / Ketu axis is stationary are rather Longer and EVENTFUL.
While we chant the Holy Names of the Lord particularly the Maha Mantra ;
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare
we can observe what kind of EVENTS may take place on the world stage we live in.
From SB. 5 – 24 -2 describes the extension of the Sun, Moon and the Rahu, the Dark Planet which causes the Eclipse to the Luminaries as well as conjunction to the other Planets in the Astral Sky creating all sorts of EVENTS in the Anda Goloka aka the Universe.
TRANSLATION
The sun globe, which is a source of heat, extends for 10,000 yojanas [80,000 miles]. The moon extends for 20,000 yojanas [160,000 miles], and Rāhu extends for 30,000 yojanas [240,000 miles]. Formerly, when nectar was being distributed, Rāhu tried to create dissension between the sun and moon by interposing himself between them. Rāhu is inimical toward both the sun and the moon, and therefore he always tries to cover the sunshine and moonshine on the dark-moon day and full-moon night.
PURPORT
As stated herein, the sun extends for 10,000 yojanas, and the moon extends for twice that, or 20,000 yojanas. The word dvādaśa should be understood to mean twice as much as ten, or twenty. In the opinion of Vijayadhvaja, the extent of Rāhu should be twice that of the moon, or text of the Bhāgavatam, Vijayadhvaja cites the following quotation concerning Rāhu; rāhu-soma-ravīṇāṁ tu maṇḍalā dvi-guṇoktitām. This means that Rāhu is twice as large as the moon, which is twice as large as the sun. This is the conclusion of the commentator Vijayadhvaja.
Wise people accept the conclusion revealed in the authorized Vedic Scripture.
OM TAT SAT.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Dear Readers,
The word ” STATIONARY ” is used in the Science of the Astronomy. No doubt about it. The word STATIONARY is meant to describe the movement of the Planets including Earth planet.
We know and understand from the revealed scriptures that all the Planets move according to their respective different speed of High, Medium and Low movement at the Orbit. As soon as the movement of a Particular Planet goes from Slow to Slower and Slowest, it appears practically motionless because the Longitude during the slowest movement of the Planet hardly appears to move. That is why the Astronomers use to describe that such phase of the movement of the Planet with the word as STATIONARY.
For example at present Rahu and Ketu are STATIONARY in the TRANSIT at their respective Orbit.
In the same very token of understanding, we can accept to understand that the WRITER of this Article, perhaps, refers to describe the Planet Earth as STATIONARY.
However, as it appears that it is not so because the attention of the Writer of the Article with regard to the intent and purpose of describing the Planet Earth as STATIONARY seems equally DEFECTIVE and DECEPTIVE and further his writing misleads the Readers when he says that it is in the Srimad Bhagvatam without any reference to it.
Hope it meets satisfactory.
OM TAT SAT.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Hare Kṛṣṇa Prabhu,
Please if I may – I beg to differ.
Unless you are talking about something else – in modern astronomy, the word stationary is specifically used to mark the point (Station) where there is an APPARENT change of direction from either forward (called Direct) to reverse (called Retrograde) or vice versa. The Sun, Moon and of course Earth never go backwards but everything else does little loops in the sky (of course this is only APPARENT, not real) at least once a year due to differences in orbital speeds relative to the Sun/Earth orbit (Heliocentric or Geocentric, it makes no difference).
This also applies to the North and South Nodes of the Moon (the points where the Moon’s orbit intersects the ecliptic each month). These are the equivalent of Rahu and Ketu, and this explains why New and Full Moons do not form Solar or Lunar eclipses when the orbital paths do not intersect. When the Nodes (or Rahu/Ketu) are stationary or changing direction the eclipse can be unusually long-lasting is this next one is. I believe this lunation is right on the point of intersection of the orbital planes, and the intersection points themselves are staionary or moving slowly in such a way to remain conjunct for a much longer time.
It is this intersection point that astronomers both eastern and western use to calculate the timing of eclipses.
Hope that helps someone,
हरे कृष्ण
Bhakta Sam,
As you said ; ” I believe this lunation is right on the point of intersection of the orbital planes, and the intersection points themselves are staionary or moving slowly in such a way to remain conjunct for a much longer time. ”
If you believe ” stationary or moving slowly ” that is what I have shared the information based on the Sastric injunction that the Planets do move with their respective speed of High, Medium and Slow movement in the Bhu Mandala.
Is it NOT ?
So where is the problem of difference in your understanding the basic movements of the Planets in this Bhu Mandala with regard to my comments in which I have pointed out exactly the same explanation of ” stationary or moving slowly ” in my writing to which you believe ?
