Mahesh Raja says:
Here are a just a few contradictions between Mayesvara das and Srila Prabhupada:
According to Mayesvara das:
1) the earth is NOT a planet BUT Srila Prabhupada says Earth is a planet.
2) the earth is NOT a Globe it is landscape BUT Srila Prabhupada says it is a GLOBE also gives it a shape: EGG shaped.
3) the earth does NOT rotate it is stationary BUT Srila Prabhupada states it ROTATES and ALSO has its Orbit.
4) the SEVEN Islands(Sapta Dvipa) are NOT PLANETS but Srila Prabhupada states they are PLANETS:
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.
1) the earth is NOT a planet BUT Srila Prabhupada says Earth is a planet.
2) the earth is NOT a Globe it is landscape BUT Srila Prabhupada says it is a GLOBE also gives it a shape: EGG shaped.
3) the earth does NOT rotate it is stationary BUT Srila Prabhupada states it ROTATES and ALSO has its Orbit.
4) the SEVEN Islands(Sapta Dvipa) are NOT PLANETS but Srila Prabhupada states they are PLANETS:
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.
Link to this page: PrabhupadaBooks.com Srila Prabhupada's Original Books
PrabhupadaBooks.com Srila Prabhupada's ...
5) the Bhu mandala describes ONLY Jambudvipa BUT Srila Prabhupada states there are OTHER EARTHLY PLANETS in the BHU MANDALA PLANETARY SYSTEM.
6) the earth is not called Jambudvipa BUT Srila Prabbhupada says: THIS EARTH IS CALLED JAMBŪDVĪPA.
So – the choice is between WHO to accept as AUTHORITY Srila Prabhupada THE PURE DEVOTEE who has DIRECT communication with Lord Krsna OR Mayesvara das a CONDITIONED SOUL MENTAL SPECULATOR:
SB 2.9.35 P Answers by Citing the Lord’ s Version
The impersonalists can imagine or even perceive that the Supreme Brahman is thus all-pervading, and therefore they conclude that there is no possibility of His personal form. Herein lies the mystery of His transcendental knowledge. This mystery is transcendental love of Godhead, and one who is surcharged with such transcendental love of Godhead can without difficulty see the Personality of Godhead in every atom and every movable or immovable object. And at the same time he can see the Personality of Godhead in His own abode, Goloka, enjoying eternal pastimes with His eternal associates, who are also expansions of His transcendental existence.
Link to this page: PrabhupadaBooks.com Srila Prabhupada's Original Books
PrabhupadaBooks.com Srila Prabhupada's ...
5) the Bhu mandala describes ONLY Jambudvipa BUT Srila Prabhupada states there are OTHER EARTHLY PLANETS in the BHU MANDALA PLANETARY SYSTEM.
6) the earth is not called Jambudvipa BUT Srila Prabbhupada says: THIS EARTH IS CALLED JAMBŪDVĪPA.
So – the choice is between WHO to accept as AUTHORITY Srila Prabhupada THE PURE DEVOTEE who has DIRECT communication with Lord Krsna OR Mayesvara das a CONDITIONED SOUL MENTAL SPECULATOR:
SB 2.9.35 P Answers by Citing the Lord’ s Version
The impersonalists can imagine or even perceive that the Supreme Brahman is thus all-pervading, and therefore they conclude that there is no possibility of His personal form. Herein lies the mystery of His transcendental knowledge. This mystery is transcendental love of Godhead, and one who is surcharged with such transcendental love of Godhead can without difficulty see the Personality of Godhead in every atom and every movable or immovable object. And at the same time he can see the Personality of Godhead in His own abode, Goloka, enjoying eternal pastimes with His eternal associates, who are also expansions of His transcendental existence.
