Understanding the Bhu-mandala: A Vedic Perspective
By GaurangaSundar Das
“Harināma Saṅkīrtana” – Saṅkīrtana is yuga dharma for Kali-yuga people and Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally come to give that process in Bhārata-varṣa. It is not for different dimension! Due to modern cosmology missunderstanding of Globe fake Earth the yuga dharma is not fully manifested”.
So let us put aside for a moment what we assume the Earth to look like, and just take in the actual description of Bhārata-varṣa from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. If we present the Earth as a globe in space, it means we haven’t listened to, comprehended, or represented (re-presented) the actual description given by Śukadeva Goswami and the other Vedic sages who provide geographical descriptions of Bhārata-varṣa in many places throughout the Purāṇas. At least from the descriptions of Earth provided, we are not hearing anything that remotely resembles a globe-shaped planet.
The problem for most of us in conceptualizing what Earth looks like is because we have been convinced that we are on NASA’s ball in space. If we are to believe Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and take Śukadeva Goswami at his word, then we are actually not that far from our earthly neighbours on Bhārata-varṣa, and from our more pious neighbours on Jambūdvīpa. In reality we are only a few thousand miles away. We are surrounded by the same salt water ocean. Think about that; the salt water ocean surrounding Jambūdvīpa is the same salt water ocean that surrounds our own continents. This is because we are actually part of Jambūdvīpa, but just separated by ocean and ice (Arctic and Antarctica). The idea that Jambudvīpa is in another dimension and not visible to our senses is defeated by the following verse from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam:
On top of Mount Meru, the Ganges divides into four branches, each of which gushes in a different direction [east, west, north and south]. These branches, known by the names Sītā, Alakanandā, Cakṣu and Bhadrā, flow down to the ocean. (sb/5/17/5)
The branch of the Ganges known as the Sītā flows through Brahmapurī atop Mount Meru, and from there it runs down to the nearby peaks of the Kesarācala Mountains, which stand almost as high as Mount Meru itself. These mountains are like a bunch of filaments around Mount Meru. From the Kesarācala Mountains, the Ganges falls to the peak of Gandhamādana Mountain and then flows into the land of Bhadrāśva-varṣa. Finally it reaches the ocean of salt water in the west. (sb/5/17/6)
The branch of the Ganges known as Cakṣu falls onto the summit of Mālyavān Mountain and from there cascades onto the land of Ketumāla-varṣa. The Ganges flows incessantly through Ketumāla-varṣa and in this way also reaches the ocean of salt water in the West. (sb/5/17/7)
The branch of the Ganges known as Bhadrā flows from the northern side of Mount Meru. Its waters fall onto the peaks of Kumuda Mountain, Mount Nīla, Śveta Mountain and Śṛṅgavān Mountain in succession. Then it runs down into the province of Kuru and, after crossing through that land, flows into the saltwater ocean in the north. (sb/5/17/8)
Similarly, the branch of the Ganges known as Alakanandā flows from the southern side of Brahmapurī [Brahma-sadana]. Passing over the tops of mountains in various lands, it falls down with fierce force upon the peaks of the mountains Hemakūṭa and Himakūṭa. After inundating the tops of those mountains, the Ganges falls down onto the tract of land known as Bhārata-varṣa, which she also inundates. Then the Ganges flows into the ocean of salt water in the south. (sb/5/17/9)
Many other rivers, both big and small, flow from the top of Mount Meru. These rivers are like daughters of the mountain, and they flow to the various tracts of land in hundreds of branches. (sb/5/17/10)
So here it is clearly explained that the same sacred Ganges water that is seen by Brahmā at Brahmā Purī (atop Mount Meru) is likewise seen by ISKCON devotees in Māyāpur. Like Brahmā, we offer obeisances to Gaṅgā in Māyāpur before taking a dip three times. Where is the Gaṅgā that flows through Māyāpur coming from? She is coming from the transcendental realm via the southern side of Brahmapurī which rests on the top of Mount Meru. Where does she flow to? She flows into the ocean of salt water in the south? What is the ocean of salt water. It is the 800,000 mile ocean that surrounds Jambudvīpa. That is our salt water ocean. It is not in a different dimension or ‘higher realm’ or anything of the sort. It is the same salt water we swim in, and sail upon; it’s just that we only get to see a small part of it. But it is otherwise clearly within our dimension and physicality. If we were to keep sailing on the salt water ocean in any direction we would reach other parts of Bhārata-varṣa and Jambudvīpa. At the present moment a ‘superior force’ to quote Prabhupāda prevents us from going further.
The Descent of the River Ganges [Gaṅgā]
tato ’neka-sahasra-koṭi-vimānānīka-saṅkula-deva-
yānenāvatar-antīndu maṇḍalam āvārya brahma-sadane nipatati
tataḥ—after purifying the seven planets of the seven great sages; aneka—many; sahasra—thousands; koṭi—of millions; vimāna-anīka—with contingents of airplanes; saṅkula—congested; deva-yānena—by the spaceways of the demigods; avatarantī—descending; indu-maṇḍalam—the moon planet; āvārya—inundated; brahma-sadane—to the abode of Lord Brahmā atop Sumeru-parvata; nipatati—falls down.
After purifying the seven planets near Dhruvaloka [the polestar], the Ganges water is carried through the spaceways of the demigods in billions of celestial airplanes. Then it inundates the moon [Candraloka] and finally reaches Lord Brahmā’s abode atop Mount Meru.
We should always remember that the Ganges River comes from the Causal Ocean, beyond the covering of the universe. After the water of the Causal Ocean leaks through the hole created by Lord Vāmanadeva, it flows down to Dhruvaloka (the polestar) and then to the seven planets beneath Dhruvaloka. Then it is carried to the moon by innumerable celestial airplanes, and then it falls to the top of Mount Meru, which is known as Sumeru-parvata. In this way, the water of the Ganges finally reaches the lower planets and the peaks of the Himalayas, and from there it flows through Hardwar and throughout the plains of India, purifying the entire land. How the Ganges water reaches the various planets from the top of the universe is explained herein. Celestial airplanes carry the water from the planets of the sages to other planets. So-called advanced scientists of the modern age are trying to go to the higher planets, but at the same time they are experiencing a power shortage on earth. If they were actually capable scientists, they could personally go by airplane to other planets, but this they are unable to do. Having now given up their moon excursions, they are attempting to go to other planets, but without success. (SB.5.17.4)
The place where the Ganges flows into the salt water of the Bay of Bengal is still known as Gaṅgā-sāgara, or the meeting place of the Ganges and the Bay of Bengal. On Makara-saṅkrānti, in the month of January–February, thousands of people still go there to bathe, hoping to be liberated. That they can actually be liberated in this way is confirmed herein. For those who bathe in the Ganges at any time, the results of great sacrifices like the Aśvamedha and Rājasūya yajñas are not at all difficult to achieve. Most people in India are still inclined to bathe in the Ganges, and there are many places where they can do so. At Prayāga (Allahabad), many thousands of people gather during the month of January to bathe in the confluence of the Ganges and Yamunā. Afterward, many of them go to the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the Ganges to take bath there. Thus it is a special facility for all the people of India that they can bathe in the water of the Ganges at so many places of pilgrimage.
Gaṅgā-sāgara – the confluence of river Ganges and Bay of Bengal
“Yuga dharma Harināma Saṅkīrtana is not for different dimension!”
Of Ṛṣabhadeva’s one hundred sons, the eldest, named Bhārata, was a great, exalted devotee qualified with the best attributes. In his honor, this planet has become known as Bhārata-varṣa.