Hope it meets you satisfactory.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Good point Prabhu, but.. you made no mention of the change in direction.. what I meant was that a station is not the same as ‘slowest’.. it is the change of direction and the station that makes this unique eclipse so long lasting. Perhaps we are splitting hairs here, lost in semantics?
The station only occurs when there is a change in direction. Slowest does not mean ‘with no movement’. The stationary situation only lasts for a certain duration, after which movement is resumed in the opposite direction. I only put “slowly moving” in there because stations do not last very long and without an exact ephemeris at hand I made an educated guess that there would have been some movement before and/or after said station.
My point was ‘station’ does not mean ‘moving slowly’ and it refers to a change of direction – not speed per se (although obviously there has to be a change of speed in order to change direction, ha ha).
Hare Kṛṣṇa _/\ò_ All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!
Bhakta Sam ;
Read the Meaning of STATIONARY which means not moving, or not changing:
For example ; a stationary car/train
– The traffic got slower and slower until it was stationary.
– The rate of inflation has been stationary for several months.
Whereas you still insist when you say ;
“My point was ‘station’ does not mean ‘moving slowly’ and it refers to a change of direction – not speed per se (although obviously there has to be a change of speed in order to change direction, ha ha). ”
Be serious when you make such a comments without any reference to it what you say.
Hope you understand.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Do you even understand what the astronomical term “station” means? It specifically refers to a change of direction. Nothing to do with speed. I am not joking.
And do not pretend to politely tell me to shut the front door. Your angst is obvious and plain for all to see.
Never mind if my words fall on deaf ears. I was trying to engage with willing participants. Please don’t accuse me of wasting people’s time. We are all part and parcel of the Lord and worthy of consideration.
Hare Kṛṣṇa
हरे कृष्ण
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!
Hare Kṛṣṇa Prabhus, I would like to make a general comment if I may.
I sure hope I don’t sound like I’m trying to teach my grandmother how to suck eggs… anyway, here goes…
I admire devotees who revel in the continuous recounting of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s pastimes. I have read that His Divine Grace spent very little time on this topic, and if true, I feel a bit sad that this and other websites have been “hijacked” by this fruitless debate instead of focussing on His core teachings as it usually does.
In his book Vedic Cosmography and Astronomy, Dr. Richard L. Thompson (Sadaputa das) goes into great depth trying to resolve the contradictions of Vedic cosmology and Jyotish astrology/Western astronomy. He proposes that in ancient times astrology and cosmology were homogeneous but now, that situation is lost in time and they appear separated. Unfortunately his brilliant work was never fully completed and the disparity remains unresolved.
[I’m sure most of you are already acquainted with it, but for those who aren’t you can read a relevant sample here@ http://tinyurl.com/y8lk54z7 or if the link is dead, look it up in “Google Books”]
Who am I to attempt to finish his work by filling in the gaps? We can all search databases and pull seemingly contradictory Prabhupada quotes such as “the Earth is flat”, “the Earth is a globe”; “they didn’t land on the Moon because there were no trees or rivers” and later “so what if they did? They cannot stay there. What have they achieved? Nothing”. But, what is ever going to come of that? Nothing.
This whole “the material scientists have got it wrong” argument kind of misses the point on this topic because even the traditional Jyotish astrology doesn’t align with Vedic cosmology either! It’s not just the West in this case. Jyotish practitioners, whether it be Hindu, Vaishnava or whatever, and modern Western astronomers both arrive at the same results using very similar methods – neither of which are based on the Vedic Cosmology model.
It is marvellous that devotees want to establish the Vedic Planetarium in line with Prabhupada’s wishes, all glories to them! Sure: build the ToVP to the exact model as described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam 5th Canto; explain it’s a higher dimensional view; don’t try to present it as the physical reality we perceive on Earth; and most of all, don’t try to use it to “prove” scientists are wrong. Otherwise you’re just shooting yourself in the foot (your own heritage of Jyotish astrologers).
The Jyotish (astrology) model:
The Sūrya-siddhānta, Ārya-siddhānta and Siddhānta-śiromaṇi are three invaluable books used in Vedic astrology to make calculations. Although Sūrya-siddhānta was first spoken by the Sun God two million years ago at the beginning of Treta Yuga to Maya Dānava, a great devotee of Lord Shiva, its modern equivalent is dated much more recently as somewhere around 6th century BC; and the later two, by Āryabhaṭa and Bhāskarācārya, in the 6th century AD and 11th century AD respectively.