This vision is the real mystery of spiritual knowledge, as stated by the Lord in the beginning (sarahasyam tad-angam ca). This mystery is the most confidential part of the knowledge of the Supreme, and it is impossible for the mental speculators to discover by dint of intellectual gymnastics. The mystery can be revealed through the process recommended by Brahmaji in his Brahma-samhita (5.38) as follows:
premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti
yam syamasundaram acintya-guna-svarupam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
“I worship the original Personality of Godhead, Govinda, whom the pure devotees, their eyes smeared with the ointment of love of Godhead, ALWAYS OBSERVE WITHIN THEIR HEARTS. This Govinda, the original Personality of Godhead, is Syamasundara with all transcendental qualities.”
Therefore, although He is present in every atom, the Supreme Personality of Godhead may not be visible to the dry speculators; still the mystery is unfolded before the eyes of the pure devotees because their eyes are anointed with love of Godhead. And this love of Godhead can be attained only by the practice of transcendental loving service of the Lord, and nothing else.
premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti
yam syamasundaram acintya-guna-svarupam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
“I worship the original Personality of Godhead, Govinda, whom the pure devotees, their eyes smeared with the ointment of love of Godhead, ALWAYS OBSERVE WITHIN THEIR HEARTS. This Govinda, the original Personality of Godhead, is Syamasundara with all transcendental qualities.”
Therefore, although He is present in every atom, the Supreme Personality of Godhead may not be visible to the dry speculators; still the mystery is unfolded before the eyes of the pure devotees because their eyes are anointed with love of Godhead. And this love of Godhead can be attained only by the practice of transcendental loving service of the Lord, and nothing else.
THE VISION OF THE DEVOTEES IS NOT ORDINARY; IT IS PURIFIED BY THE PROCESS OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE. IN OTHER WORDS, AS THE UNIVERSAL ELEMENTS ARE BOTH WITHIN AND WITHOUT, SIMILARLY THE LORD’S NAME, FORM, QUALITY, PASTIMES, ENTOURAGE, ETC., AS THEY ARE DESCRIBED IN THE REVEALED SCRIPTURES OR AS PERFORMED IN THE VAIKUNTHALOKAS, FAR, FAR BEYOND THE MATERIAL COSMIC MANIFESTATION, ARE FACTUALLY BEING TELEVISED IN THE HEART OF THE DEVOTEE. THE MAN WITH A POOR FUND OF KNOWLEDGE CANNOT UNDERSTAND, ALTHOUGH BY MATERIAL SCIENCE ONE CAN SEE THINGS FAR AWAY BY MEANS OF TELEVISION. FACTUALLY, THE SPIRITUALLY DEVELOPED PERSON IS ABLE TO HAVE THE TELEVISION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD ALWAYS REFLECTED WITHIN HIS HEART. THAT IS THE MYSTERY OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD.
751017BG.JOH Lectures
Prabhupada: I shall speak some verses from Bhagavad-gita, Second Chapter, in which the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna instructed. The beginning of instruction is the Second Chapter of Bhagavad-gita. So Arjuna, representing ourself, conditioned soul, covered with the material body and thinking in bodily conception of life… He was to fight with his brothers, nephews, grandfather, Bhismadeva, also teacher the military science, Dronacarya.
751017BG.JOH Lectures
Prabhupada: I shall speak some verses from Bhagavad-gita, Second Chapter, in which the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna instructed. The beginning of instruction is the Second Chapter of Bhagavad-gita. So Arjuna, representing ourself, conditioned soul, covered with the material body and thinking in bodily conception of life… He was to fight with his brothers, nephews, grandfather, Bhismadeva, also teacher the military science, Dronacarya.
In this way the business was not very palatable. Although he was forced to fight by the opposite party who were very near, thick and thin people, and he had to kill them, so it was not very satisfactory to him. Therefore he flatly denied to fight: “Krsna, I am not going to fight.” He left his weapon, and then Krsna was surprised that “My friend, Arjuna, he is denying to fight in My presence.”