This planet known as Bhārata-varṣa is also called puṇya-bhūmi, the pious land. At the present moment Bhārata-bhūmi, or Bhārata-varṣa, is a small piece of land extending from the Himalaya Mountains to Cape Comorin. Sometimes this peninsula is called puṇya-bhūmi. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has given special importance to the people of this land.
bhārata-bhūmite haila manuṣya-janma yāra
janma sārthaka kari’ kara para-upakāra
“One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India (Bhārata-varṣa) should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people.” (Cc. Ādi 9.41)
The inhabitants of this piece of land are very fortunate. They can purify their existence by accepting this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and go outside Bhārata-bhūmi (India) and preach this cult to benefit the whole world. (SB.5.4.9)
“Size is not different dimension! ”
evaṁ candramā arka-gabhastibhya upariṣṭāl lakṣa-yojanata upalabhyamāno ’rkasya saṁvatsara-bhuktiṁ pakṣābhyāṁ māsa-bhuktiṁ sapādarkṣābhyāṁ dinenaiva pakṣa-bhuktim agracārī drutatara-gamano bhuṅkte.
evam—thus; candramā—the moon; arka-gabhastibhyaḥ—from the rays of the sunshine; upariṣṭāt—above; lakṣa-yojanataḥ—by a measurement of 100,000 yojanas; upalabhyamānaḥ—being situated; arkasya—of the sun globe; saṁvatsara-bhuktim—the passage of one year of enjoyment; pakṣābhyām—by two fortnights; māsa-bhuktim—the passage of one month; sapāda-ṛkṣābhyām—by two and a quarter days; dinena—by a day; eva—only; pakṣa-bhuktim—the passage of a fortnight; agracārī—moving impetuously; druta-tara-gamanaḥ—passing more speedily; bhuṅkte—passes through.
Above the rays of the sunshine by a distance of 100,000 yojanas [800,000 miles] is the moon, which travels at a speed faster than that of the sun. In two lunar fortnights the moon travels through the equivalent of a saṁvatsara of the sun, in two and a quarter days it passes through a month of the sun, and in one day it passes through a fortnight of the sun.
When we take into account that the moon is 100,000 yojanas, or 800,000 miles, above the rays of the sunshine, it is very surprising that the modern excursions to the moon could be possible. Since the moon is so distant, how space vehicles could go there is a doubtful mystery. Modern scientific calculations are subject to one change after another, and therefore they are uncertain. We have to accept the calculations of the Vedic literature. These Vedic calculations are steady; the astronomical calculations made long ago and recorded in the Vedic literature are correct even now. Whether the Vedic calculations or modern ones are better may remain a mystery for others, but as far as we are concerned, we accept the Vedic calculations to be correct. (SB.5.22.8)
UNITING THE UNIVERSE WITH HARINĀMA SAṄKĪRTAN / WHY FAKE THE GLOBE?
“Vedic planetarium is a very important project of the saṅkīrtana movement to enlighten the people in Earth’s region of Bhārata-varṣa about their real position in the cosmos”
Both Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and Mahābhārata assert that the Pāṇḍavas were entering into this area and indeed governing all of his vast area of Jambūdvīpa from their capital in India. Access to Jambudvīpa was possible at that point, but about 5,000 years ago we entered into the Kali-yuga period (the age of fighting and hypocrisy) and our particular place in Bhārata-varṣa became isolated from the mainland of Jambūdvīpa. It is mentioned in various Purāṇas that the yugas (four repeating cycles of time that bring about variations in people’s mind, behaviour, and environment) only affect Bhārata-varṣa and not the other varṣas of Jambūdvīpa were pious people live happily enjoying the results of their previous karma. For that reason we are put into a kind of quarantine. As the Kali-yuga progressed, the Vedic empire was broken up, people in different parts of the world became isolated, and the whole atmosphere degraded. Consequently the Vedic knowledge was withdrawn, including knowledge of our relation to the other parts of our world as well as the greater knowledge of the world’s relation to Jambudvīpa. Jambudvīpa became the stuff of mere myth and legend: the Greek Olympus; The Nordic Asgard; the Buddhist Śambala.
Śambhala is said to date back thousands of years, and reference to the mythical land can be found in various ancient texts and the Purāṇas. The Viṣṇu-Purāṇa mention Śambhala as the birth place of Kalki, the final incarnation of Viṣṇu who will usher in a new Golden Age at the end of Kali-yuga.
THE FAKE GLOBE
Rajasekhara Prabhu asked why would anyone fake the globe. Actually the deception starts with Māyādevī herself. The general ignorance and materialism prevailing in Kali-yuga is part of māyā’s arrangement to further facilitate the soul’s illusion of a life devoid of God.
In Kali-yuga the crude and base desires of the human beings are allowed free reign. Knowledge of the soul, God, and the creation is gradually covered over so that the more perverse aspects of material existence can be experienced, and their severe karmic reactions ignored by the materialistic people destined to take birth at this time. Knowledge and experience of God’s wide creation along the Bhū-maṇḍala and throughout the universe is withdrawn and the expanded flat Earth is gradually replaced by such illusions as the globe model. The globe model is a spell-like speculation that literally traps one in a bubble—a prison planet floating alone in lifeless Godless empty space. Since there is no God, whoever controls the prison planet controls your being. Such are the fearful illusions that follow as a result of turning from God and the truth. The materialist is given over to the deceptions, untruths, and illusions created by atheistic agencies such as NASA. Such agencies are empowered by the Lord’s own māyā potency to bewilder souls adverse to God consciousness. The deceivers, however, are themselves subject to the greater deception of māyā: “The killer of the soul, whoever he may be, must enter into the planets known as the worlds of the faithless, full of darkness and ignorance.” (Śrī Īśopaniṣad, mantra 3)
The saṅkīrtana movement of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is a brief chance in the onward march of Kali-yuga for the soul to take advantage of the Vedic knowledge and to re-establish his eternal relationship with God. The Vedic planetarium is a very important project of the saṅkīrtana movement to enlighten the people in Earth’s region of Bhārata-varṣa about their real position in the cosmos, and ultimately about their real home in the Kingdom of God.
UNITING THE UNIVERSE WITH HARINĀMA SAṄKĪRTAN
So let’s recap: According to the above description by Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi, there are eight other land areas of Bhārata-varṣa (covering an area of 72,000 miles) somewhere in the vicinity of our known Earth’s oceans. Although ‘mutually inaccessible’ they are not far away. Of course this only makes sense on a flat Earth model with expanded planes. It makes no sense from the perspective of a globe. We shall explain with examples in later posts why this globe image is actually an artificial creation from the special effects department of NASA. We live on a flat Earth, and there is a lot more to be discovered or rather re-discovered. This is the version of the Purāṇas and the one most consistent with the science that proves the Earth is on an expanded flat plane, not a rotating ball in space.
Somehow, we’ve become separated from the mainland of Jambūdvīpa. The possibility of rediscovering it exists, and it doesn’t involve taking spaceships to other Earth-like planets that are similarly floating in space. We do not need rocket ships to find the other regions of Jambūdvīpa because according to Śrīmad Bhāgavatam we are not on a rotating globe-shaped planet at all. We are already standing on part of the flat 800,000 mile circular island of Jambūdvīpa, and are literally only a few thousand miles away on the same stretch of salt water ocean that surrounds our continents from the mainland of Jambūdvīpa. We have difficultly to conceive of this because of the ball Earth concept.The Temple of Vedic planetarium is meant to enlighten the world about the real facts of Kṛṣṇa’s creation. As the world becomes purified by Nāma Sankirtan, and the asuric influence in the world is destroyed, I would foresee that a physical connection with Jambudvīpa will be re-established. This is predicted by Śrīla Prabhupāda in the following purport:
“One may raise the question how all three worlds became inundated with love of Kṛṣṇa, since Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed kīrtana only in the Navadvīpa area. The answer is that Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa Himself. The entire cosmic manifestation results from the Lord’s first setting it in motion. Similarly, since the saṅkīrtana movement was first set in motion five hundred years ago by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s desire that it spread all over the universe, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, in continuity of that same motion, is now spreading all over the world, and in this way it will gradually spread all over the universe. With the spread of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, everyone will merge in an ocean of love of Kṛṣṇa.” (Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi-līlā 13.32)
“Chaitanya Mahāprabhu’s desire that it spread all over the universe, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, in continuity of that same motion, is now spreading all over the world, and in this way it will gradually spread all over the universe”
Natural Boundaries of Antarctica
“Go beyond borders and cross Antarctica !”