These books were written by humans and may therefore contain slight imperfections. They provide data and fomulas to make calculations in Jyotish Astrology using empirical observations made with the physical world, mundane senses, and relatively simple astronomical instruments. Although there are slight differences with Western Astronomy eg as to whether the universe is Geocentric or Heliocentric (Earth or Sun centered) – this is actually a moot point; the methods and calculations used in either system end up with surprisingly similar results.
Rather – it’s not that surprising! Both systems use observations made on Earth. They’re looking at the same phenomena and planetary motions. The notion of what at is the centre of our universe is entirely irrelevant in that it does not enter into calculations. There is only one point of view – from Earth. To make observations, Western astronomers do not transport themselves to the Sun and then beam themselves back (a la Star Trek) even though they are Copernican Heliocentricists!
Vedic cosmology doesn’t use either vantage point, uses different scripures – Itihasas and Puranas like Srimad-Bhagavatam – and is purely descriptive with no formulas or methods for making observations, calculations, predictions, etc. Neither Jyotish nor the Western system reconciles with Vedic cosmology, because that cosmology deals with a higher dimensional view rather than the mundane physical plane. Its incongruity has baffled Jyotish practitioners (even Āryabhaṭa and Bhāskarācārya) for centuries, and still does! That is because Vedic cosmology uniquely represents what higher beings on the heavenly planets witness from their point of view, with their more spiritually opened senses – not how everything looks from Earth.
Down here we are forced to calculate eclipses, birth horoscopes, etc using the planetary motions AS WE SEE THEM with our human eyes. We have no choice – no matter which astrology system is used, Jyotish or Western. Vedic cosmology though provides us with a glimpse of the entire cosmic manifestation that we could otherwise never see from our limited senses and limited earthbound perspective. The only other way to see things from Heaven is to get there by purification!
This split is lost to those who use Vedic cosmology to make bizarre claims about the physical world we live in – Flat Earth Theory, Moon Landing Hoax and various other spurious conspiracies. It’s like comparing apples and oranges, chalk and cheese, analogue and digital. Vedic cosmology is separate, incomparable and for the moment purely for comprehending our relative place in the greater Material Universe. It does not describe the physical world as our material senses perceive it and therefore cannot be used to prove or refute anything about our mundane situation or circumstances. Furthermore on a spiritual level it is useless for calculating eclipses, ekadasi, birth charts or auspicious times to conduct ceremonies. It cannot be used as it has no formula, methods or astronomical ephemera. For such calculations we use the various Siddhāntas – or even for mundane western astrologers, software based on databases – still, all based on Tables of the Planets whose positions are rectified periodically by making observations with the human eye and instruments, both simple and high tech, in real time as seen from our Earth planet in both disciplines regardless.
The Srimad-Bhagavatam 5th Canto is a truly wonderful description which fills us with awe, revealing that it is beyond our comprehension.
Ys Sam
हरे कृष्ण
Srila Prabhupada’s statement that ”they did not go to the Moon” is indeed a fact and in no way ”spurious!” It is however a fact that without an understanding of ‘secret societies’ and Freemasonry which are based upon Satanism it is difficult to understand why they would fake the moon landing. Modern material science is just an extension of what was in ancient times alchemy, which envokes the powers of Satan, Molloch, Jah-Bul-On etc to counteract and challenge the power of the Lord. Flunkies such as Brian Cox, Richard Dawkins, Stephen Hawking are stooges of this cabal of Satanists, and a poster-boys for NASA (who are all Freemasons) the Smithsonian Institute (founded by and controlled by Freemasons) and The UN (founded and controlled by Satanist Rothschilds).
Soviet “first man in space” Yuri Gagarin also fake! Isaac Newton also a Freemason. Copernicus, Leonardo Da Vinci, Galileo all connected to Freemasonry, Priory of Sion etc. All the Colleges, Universities, Oxford, Cambridge imbedded with Freemasons. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Columbia all founded by the Freemasons through the Opium trade (Rothschilds East India Co). School Curriculums, high schools all controlled by Freemasons as is the politicians and the media UP. Reuters (Rothschilds).
First picture of the ”Moon Landing Hoax” was picked up in WA (Western Australia). Hundreds of people saw one of the “space men” kick a Coke bottle as he was running through the ”studio set” and rang the TV station. Next day the bottle had been “wiped” off the film, nothing was in the papers or news channels……..COMPLETELY WIPED OUT FOR GOOD! I have seen several expose’s of the ”Moon Hoax” why is the film so bad? (they made ‘Gone With The Wind’ 3 decades before this!) Why aren’t there any stars? (pretty obvious to me!). One ”spaceman” was asked “what did you think of the stars?” his reply was “I didn’t notice them!”………DIDN”T NOTICE THEM? Give me a break!