SO SANJAYA, THE PRIVATE SECRETARY OF MAHARAJA DHRTARASTRA, HE WAS RELAYING THE MESSAGE WHICH WAS GOING ON IN THE BATTLE OF KURUKSETRA BY HIGHER PROCESS. NOWADAYS WE HAVE GOT EXPERIENCE OF THE TELEVISION, BUT THE ANOTHER PROCESS, ANTAR-DRSTI, THAT IS ALSO TELEVISION. YOU CAN SEE THE REFLECTION OF EXTERNAL ACTIVITIES WITHIN YOUR HEART, AND YOU CAN EXPLAIN. So Sanjaya, the private secretary of Maharaja Dhrtarastra, he explained that Arjuna was denying to fight.
720414LE.AUC Lectures
Prabhupada: Yuyutsavah, it is called yuyutsavah. So yuyutsavah means when two parties are fighting, they are called yuyutsavah, “Desiring to fight, they prepared.” So actually these two groups of brothers, cousin brothers, they assembled there for fighting to decide their fate. So everything is clear. Dharma-ksetre kuru-ksetre samaveta, assembled, yuyutsavah, for fighting. And who are they? It is the question of Dhrtarastra, the father of the Duryodhana, and he is asking his private secretary, Sanjaya. SANJAYA WAS RELAYING THE FIGHT IN THE BATTLEFIELD, AND DHRTARASTRA WAS BLIND. JUST LIKE TELEVISION. SO HE WAS SEEING THE FIGHT FROM THE HEART. IT MEANS THERE IS STILL MORE FINER SCIENCE, THAT YOU DON’T REQUIRE MACHINE TO SEE IT BY TELEVISION, WHAT IS GOING OUTSIDE. YOU CAN SEE WITHIN YOUR HEART. SO THIS SANJAYA WAS SEEING THE BATTLE, AND HE WAS RELAYING TO DHRTARASTRA.
Note: His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada is ALWAYS consulting Krsna
Srila Prabhupada Interview, July 14, 1976, New York:
Bali-mardana: “In other words, when you decide that someone is to be in charge of a particular temple does Krsna tell you that this person should be in charge.
Interviewer: Or do you by judging him say this person is qualified.
Prabhupada: YES, BECAUSE A DEVOTEE ALWAYS CONSULTS KRSNA AND HE GIVES ORDER.
Interviewer: IT’S A MORE DIRECT COMMUNICATION.
Prabhupada: YES. AND HE GIVES ORDER.
Ramesvara: Because intelligence, our philosophy is that intelligence comes from Krsna. So if I have some…
Interviewer: And your philosophy is that your daily necessities come from Krsna as well.
Ramesvara: Yes, try to understand. Suppose my intelligence sees that this person is qualified, that means Krsna has told me.
Prabhupada: NO, NOT NECESSARILY, KRSNA WILL TELL DIRECTLY. A DEVOTEE ALWAYS CONSULTS KRSNA AND KRSNA TELLS HIM, “DO LIKE THIS.” NOT FIGURATIVELY.
Interviewer: Does that apply then to other kinds of decisions and other kinds of activities as well?
Prabhupada: EVERYTHING. BECAUSE A DEVOTEE DOES NOT DO ANYTHING WITHOUT CONSULTING KRSNA. ”
His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada speaks as Krsna speaks.
Caitanya-caritamrta Antya 5.71:
“One is forbidden to accept the guru, or spiritual master, as an ordinary human being (gurusu nara-matih). When Ramananda Raya spoke to Pradyumna Misra, Pradyumna Misra could understand that Ramananda Raya was not an ordinary human being. A SPIRITUALLY ADVANCED PERSON WHO ACTS WITH AUTHORITY, AS THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, SPEAKS AS THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD DICTATES FROM WITHIN. THUS IT IS NOT HE THAT IS PERSONALLY SPEAKING. WHEN A PURE DEVOTEE OR SPIRITUAL MASTER SPEAKS, WHAT HE SAYS SHOULD BE ACCEPTED AS HAVING BEEN DIRECTLY SPOKEN BY THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD IN THE PARAMPARA SYSTEM.”
Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 8.39 – The Author Receives the Orders of Krsna and Guru:
“It is not possible for a common man to write books on bhakti, for his writings will not be effective. He may be a very great scholar and expert in presenting literature in flowery language, but this is not at all helpful in understanding transcendental literature. EVEN IF TRANSCENDENTAL LITERATURE IS WRITTEN IN FAULTY LANGUAGE, IT IS ACCEPTABLE IF IT IS WRITTEN BY A DEVOTEE, WHEREAS SO-CALLED TRANSCENDENTAL LITERATURE WRITTEN BY A MUNDANE SCHOLAR, EVEN IF IT IS A VERY HIGHLY POLISHED LITERARY PRESENTATION, CANNOT BE ACCEPTED. THE SECRET IN A DEVOTEE’S WRITING IS THAT WHEN HE WRITES ABOUT THE PASTIMES OF THE LORD, THE LORD HELPS HIM; HE DOES NOT WRITE HIMSELF. AS STATED IN THE BHAGAVAD-GITA (10.10), DADAMI BUDDHI-YOGAM TAM YENA MAM UPAYANTI TE. SINCE A DEVOTEE WRITES IN SERVICE TO THE LORD, THE LORD FROM WITHIN GIVES HIM SO MUCH INTELLIGENCE THAT HE SITS DOWN NEAR THE LORD AND GOES ON WRITING BOOKS. KRSNADASA KAVIRAJA GOSVAMI CONFIRMS THAT WHAT VRNDAVANA DASA THAKURA WROTE WAS ACTUALLY SPOKEN BY LORD CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU, AND HE SIMPLY REPEATED IT”.
SO SANJAYA, THE PRIVATE SECRETARY OF MAHARAJA DHRTARASTRA, HE WAS RELAYING THE MESSAGE WHICH WAS GOING ON IN THE BATTLE OF KURUKSETRA BY HIGHER PROCESS. NOWADAYS WE HAVE GOT EXPERIENCE OF THE TELEVISION, BUT THE ANOTHER PROCESS, ANTAR-DRSTI, THAT IS ALSO TELEVISION. YOU CAN SEE THE REFLECTION OF EXTERNAL ACTIVITIES WITHIN YOUR HEART, AND YOU CAN EXPLAIN. So Sanjaya, the private secretary of Maharaja Dhrtarastra, he explained that Arjuna was denying to fight.
720414LE.AUC Lectures
Prabhupada: Yuyutsavah, it is called yuyutsavah. So yuyutsavah means when two parties are fighting, they are called yuyutsavah, “Desiring to fight, they prepared.” So actually these two groups of brothers, cousin brothers, they assembled there for fighting to decide their fate. So everything is clear. Dharma-ksetre kuru-ksetre samaveta, assembled, yuyutsavah, for fighting. And who are they? It is the question of Dhrtarastra, the father of the Duryodhana, and he is asking his private secretary, Sanjaya. SANJAYA WAS RELAYING THE FIGHT IN THE BATTLEFIELD, AND DHRTARASTRA WAS BLIND. JUST LIKE TELEVISION. SO HE WAS SEEING THE FIGHT FROM THE HEART. IT MEANS THERE IS STILL MORE FINER SCIENCE, THAT YOU DON’T REQUIRE MACHINE TO SEE IT BY TELEVISION, WHAT IS GOING OUTSIDE. YOU CAN SEE WITHIN YOUR HEART. SO THIS SANJAYA WAS SEEING THE BATTLE, AND HE WAS RELAYING TO DHRTARASTRA.
Note: His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada is ALWAYS consulting Krsna
Srila Prabhupada Interview, July 14, 1976, New York:
Bali-mardana: “In other words, when you decide that someone is to be in charge of a particular temple does Krsna tell you that this person should be in charge.
Interviewer: Or do you by judging him say this person is qualified.
Prabhupada: YES, BECAUSE A DEVOTEE ALWAYS CONSULTS KRSNA AND HE GIVES ORDER.
Interviewer: IT’S A MORE DIRECT COMMUNICATION.
Prabhupada: YES. AND HE GIVES ORDER.