Whether one likes it or not, or believes in it or not, the horizontal plane model of the Earth is the only one that can accommodate the description of Śukadeva Goswami. Due to the almost impenetrable propaganda that the Earth is a globe in space, it may seem far-fetched to us now that the Earth actually continues on a vast plane. However, the revelation of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam will provide the impetus for a new science that proves (1) the Earth cannot be a globe; and (2) the Earth is indeed on a horizontal plane. Furthermore, as predicted in Caitanya-caritāmṛta, the sankirtan movement will gradually spread from India, throughout the whole world and across the universe, suggesting that at some point in the future, contact with the other areas of Jambudvīpa may be re-established:
“The saṅkīrtana movement went on from one part of the town to another, as the Lord wandered everywhere performing kīrtana. In this way He inundated the whole world (tri-bhuvana—all the three worlds) by distributing love of Godhead. (C.C. Adi 13.32)
PURPORT: One may raise the question how all three worlds became inundated with love of Kṛṣṇa, since Chaitanya Mahāprabhu performed kīrtana only in the Navadvīpa area. The answer is that Lord Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa Himself. The entire cosmic manifestation results from the Lord’s first setting it in motion. Similarly, since the saṅkīrtana movement was first set in motion five hundred years ago by Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu’s desire that it spread all over the universe, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, in continuity of that same motion, is now spreading all over the world, and in this way it will gradually spread all over the universe. With the spread of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, everyone will merge in an ocean of love of Kṛṣṇa.”
CHAITANYA MAHĀPRABHU AND THE EARTH OF SEVEN ISLANDS
The sankirtan movement (congregational chanting of the Holy Names of God) inaugurated by Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu in West Bengal five hundred years ago is not limited to the world as we know it – the so-called Earth globe. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s movement is universal. As explained in the following verses:
“The more the five members of the Pancha-tattva cause the rains of love of Godhead to fall, the more the inundation increases and spreads all over the world (tri-bhuvane — all over the three worlds).” Caitanya Caritamrita, Ādi-līlā 7.28
“In the activities of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the three worlds dance and chant (tri-bhuvana nāce) having come in touch with love of Godhead. This is the characteristic of His pastimes.” (C.C Antya 3.267)
“Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates of the Pañcha-tattva distributed the holy name of the Lord to invoke love of Godhead throughout the universe (viśva) and thus the entire universe was thankful.” (C.C Adi 7.163)
“The Lord is situated in all the universes in different forms just to please His devotees. Thus the Lord destroys irreligious principles and establishes religious principles.” (CC Madhya 20.219)
Now, what is Now, what is really interesting in Chaitanya Mahāprabhu’s pastimes, is that pilgrims from all over the universe would come to meet Him at Jaganatha Purī in India, in order to a pay their homage at His lotus feet, to witness His pastimes of chanting and dancing in ecstatic love of God, and perhaps also to hear some instruction. The Caitanya-caritāmṛta particularly mentions that pilgrims were coming to see Him from all of the seven islands of Bhū-maṇḍala (sapta-dvīpa) which would include, of course, our closest neighbours on Jambudvīpa, as well as those from the other khaṇḍas of Bhārata-varṣa:
“Similarly, people who went to Jagannātha Purī from various provinces of India were fully satisfied after seeing the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.” (C.C Antya-līlā 2.9)
“People from all over the universe, including the seven islands (sapta-dvīpera loka—people from all of the seven islands within the universe), the nine khaṇḍas, the planets of the demigods, Gandharvaloka and Kinnaraloka, would go there in the forms of human beings.” (Śrī Caitanya Caritamrita Antya-līlā 2.10)
Purport: “For an explanation of sapta-dvīpa, see Madhya-līlā, Chapter Twenty, verse 218, and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Fifth Canto, Chapters Sixteen and Twenty.”In the above purport Śrīla Prabhupāda refers us the four chapters of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam that describe the seven islands (sapta-dvīpa) of Bhū-maṇḍala. Thus, there can be no doubt that the verse is explaining that pilgrims from Jambudvīpa and the other islands of Bhū-maṇḍala were coming to visit Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. In case anyone is any doubt that the seven islands mentioned here are those of Bhū-maṇḍala, in the purport Śrīla Prabhupāda also refers us to Madhya-līlā, Chapter Twenty, verse 218 wherein it is stated:
“Within the universe (brahmāṇḍa-madhye) the Lord is situated in different spiritual manifestations. These are situated on seven islands (sapta-dvīpa) in nine sections (nava-khaṇḍa). Thus Their pastimes are going on.
PURPORT – The seven islands are mentioned in the Siddhānta-Śiromaṇi:
The seven islands (dvīpas) [of Bhū-maṇḍala] 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. The continent of Jambūdvīpa forms the innermost concentric island in the above scheme. Its name is said to derive from a huge Jambū tree.
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.
“Here the names of the seven islands are listed, including Jambudvīpa. The idea being that residents of Jambudvīpa and the other islands were somehow able to travel from their own regions into our Earth area. Remember these distances cover hundreds of thousands of miles, and the furthest island away (Puskaradvīpa) is some hundreds of millions of miles away. Closer to home, it also mentions the names of the nine khaṇḍas or divisions of Bhārata-varṣa. Again these areas of Bhārata-varṣa stretch over an area of 72,000 miles, and so they are referring to places of the greater Earth that we have not yet discovered. Although we don’t know of their existence, pilgrims from those places obviously know of our existence, and in disguise as ordinary humans they came to visit Chaitanya Mahāprabhu in Jagannātha Purī (India) only 500 years ago.
In the purport cited above, Śrīla Prabhupāda refers to the sapta-dvīpa as islands in space, suggesting individual planets, rather than one continual Earth plane. We have discussed this point in the previous section entitled: Are the Sapta-Dwipa Planets in Space?
This earth planet [Bhū-maṇḍala] is divided into seven dvīpas by seven oceans, and the central dvīpa, called Jambūdvīpa, is divided into nine varṣas, or parts, by eight huge mountains. (SB 1.16.12, Purport)
According to Purāṇic cosmography, the world (Bhū-maṇḍala) is divided into seven concentric island continents (sapta-dvipa) separated by the seven encircling oceans, each double the size of the preceding one (going out from within). The seven intermediate oceans consist of salt-water, sugarcane juice, wine, ghee, yogurt, milk and water respectively.