Bhakta Sam writes ;
” Who am I to attempt to finish his work by filling in the gaps? We can all search databases and pull seemingly contradictory Prabhupada quotes such as “the Earth is flat”, “the Earth is a globe”; “they didn’t land on the Moon because there were no trees or rivers” and later “so what if they did? They cannot stay there. What have they achieved? Nothing”. But, what is ever going to come of that? Nothing. ”
Of course, nothing comes from nothing.
Then, what is your purpose of writing when you say ;
” …. seemingly contradictory Prabhupada quotes such as “the Earth is flat”, “the Earth is a globe”; “they didn’t land on the Moon because there were no trees or rivers” and later “so what if they did ?
Where is the contradiction in the writing of Srila Prabhupada quotes such as “the Earth is flat”, “the Earth is a globe”; “they didn’t land on the Moon….. ?
OR
Is the contradiction only in your mind relating to Srila Prabhupada’s writing because, perhaps, you can not seemingly understand what Srila Prabhupada says ?
That is why, I humbly suggest that to make such meaningless remarks, it should behoove oneself to ask questions instead of making nonsense remarks what you are writing.
What you have mentioned seemingly so called contradictions is abundantly explained in Srila Prabhupada’s VANI.
Is it NOT ?
So, please refrain writings senselessly which do not correspond to the Srila Prabhupada VANI.
Should you have genuine serious meaningful discussion, feel free to write as you asked about your position of understanding related to the discussion of STATIONARY of the Planets in the Astral sky.
With the meaningful discussion, something comes from something for the betterment in understanding the knowledge of the subject matter for all the Readers.
Hope it meets you satisfactory.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
No it. Doesnt meet me me well. You strike. Me. As as. A. Seriously disturbed indkvidual. 2yich.is why the, disjointed sentences to throw. You off.
Not feeling the love, Barry.
THIS PLANET OF EARTH, MOVING AS IT IS, IS JUST LIKE THE MOVING RAILWAY COMPARTMENT AND WE ARE PLACED HERE AS FIRST SECOND OR THIRD CLASS PASSENGER ACCORDING TO OUR PAYING CAPACITY. The paying capacity of each and every passenger is the results of his own work or karma. In accordance with our own karma we have become here different classes of passengers for which neither God or anyone else is responsible. But it should not be our aim of travelling life to become a first class passenger from the position of this (indistinct) life. It shall ways be the aim of all passengers to reach the destination by all means. All the passengers in whatever class or compartment they may be put into according as the payment is made, can at the same time simultaneously reach the destination if they are not misled by some others that the railway compartments are their permanent abode. The same passenger is always cognizant of the fact that the railway compartments are never meant for their permanent home but they are meant for carrying the passenger to a desired destination equally available by all classes of passengers.
But the modern trend of civilization as mentioned before is misguided (indistinct) much as the leaders of the present age have misguided their followers that this earth which is compared with the railway compartment is the permanent abode of the living being. The leaders of human society have forgotten that the passengers are meant for a definite destination and they are carried by a temporary moving carriage. The leaders on the other hand misguide the passengers that they will have to travel by the moving carriage perpetually and as such they must all become first class passengers although some of them have no paying capacity. This misguidance of the leaders of society, has played a havoc in the progress of human knowledge and that is considered by the sane man as the ignorance of night.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/articles/13
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In the Bhagavad-gītā it is stated that this planet or any other planet up to the planet known as “Brahmaloka” or the topmost planet of this universe are all temporary moving compartments like the railway carriage drawn by a machine under the influence of Maya or external energy of Godhead. They are all different carriages or changing abodes of living being. None of them are the perpetual abode of the human being. They are placed in those MOVING PLANETS temporarily according to their different ‘Karma’ but they are perpetually life after life in a changing habit. The permanent abode of living entities is the Kingdom of God. When the living entity is placed in that permanent abode of God, he has no more to travel in the railway compartment of machines made by māyā or the External Energy of Godhead.
The Kingdom of God is therefore the destination of living being may it be encaged in any form of embodiment. The aquatic, the plants, the reptiles, the birds, the beasts or the man all are essentially spiritual entities and parts and parcels of Godhead but they have been differently encaged in different forms of embodiment and placed in different compartments of the MOVING PLANETS according to different karmas. But in spite of this all the different embodied living entities are entitled to enter into the Kingdom of God by a transcendental process described in the Bhagavad-gītā as practically demonstrated by Lord Caitanya. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Gosvāmī Mahārāja inaugurated the transcendental movement spiritual progress for the benefit of all living being.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/articles/13