It is to be understood that all the dvīpas, or islands, are surrounded by different types of oceans, and it is said herein that the breadth of each ocean is the same as that of the island it surrounds. The length of the oceans, however, cannot equal the length of the islands. According to Vīrarāghava Ācārya, the breadth of the first island is 100,000 yojanas. One yojana equals eight miles, and therefore the breadth of the first island is calculated to be 800,000 miles. The water surrounding it must have the same breadth, but its length must be different. (sb/5/1/33)
Further verses from Caitanya-caritāmṛta confirm that contact with the other islands on the plane of Bhū-maṇḍala has been on-going; only 500 years ago at Jagannātha Purī in India, Caitanya Mahāprabhu was receiving guests from all over the Bhū-maṇḍala and beyond:”Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu lived at Nīlācala [Jagannātha Purī] with His personal devotees, always merged in ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.” (CC Antya-līlā, 9.4)
“People from the three worlds used to come visit Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Anyone who saw Him received the transcendental treasure of love for Kṛṣṇa.” (CC Antya-līlā 9.7)
“The inhabitants of the seven higher planetary systems — including the demigods, the Gandharvas and the Kinnaras — and the inhabitants of the seven lower planetary systems [Pātālaloka], including the demons and serpentine living entities, all visited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in the dress of human beings.” (CC Antya-līlā 9.8)
“Dressed in different ways, people from the seven islands (sapta-dvīpa) and nine khaṇḍas (nava–khaṇḍa) visited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.” (CC Antya-līlā 9.9)
“Prahlāda Mahārāja, Bali Mahārāja, Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī and other great sages came to visit Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Upon seeing Him, they became unconscious in ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.” (CC Antya-līlā 9.10)Again it mentions sapta-dvīpa in verse 9.9. As already explained, the sapta-dvīpa are the islands created on Bhū-maṇḍala by Priyavrata Mahārāja (see SB 5.1.31-33) and include Jambudvīpa. Here it states again that residents from Jambudvīpa were in contact with Chaitanya Mahāprabhu only 500 years ago. In verse 9.10, it mentions that Prahlāda Mahārāja also came to visit Chaitanya Mahāprabhu. Prahlāda Mahārāja is a resident of Hari-varṣa which is on the mainland of Jambudvīpa as described in Chapter 18 of the Fifth Canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Somehow or other, these residents of Jambudvīpa and the other islands of Bhū-maṇḍala were able to go back and forth from Bhārata-varṣa. At present, the residents of Bhārata-varṣa are restricted from entering these areas, but the same restriction does not seem to hold for those outside of Bhārata-varṣa entering into this region.
The verses cited above raise an obvious question: if pilgrims from the 800,000-mile island of Jambudvīpa were coming to see Chaitanya Mahāprabhu in India only 500 years ago, where is this massive Jambudvīpa Island in relation to the so-called Earth globe? How do supporters of the globe explain this? Such a description of pilgrims coming from Jambudvīpa to India certainly creates an elephant in the room for the supporters of the globe idea.
From the above verses, it is clear that in the 15th century when Kṛṣṇa das Kavirāja Goswami wrote the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, that Vaiṣṇavas or devotees of Kṛṣṇa were still referring to the Earth as characterized by seven islands. This seems to be the accepted conception of the Vedic Earth that they believed in. Śrī Caitanya Mahprabhu Himself also speaks of the Earth in these terms:”The sun moves across the zodiac day and night and crosses the oceans between the seven islands one after the other.” (Madhya-līlā 20.387)
JAMBŪDVĪPA ACCORDING TO THE JAIN TRADITION
Manuṣyaloka – the world of humans. The only world where human beings are born.
It is represented as the Jambūdvīpa, with the salt ocean and other continents and oceans,
with long chains of mountains, great rivers flowing from the peaks and Mount Meru in the centre.
Jain Cosmology – The universe is divided into three realms: the upper is the realm of the heavens and the celestials; the middle is the domain of humans, animals, and plants; and the lower. This 19th-century cosmological diagram of the manuṣyaloka (the human world), comes from western Rajasthan, a state in India with one of the largest Jain populations. The chart shows the Adhai-dvipa, or the two and a half continents inhabited by mortals. The continents are shown as concentric circles surrounded by ring-shaped oceans filled with swimmers and fish, complex networks of rivers and lakes, and mountain ranges. The continent Jambūdvīpa (rose-apple tree island) is shown in the center of the chart, encircled by a blue ring that represents the Lavana Samudra (Salt Ocean).
In Caitanya-caritāmṛta the words used are sapta-dvīpa-ambudhi, seven islands and oceans. Thus Caitanya-caritāmṛta adheres to the commonly accepted Puranic description of the Earth, and there is otherwise no mention that Earth is globe-shaped. Moreover, the statements from Caitanya-caritāmṛta clearly expound that contact with the greater Earth or Bhū-maṇḍala has been on-going despite knowledge of Bhū-maṇḍala being practically expunged from the consciousness of modern Hindus. Knowledge of the horizontal plane model of Earth has, however, continued strongly in the Jain tradition, despite the lack of awareness in the rest of the world’s population who have been indoctrinated into believing that they are on a ball spinning around in dark lonely space.
It is the responsibility of those involved for the presentations at the Māyāpur Temple of Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) to first comprehend, realize, and then explain the real situation of the great Earth plane. Just as we are taught geography in school, and learn to understand about direction and distance, as well as the names, shapes, and characteristics of other places in the world, so the world should also know about the names, shapes, and characteristics of the places in the greater Earth area as described in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. This is one of the functions of the TOVP.Again it mentions sapta-dvīpa in verse 9.9. As already explained, the sapta-dvīpa are the islands created on Bhū-maṇḍala by Priyavrata Mahārāja (see SB 5.1.31-33) and include Jambudvīpa. Here it states again that residents from Jambudvīpa were in contact with Chaitanya Mahāprabhu only 500 years ago. In verse 9.10, it mentions that Prahlāda Mahārāja also came to visit Chaitanya Mahāprabhu. Prahlāda Mahārāja is a resident of Hari-varṣa which is on the mainland of Jambudvīpa as described in Chapter 18 of the Fifth Canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Somehow or other, these residents of Jambudvīpa and the other islands of Bhū-maṇḍala were able to go back and forth from Bhārata-varṣa. At present, the residents of Bhārata-varṣa are restricted from entering these areas, but the same restriction does not seem to hold for those outside of Bhārata-varṣa entering into this region.
TOVP Model – Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, Mayapur
The verses cited above raise an obvious question: if pilgrims from the 800,000-mile island of Jambudvīpa were coming to see Chaitanya Mahāprabhu in India only 500 years ago, where is this massive Jambudvīpa Island in relation to the so-called Earth globe? How do supporters of the globe explain this? Such a description of pilgrims coming from Jambudvīpa to India certainly creates an elephant in the room for the supporters of the globe idea.A person living in England would be considered ignorant if they did not know something about the geography of the world, and of the existence, distances, directions, etc., of other places in the world like India or America. The world, indeed, was once like that; and even the existence of America was unknown to Europeans before the chance discovery in 1492 by Christopher Columbus. Unfortunately, the people of our modern world are in a similar state of complete ignorance about lands that lay further along, and beyond, our known Earth area. The true feature of the Earth plane is unknown.
Śukadeva Goswami gives the names, measurements, and directions of these other areas from our own Earth area. Our closest neighbour is a place called Kimpuruṣa-varṣa, which is further along the northern plane (across the Arctic region), by only a few thousand miles. Śukadeva Goswami describes this in summary. The plane then continues into the other varṣas of Jambudvīpa. The globe model of the Earth cannot accommodate this description. Unfortunately, the head of our present TOVP cosmology department (as of July 2016), due to lacking either the understanding or the faith in this concept, is committed to presenting and explaining the Earth as a globe in space. However, one simple question remains unanswered: If Bhārata-varṣa (where the assumed Earth globe is reputedly situated) is part of Jambudvīpa; where is the rest of the 800,000-mile island of Jambudvīpa described by Śukadeva Goswami? One cannot take the easy way out be saying it must be in another dimension, because Śukadeva Goswami does not describe it as such. It is all within the same dimension. Indeed, we swim in the same salt-water ocean that surrounds the rest of Jambudvīpa. Our oceans, however, form only a fraction of the over-all salt-water ocean, which is a further 800,000 miles in breadth. Again, this conception makes no sense from the description of Earth as a globe in space.
Whether one likes it or not, or believes in it or not, the horizontal plane model of the Earth is the only one that can accommodate the description of Śukadeva Goswami. Due to the almost impenetrable propaganda that the Earth is a globe in space, it may seem far-fetched to us now that the Earth actually continues on a vast plane. However, the revelation of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam will provide the impetus for a new science that proves (1) the Earth cannot be a globe; and (2) the Earth is indeed on a horizontal plane. Furthermore, as predicted in Caitanya-caritāmṛta, the sankirtan movement will gradually spread from India, throughout the whole world and across the universe, suggesting that at some point in the future, contact with the other areas of Jambudvīpa may be re-established:”The saṅkīrtana movement went on from one part of the town to another, as the Lord wandered everywhere performing kīrtana. In this way He inundated the whole world (tri-bhuvana—all the three worlds) by distributing love of Godhead. (C.C. Adi 13.32)
PURPORT: One may raise the question how all three worlds became inundated with love of Kṛṣṇa, since Chaitanya Mahāprabhu performed kīrtana only in the Navadvīpa area. The answer is that Lord Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa Himself. The entire cosmic manifestation results from the Lord’s first setting it in motion. Similarly, since the saṅkīrtana movement was first set in motion five hundred years ago by Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu’s desire that it spread all over the universe, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, in continuity of that same motion, is now spreading all over the world, and in this way it will gradually spread all over the universe. With the spread of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, everyone will merge in an ocean of love of Kṛṣṇa.”
GaurangaSundar Das: PURPORT – The seven islands are mentioned in the Siddhānta-Śiromaṇi:
The seven islands (dvīpas) [of Bhū-maṇḍala] 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. The continent of Jambūdvīpa forms the innermost concentric island in the above scheme.
Mahesh: NEVER does Srila Prabhupada EVER mention “The continent of Jambūdvīpa forms the innermost concentric island in the above scheme.” This INVENTION OF “CONCENTRIC ISLAND” is just MENTAL SPECULATION.
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GaurangaSundar Das:The verses cited above raise an obvious question: if pilgrims from the 800,000-mile island of Jambudvīpa were coming to see Chaitanya Mahāprabhu in India only 500 years ago, where is this massive Jambudvīpa Island in relation to the so-called Earth globe? How do supporters of the globe explain this? Such a description of pilgrims coming from Jambudvīpa to India certainly creates an elephant in the room for the supporters of the globe idea.
Mahesh:. According to Srila Prabhupada, “THIS EARTH IS CALLED JAMBŪDVĪPA”. See the reference provided below. Lets look at the whole context:
TEXT 8
manuṣyera veśe deva-gandharva-kinnara
sapta-pātālera yata daitya viṣadhara
SYNONYMS
manuṣyera veśe—in the dress of human beings; deva-gandharva-kinnara—the demigods, the Gandharvas and the Kinnaras; sapta-pātālera—of the seven lower planetary systems; yata—all kinds of; daitya—demons; viṣa-dhara—serpentine living entities.
TRANSLATION
The inhabitants of the seven higher PLANETARY systems-including the demigods, the Gandharvas and the Kinnaras-and the inhabitants of the seven lower planetary systems [Pātālaloka], including the demons and serpentine living entities, all visited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu IN THE DRESS OF HUMAN BEINGS.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/antya/9/8
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Note: “THESE PLANETS in the ocean of space are called DVĪPAS, OR ISLANDS IN OUTER SPACE”
TEXT 9
sapta-dvīpe nava-khaṇḍe vaise yata jana
nānā-veśe āsi’ kare prabhura daraśana
SYNONYMS
sapta-dvīpe—in seven islands; nava-khaṇḍe—in nine khaṇḍas; vaise—reside; yata jana—all persons; nānā-veśe—in different dresses; āsi’-coming; kare prabhura daraśana—visited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TRANSLATION
Dressed in different ways, people from the seven islands and nine khaṇḍas visited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/antya/9/9
Note: Here, the SEVEN ISLANDS (DVIPAS) are PLANETS not “concentric circles”. The Khandas are different PARTS of Jambudvipa:
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
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KETUMĀLA: This earth planet is divided into seven parts, and according to others it is divided into nine parts. THIS EARTH IS CALLED JAMBŪDVĪPA and is divided into nine varṣas. Bhārata–varṣa is one of the above mentioned nine varṣas. Such varṣas are known as CONTINENTS in the modern geographical context. Ketumāla is described as one of the above varṣas. It is said that in this varṣa, women are the most beautiful. This varṣa was conquered by Arjuna also. A description of this part of the world is available in the Mahābhārata (Sabhā Parva 286.32-33).
It is said that this part of the world is situated on the western side of the Meru Parvata, and the inhabitants of this province used to live up to ten thousands of years (Bhīṣma Parva 6.16.31-32). Human beings living in this part of the globe are of golden color, and the women resemble the angels of heaven. The inhabitants are free from all kinds of diseases and grief.
BHĀRATA–VARṣA: This part of the world is also one of the nine varṣas of the JAMBŪDVĪPA, OR EARTHLY PLANET. EACH PLANET is also sometimes called a dvīpa BECAUSE of its being an island in the fathomless outer space. EACH PLANET is factually an island in the airy ocean of outer space. Jambūdvīpa is only one of such countless islands in this airy ocean of space. A description of Bhārata–varṣa is given in the Mahābhārata (Bhīṣma Parva, Chapters 9-10).
Uttarāḥ: According to Śrīdhara Svāmī these parts of the world are called Ilāvṛta–varṣa, or the mediterranean countries of Europe. The description of the Ilāvṛta–varṣa is given in the Mahābhārata (Sabhā Parva 28.7-8) as follows:
nagarāṁś ca vanāṁś caiva
nadīś ca vimalodakāḥ
puruṣān deva-kalpāṁś ca
nārīś ca priya–darśanāḥ
adṛṣṭa–pūrvān subhagān
sa dadarśa dhanañjayaḥ
sadanāni ca śubhrāṇi
nārīś cāpsarasāṁ nibhāḥ
It is twice mentioned here that the women are beautiful, and some of them are equal to the apsarās, or heavenly women. Therefore the countries mentioned are round about the Mediterranean coast.
Kimpuruṣa–varṣa: It is stated to be situated beyond the northern side of Darjelling Dhavala Giri and probably may be a country like Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet and China. These parts of the world were also conquered by Arjuna (Sabhā Parva 28.1-2). The Kimpuruṣas are descendants of the daughter of Dakṣa. When Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira performed a horse sacrifice, the inhabitants of these countries were also present to take part in the festival, and they paid tributes to the Emperor. This part of the world is called Kimpuruṣa–varṣa, or sometimes the Himalayan provinces (Himavatī). It is said that Śukadeva Gosvāmī was born in these Himalayan provinces, and he came to Bhārata–varṣa after crossing the Himalayan countries.
In other words, Mahārāja Parīkṣit conquered all the world, namely ALL THE CONTINENTS adjoining all the seas and oceans in all directions, namely the eastern, western, northern and southern parts of the world.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/1/16/12
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Note: there is no such thing as “concentric islands” with various oceans. BUT the EXACT description as per Srila Prabhupada : VARIOUS KINDS OF OCEANS IN OTHER PLANETS:
VARIOUS KINDS OF OCEANS IN OTHER PLANETS
In the Vedic mantras, there is a particular type of prayer called Puruṣa-sūkta. Generally, the demigods offer their obeisances unto Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by chanting the Puruṣa-sūkta. It is understood herein that the predominating deity of every planet can see the supreme lord of this universe, Brahmā, whenever there is some disturbance in his planet. And Brahmā can approach the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, not by seeing Him directly, but by standing on the shore of the ocean of milk. THERE IS A PLANET WITHIN THIS UNIVERSE CALLED ŚVETADVĪPA, AND ON THAT PLANET THERE IS AN OCEAN OF MILK. IT IS UNDERSTOOD FROM VARIOUS VEDIC LITERATURES THAT JUST AS THERE IS THE OCEAN OF SALT WATER WITHIN THIS PLANET, THERE ARE VARIOUS KINDS OF OCEANS IN OTHER PLANETS. SOMEWHERE THERE IS AN OCEAN OF MILK, SOMEWHERE THERE IS AN OCEAN OF OIL, AND SOMEWHERE THERE IS AN OCEAN OF LIQUOR AND MANY OTHER TYPES OF OCEANS. Puruṣa-sūkta is the standard prayer which the demigods recite to appease the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṣīrodakaśāyī-Viṣṇu. Because He is lying on the ocean of milk, He is called Kṣīrodakaśāyī-Viṣṇu. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, through whom all the incarnations within this universe appear.
First Chapter of Kṛṣṇa, “Advent of Lord Kṛṣṇa.”
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/kb/1/1
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Seated on His chariot with Arjuna, Kṛṣṇa began to proceed north, crossing over many planetary systems. These are described in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as sapta-dvīpa. Dvīpa means island. ALL THESE PLANETS ARE SOMETIMES DESCRIBED IN THE VEDIC LITERATURE AS DVIPAS. THE PLANET ON WHICH WE ARE LIVING IS CALLED JAMBŪDVĪPA. OUTER SPACE IS TAKEN AS A GREAT OCEAN OF AIR, AND WITHIN THAT GREAT OCEAN OF AIR THERE ARE MANY ISLANDS, WHICH ARE THE DIFFERENT PLANETS. IN EACH AND EVERY PLANET THERE ARE OCEANS ALSO. IN SOME OF THE PLANETS, THE OCEANS ARE OF SALT WATER, AND IN SOME OF THEM THERE ARE OCEANS OF MILK. IN OTHERS THERE ARE OCEANS OF LIQUOR, AND IN OTHERS THERE ARE OCEANS OF GHEE OR OIL. THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF MOUNTAINS ALSO. EACH AND EVERY PLANET HAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ATMOSPHERE.
Second Volume, Thirty-fourth Chapter, of Kṛṣṇa, “The Superexcellent Power of Kṛṣṇa.”
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/kb/2/34
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Prabhupāda: (indistinct) full of living entities, and the moon planet there is no living entity. They are doubting also in the Mars planet. But we get information from the śāstra that every planet is full of living entities. Every planet. Janakīrṇa. THIS VERY WORD IS SAID IN THE ŚRĪMAD-BHĀGAVATAM, JANAKĪRṆA, AND THERE IS VIVID DESCRIPTION OF DIFFERENT PLANETS AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF OCEANS, JUST LIKE MILK OCEAN. WE HAVE GOT HERE EXAMPLES, SWEET WATER AND SALTED WATER. SO THERE IS SWEET OCEAN ALSO. THAT IS MENTIONED IN THE ŚĀSTRA. NOT THAT IN THIS PLANET THERE IS SALTED OCEAN AND… THERE ARE OTHER PLANETS WHERE THERE IS SWEET WATER OCEAN AND MILK OCEAN AND LIQUOR OCEAN AND OIL OCEAN, GHEE OCEAN, BUTTER OCEAN, MILK, BUTTER OCEAN, AND SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES.
So if we bring everything to our conception, that becomes cintya, conceivable, but that is not the fact. Therefore here it is stated, acintya-jñāna-gocarāḥ. We have to receive this knowledge from sources which can inform us about all these things inconceivable by us. It is not possible to bring the inconceivable within our conceivable limit. That is not possible. That is foolishness. Mūḍha. Mūḍha will not believe.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/cc/madhya/20/113/london/july/23/1976
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Note: the Oceans are ON PLANETS not on concentric circles landscape: And – it is the EARTHLY SYSTEM:
2) The earthly system (bhu-mandala with Sumeru in center, seven islands (saptadvipa), seven oceans (sapta-samudra), Manosattara Parvata, Lokaloka Parvata, Alokavarsa.
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761114 – Letter to S.L. Dhani written from Vrndavana
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
November 14, 1976
Deputy Secretary, 14 November, 1976
Krishna Balarama Mandir
Chattikara Road
Vrindaban, U.P.
Subject: The Times of India Article of November 7th 1976 concerning your paper on the Puranic theory of evolution.
Dear Sir,
The abovementioned International Society for Krishna Consciousness has published within the last ten years English translations of the Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam (Maha-purana), Caitanya Caritamrta, Isopanisad and many other volumes of India’s most ancient Vedic cultural heritage, which are now translated into French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Italian, Chinese, etc. and which are being purchased by the millions all over the world.
Now, here in India, we are planning construction of a very large “Vedic Planetarium” or “Temple of Understanding”. Within the planetarium we will construct a huge, detailed model of the universe as described in the text of the fifth canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam. Within the planetarium the model will be studied by onlookers from different levels by use of escalators. Detailed information will be given on open verandas at the different levels by means of dioramas, charts, films, etc.
The planetarium is planned to be approximately 400 feet high and will have floor space of approximately 90,000 sq. ft. The model will depict: (from bottom to top)
1) The lower planetary system (pataladi-saptaloka)
2) The earthly system (bhu-mandala with Sumeru in center, seven islands (saptadvipa), seven oceans (sapta-samudra), Manosattara Parvata, Lokaloka Parvata, Alokavarsa.
3) The Bhuvarloka (Siddha-caranadi-loka)
4) The upper planetary system (Svarga loka) beginning from the Sun, showing with electrial apparatus both its horizontal and vertical rotations, Rahu, the Moon, the Naksatras, the other seven planets ending with Saturn (Saniscara), the Saptarsis, and Dhruvaloka with Ksirodakasayi Visnu on the Ksirodaka ocean.
5) Maharloka
6) Janaloka
7) Tapoloka
8) Satyaloka
9) Garbhodakasayi Visnu lying on Sesanaga on the Garbhodaka ocean
10) The seven coverings of the universe
11) Sivaloka
12) Karanarnavasayi visnu lying on the Karana-samudra
13) Impersonal brahmajyoti
14) Vaikunthaloka with the various Visnumurtis
15) Goloka Vrndavana
This model (approximately 200 feet high and 100 feet wide) will be engineered to suspend from the structure of the dome and rotate according to the real movement of the planets. The plans for this very large project are being taken solely from the references found in fifth canto Srimad Bhagavatam and its authoritative commentaries by important acaryas, along with other Puranas and Samhitas like Brahma-samhita etc.
As you can appreciate, the work involved in this project will be gigantic and the advice of many experts from all fields will be needed to make it come out successful. It will be a glorious exhibition of India’s Vedic culture that will attract visitors from all the world. I am inquisitive to know how you can help us with this project, as I know you are an expert in the field of Puranic astronomy. Hoping to hear from you in the near future.
Faithfully yours,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/jda
reply c/o:
Saurabh Das
Hare Krishan Land
Gandhi Gram Rd.
Juhu, Bombay 400049
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Note: The words Bhu Mandala reference to Bhu: earth. Mandala: group
bhū—the earth;
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/6/13/5
maṇḍala-group;
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/adi/5/118
To say that Bhu mandala only refers to Jambudvipa planet is false. The Bhu mandala is a PLANETARY system. Hence, PLANETARY system has to have PLANETS in it:
Sometimes the PLANETS in outer space are called islands. We have experience of various types of islands in the ocean, and similarly the various planets, divided into fourteen lokas, are islands in the ocean of space. As Priyavrata drove his chariot behind the sun, he created seven different types of oceans and planetary systems, which altogether are known as Bhū–maṇḍala, or Bhūloka. In the Gāyatrī mantra, we chant, oṁ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ tat savitur vareṇyam. Above the Bhūloka planetary system is Bhuvarloka, and above that is Svargaloka, the heavenly planetary system. All these planetary systems are controlled by Savitā, the sun-god. By chanting the Gāyatrī mantra just after rising early in the morning, one worships the sun-god.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/5/1/31
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VASUDHĀ MEANS PLANETS OR GLOBES.
THIS EARTHY PLANET IS CALLED VASUDHĀ.
http://www.prabhupadanugas.eu/news/?p=50351
Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur Maharaj introduces his ‘Jaiva-Dharma’ with the first paragraph of Chapter One, entitled…
“Nitya-dharma, The Eternal Nature of the Living Entity, and Naimittika-dharma, His Impermanent Religious Duties”
Quote:
“Jambudvipa, the earth planet, is the most precious planet in the solar system, and Bharata-varsa, India, is the most auspicious land upon earth. Gaura-mandala, Bengal, is spiritually the pre-eminent province of India, and Sri Navadvipa-dhama is the crown jewel of Bengal.
Shining eternally in spiritual splendor, the region of Godruma prospers in one corner of Sri Navadvipa-dhama, upon the banks of the Bhagirathi Ganga.”
The words of our Great Great Grandfather seem extremely clear!
हरे कृष्ण
Yfs, Balaram das.
From Srimad Bhagavatam 2.7.1. Purport by Srila Prabhupada. Excerpted.
” 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.”
Purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 3.23.41 by Srila Prabhupada.
“The planets occupied by the demigods are restricted to their own orbits, but Kardama Muni, by his yogic power, could travel all over the different directions of the universe without restriction. The living entities who are within the universe are called conditioned souls; that is, they are not free to move everywhere. We are inhabitants of this earthly globe; we cannot move freely to other planets. In the modern age, man is trying to go to other planets, but so far he has been unsuccessful. It is not possible to travel to any other planets because by the laws of nature even the demigods cannot move from one planet to another. But Kardama Muni, by his yogic power, could surpass the strength of the demigods and travel in space in all directions. The comparison here is very suitable. The words yathā anilaḥ indicate that as the air is free to move anywhere without restriction, so Kardama Muni unrestrictedly traveled in all directions of the universe.”
Lecture on BG 16.6 — Hawaii, February 2, 1975: “Because He is so perfect, we do not perceive. But it is moving.Everyone knows that the morning, there is sunrise, and in twelve hours after covering twelve thousand miles, the evening is there. Again twelve thousand miles moving—you are sleeping—in the morning you see again the sun. The sun is there. Sun is not moving. But the world is moving. It is moving so nicely. Not only this earthly planet, but there are millions and trillions of planets within the sky. They are all moving. Seasonal changes, day and night, everything is going on. This is perfection. So those who are in divine nature, they can understand all these things. That is called daivī sampat.”
Philosophy Discussion on Charles Darwin:
Prabhupāda: At least he has no power to see everything. That is a fact. He’s not so powerful that he can see everywhere and everything. That you have to accept. He has limited power to see. By that limited power to see he cannot conclude that one species (is) extinct. That is not possible. No scientist will accept that. After all, your senses by which you are (indistinct), they’re limited. So how you can say, “This is finished,” or “This is that.” That is not to be accepted. Because your senses are imperfect. You cannot see. You cannot search out. Have you searched out all the earthly layers or the 25,000 miles everywhere? That is not possible for you. The whole earthly planet is circumference is 25,000 miles, radius how many, has he discovered that all the places?
Vamsidhara Goswami (Friend and contemporary of Srila Vishvanath Chakravarti Tahakura, one of the greatest writers of Universal Issues) writes thus;
” Well, then how can one explain the contradiction between the Bhagavata and the Jyotisha Sashtra, or astronomical science. In the Bhagavata, Jambudwipa is said to measure 100,000 yojanas, whereas the astronomical science states the entire earth to be measuring only 5000 yojanas (4967). The solution is given in the Goladarsha. According to that text , some brief explanation is given below.
The Earth has two forms. One is the “particular” (visesa) form of big measure,and the other is the smaller, spherical form given in the Jyotisha Sastra. In this regard Pariksit asked Sri Suka, the great yogin, and he replied (in SB 5.16.4.) “We shall explain the “particular” description of bhugola by name,form,measure, and characteristics.” In the Jyotisha Sastra the word bhugola refers to the earth as an egg of clay, and the word visesa, or “particular”, refers to the round golden egg described in the Puranas.”
” The Earth floats in space among many millions of other planets, all of them bearing huge mountains and oceans. It floats because Krishna enters into it, as stated in Bhagavad-gita As It Is (gam avisya), just as He enters the atom. The earth is certainly not weightless, rather, it is very heavy. But it floats because the Supreme Spirit is within it.”
Excerpted from ToQK written by Srila Prabhupada Iskcon founder-acharya.
Letter to Madhava — Vrindaban 3 October, 1976: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 22nd Sept. 1976 and have noted the contents. Regarding details of the universe, be satisfied by reading only Bhagavatam. What is the use of reading other books—you are not going there. Some portion of the earth is flat. When you stand in any place you see flat, so for us to some extent it appears flat, but it is round.”
BG 9.5, Translation and Purport:” And yet everything that is created does not rest in Me. Behold My mystic opulence! Although I am the maintainer of all living entities and although I am everywhere, I am not a part of this cosmic manifestation, for My Self is the very source of creation.
The Lord says that everything is resting on Him (mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni (BG 9.4)). This should not be misunderstood. The Lord is not directly concerned with the maintenance and sustenance of this material manifestation. Sometimes we see a picture of Atlas holding the globe on his shoulders; he seems to be very tired, holding this great earthly planet.
Lecture on BG 7.5 — Bombay, February 20, 1974:” Aparā and parā. Aparā means inferior, or material, and parā means superior, or spiritual. The spiritual force behind is moving the material world. Yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat. Jagat means gacchati iti jagat, which is moving or going forward. Everything is moving. All these planets are moving. Your earthly planet is also moving—within twenty-four hours covering 25,000 miles, day and night. The whole material planets, earthly planets, you have 25,000 miles, and this is rotating. Similarly every planet is rotating. The sun is also rotating. Yasyājñayā bhramati sambhṛta-kāla-cakraḥ. The sun is also having a duration of life, and it will rotate, then it will be finished. Everything in the material world, it has got a date of birth, it lives for some time, it grows or changes the body, and produces some by-products, then dwindles, and then vanishes. This is called ṣaḍ-vikāra, six kind of changes of anything material. That is called jagat. Gacchati. But there is a moving force. Just like the motorcar is going, gacchati.”
Lecture on BG 9.4 — Melbourne, April 23, 1976: “There are… Material world means there are innumerable universes. Just like you cannot count the stars and planets. Every day you are seeing, at least at night you see, but can you count it? No, that is not possible. So this is only one universe, the universe in which our planet, this earthly planet is situated. It is tiny planet. Out of many millions of planets this is one. So we cannot even calculate this one planet.”
Lecture on BG 16.6 — Hawaii, February 2, 1975: “They do not know even that there is birth after death. Such a foolish civilization. Although we are experiencing every moment birth and death… Birth and death every moment, it is going on so finely. It is Kṛṣṇa’s arrangement. Just like this world, this earthly planet, is moving at the rate of one thousand miles per hour. Such a gigantic body, it is also moving. Every, all planets are moving. Even the sun is moving. But we cannot perceive. You ride on a best airplane—there are so many disturbances, sound, moving, sometimes table is (trembling?) moving. But this planet also moving more speedily than the airplane, but you do not perceive. This is Kṛṣṇa’s manufacture, perfectly. Pūrṇam idam. This is called pūrṇam idam, everything perfect. Pūrṇam idaṁ pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyate, pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya pūrṇam eva avaśiṣyate (Īśo Invocation). Because He is so perfect, we do not perceive. But it is moving.”
Lecture on BG 16.6 — Hawaii, February 2, 1975: “Because He is so perfect, we do not perceive. But it is moving.Everyone knows that the morning, there is sunrise, and in twelve hours after covering twelve thousand miles, the evening is there. Again twelve thousand miles moving—you are sleeping—in the morning you see again the sun. The sun is there. Sun is not moving. But the world is moving. It is moving so nicely. Not only this earthly planet, but there are millions and trillions of planets within the sky. They are all moving. Seasonal changes, day and night, everything is going on. This is perfection. So those who are in divine nature, they can understand all these things. That is called daivī sampat.”
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I would like to thank Gaurangasundar Das for this first class presentation. It would be very interesting if there could be an open discussion with modern scientists and the public about this topic for all to hear. A lot of Q and A would be of great help for those new people studying Srila Prabhupada’s books. That time is not here yet but I am sure that the time will come in the near future. An excellent and refreshing look at old ancient truths.
Thank you Gaurangasundar Das prabhu
GaurangaSundar Das: : Jain Cosmology – The universe is divided into three realms: the upper is the realm of the heavens and the celestials; the middle is the domain of humans, animals, and plants; and the lower. This 19th-century cosmological diagram of the manuṣyaloka (the human world), comes from western Rajasthan, a state in India with one of the largest Jain populations. The chart shows the Adhai-dvipa, or the two and a half continents inhabited by mortals. The continents are shown as concentric circles surrounded by ring-shaped oceans filled with swimmers and fish, complex networks of rivers and lakes, and mountain ranges. The continent Jambūdvīpa (rose-apple tree island) is shown in the center of the chart, encircled by a blue ring that represents the Lavana Samudra (Salt Ocean).
Mahesh: Does Srila Prabhupada accept Jains Cosmology:
701204R1-Indore – December 04, 1970
Prabhupāda: Buddhism, Jainism, yoga, all this Vedānta they are all demons. Under different name they called it. The main purpose is to throw away God and become God himself, that’s all.
1976 Conversations and Morning Walks ;
That is the polestar. That is the up side of the universe. And that we have described in the Bhāgavatam. That is the pivot, and the whole planetary system is moving twenty-four hours.
Room Conversation — June 15, 1976, Detroit:
Prabhupāda: So all of you now make a complete idea how to make Vedic planetary, planetarium. Another question. Why in every map the northern side is accepted up? (laughter) Can anyone answer this? North, south. South is considered down. East, west. Why not other ways? I can make east on that side. Why it is north only up side? Can anyone answer?
Ambarīṣa: It might have something to do with the magnetic poles. The magnetic force is always pulling to the north.
Prabhupāda: That is the polestar. Yes. That is the up side of the universe. And that we have described in the Bhāgavatam. That is the pivot, and the whole planetary system is moving twenty-four hours.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: That’s factual also. Because they see that all of these stars and constellations are going around the North Star.
Prabhupāda: But the modern astronomy, they do not say like that.
Jayādvaita: No. They don’t say it is moving around. They don’t say that it’s moving around the polestar. They have some other explanation.
Prabhupāda: That means they’re imperfect.
Mādhavānanda: They say that it’s fixed. They say the polestar is fixed, but it doesn’t revolve around. They say everything moves, but the polestar is…
Prabhupāda: Polestar is fixed, that is fact. And all…. It is like pivot. Everyone round, round.
Ūrdhva-mūlam adhah-śākham (BG 15.1). This tree is spread downwards. The root is upward.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: The scientists also say all of the stars are moving around. But they don’t see the earth as moving around.
Prabhupāda: Why not? What is this nonsense? If all the stars can move, what is the earth? That is their nonsense.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Dear Readers,
From the above said conversation of our Jagat Guru Srila Prabhupada, it is abundantly clear that All the Plaents including EARTH are moving around the Fixed Pole Star like a Pivot and the whole planetary system is moving twenty-four hours.
Srila Prabhupada confirms further giving reference ” Ūrdhva-mūlam adhah-śākham (BG 15.1).
This tree is spread downwards. The root is upward. The same very Instructions are given in the letter to Svarupa Damodara Das dated 27 April, 1976 as quoted in my comments dated July 27, 2018.
Now, Dear Readers, please pay attention to the followings.
In the CGI of the Dhruvaloka shown in the Article under reference, The Polestar, it says at the right side ;
” All the Stars ( Naksatra ) tied to Dhruvaloka with ropes of Air ( Pravaha ) revolve around Bhu-Mandala “.
Btu-Mandala is not the same as the Bharamanda, Jagadanda or the Universe.
Bhu Mandala is the part of the Jagadanda or the Universe as we understand from the Gayatri Mantra ;
Om Bhur Bhuva Swaha Tat Savitur Varenyam,
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayat ||
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्यः धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्॥
That is an other misleading creating a smoke screen of confusions and contradictions in their presentations by the People it is presented here in this article and everywhere who defy Srila Prabhupada’s Instructions under discussions in order to mislead people in general to achieve their personal motivated agenda.
This is simply a CHEATING. A cheater cheats people who get cheated. That is all.
Therefore, Living in an Ignorance is never a Bliss. Live life in an Ignorance and Dies in Ignorance is not the Purpose of the Human Beings.
A wiseman takes the Heed and follow the advice of the Wise Man who knows the Absolute TRUTH.
OM TAT SAT.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Dear Readers,
I invite the reply from the Learned people for the following as marked Item No. 1 and 2 ;
Item No. 1. ” 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. ”………. Name of the Writer is Mayesvara dasa, a Flat Earth promoter.
Is the above mentioned statement of a verdict ( PROVE ) of the authorized Vedic scripture such as Srimad Bhagavatam ?
OR
Is it NOT A prove of a misdirected conclusion of the Self Interested Interpreters who promotes Earth is Stationary ?
Item No. 2. ” In the Bhāgavatam the earth is described stationary with the luminaries circling above. We can say that for an absolute fact. ”
If the above cited Item No. 1 and 2, are, indeed, an absolute fact, then where is a reference from the Vedic Literature such as Srimad Bhagavatam to prove such a claim ?
Also, one more question please, WHY, none of these Self Interested Interpreters do not follow the Model of Srila Prabhupada Instructions in the letter 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.
However, 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 they write, we read from their Self Interested Interpretations in their respective writings which becomes subject to the four ( 4 ) 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 ( AS POINTED OUT IN THE ITEM NO. 1 AND 2 ABOVE ) from the Instructions of Srila Prabhupada VANI.
That is the problem, we face at present. Is It Not A Fact, Dear Readers ?
Let us hope that some body may arise and follow through to present the Model of the Universe as per Srila Prabhupada Instructions in the Srimad Bhagavatam.
OM TAT SAT.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Gaura Sundar Das’s elaborately diagrammed article is pure hogwash! Just like Colin Powell’s diagrams of Saddams alleged “Mobile Labs” for the creation of “weapons of mass destruction” WHICH DIDN’T EXIST! but they used this falsity (and others) to murder over 1 million people in Iraq!
Gaura Sundar Das is a ‘third class rascal’, that’s all!
Jains are demons and traitors of India. The richest are actually crypto Jews engaged in India’s diamond trade.
Could it be anyway, due to our shrunk consciousness in kali-yuga that the crude physical lows we are oppressed with make Earth to give the illusion of being a globe observable by scientists, by eyes and through the technological instruments and not anymore the part of the land of Jambhudvipa?
So, for us it is a globe in darkness and we cannot access the other parts of Jambhudvipa. Only those with special abilities can see and go to those e realms. Like Madvacarya could jump from this our small Himalayas to the higher Himalayas where Vyasadeva still resides. While his servant could only see him disappear in from “our” mountain region.
Also the cases of different portals connected to the “invisible” realms where sometimes some people have found themselves and returned also comes within this category.
Some qualified persons were able to cross from other vasas to have darshan of Lord Caitanya.
Same as in previous ages people could see the demigods and for them the true reality of bhumandala was common thing. Consciousness of people then was much higher, and there was no barrier we now experience.
Arjuna and Pandavas were easily travelling through Jambhudvipa. Arjuna collected the wealth there for the Rajasuya yajna etc. M. Yudistira was the king of Jambhudvipa, etc, etc.
But for us, oppressed by our low consciousness into mere physical laws, Earth is the globe, and NASA really see it as that, not cheating on purpose. They are limited same as we.
For demigods and persons with high consciousness, this mere physicality of Globe doesn’t have any meaning; they see the complete reality of flat bhumandala plane.