Ramesvara: Because intelligence, our philosophy is that intelligence comes from Krsna. So if I have some…
Interviewer: And your philosophy is that your daily necessities come from Krsna as well.
Ramesvara: Yes, try to understand. Suppose my intelligence sees that this person is qualified, that means Krsna has told me.
Prabhupada: NO, NOT NECESSARILY, KRSNA WILL TELL DIRECTLY. A DEVOTEE ALWAYS CONSULTS KRSNA AND KRSNA TELLS HIM, “DO LIKE THIS.” NOT FIGURATIVELY.
Interviewer: Does that apply then to other kinds of decisions and other kinds of activities as well?
Prabhupada: EVERYTHING. BECAUSE A DEVOTEE DOES NOT DO ANYTHING WITHOUT CONSULTING KRSNA. ”
His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada speaks as Krsna speaks.
Caitanya-caritamrta Antya 5.71:
“One is forbidden to accept the guru, or spiritual master, as an ordinary human being (gurusu nara-matih). When Ramananda Raya spoke to Pradyumna Misra, Pradyumna Misra could understand that Ramananda Raya was not an ordinary human being. A SPIRITUALLY ADVANCED PERSON WHO ACTS WITH AUTHORITY, AS THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, SPEAKS AS THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD DICTATES FROM WITHIN. THUS IT IS NOT HE THAT IS PERSONALLY SPEAKING. WHEN A PURE DEVOTEE OR SPIRITUAL MASTER SPEAKS, WHAT HE SAYS SHOULD BE ACCEPTED AS HAVING BEEN DIRECTLY SPOKEN BY THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD IN THE PARAMPARA SYSTEM.”
Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 8.39 – The Author Receives the Orders of Krsna and Guru:
“It is not possible for a common man to write books on bhakti, for his writings will not be effective. He may be a very great scholar and expert in presenting literature in flowery language, but this is not at all helpful in understanding transcendental literature. EVEN IF TRANSCENDENTAL LITERATURE IS WRITTEN IN FAULTY LANGUAGE, IT IS ACCEPTABLE IF IT IS WRITTEN BY A DEVOTEE, WHEREAS SO-CALLED TRANSCENDENTAL LITERATURE WRITTEN BY A MUNDANE SCHOLAR, EVEN IF IT IS A VERY HIGHLY POLISHED LITERARY PRESENTATION, CANNOT BE ACCEPTED. THE SECRET IN A DEVOTEE’S WRITING IS THAT WHEN HE WRITES ABOUT THE PASTIMES OF THE LORD, THE LORD HELPS HIM; HE DOES NOT WRITE HIMSELF. AS STATED IN THE BHAGAVAD-GITA (10.10), DADAMI BUDDHI-YOGAM TAM YENA MAM UPAYANTI TE. SINCE A DEVOTEE WRITES IN SERVICE TO THE LORD, THE LORD FROM WITHIN GIVES HIM SO MUCH INTELLIGENCE THAT HE SITS DOWN NEAR THE LORD AND GOES ON WRITING BOOKS. KRSNADASA KAVIRAJA GOSVAMI CONFIRMS THAT WHAT VRNDAVANA DASA THAKURA WROTE WAS ACTUALLY SPOKEN BY LORD CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU, AND HE SIMPLY REPEATED IT”.
On Thursday, 27 June 2019, 01:15:40 BST, Mahesh Raja
<mahesh_agtsp@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Reply to Mayesvara das Prabhu
(by Mahesh Raja)
VASUDHĀ MEANS PLANETS OR GLOBES. THIS EARTHY PLANET IS CALLED VASUDHĀ.
KB 82 Lord Krsna and Balarama Meet the Inhabitants of Vrndavana
The WHOLE philosophy is considered on the basis of inconceivable, SIMULTANEOUS ONENESS AND DIFFERENCE.
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.
<mahesh_agtsp@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Reply to Mayesvara das Prabhu
(by Mahesh Raja)
VASUDHĀ MEANS PLANETS OR GLOBES. THIS EARTHY PLANET IS CALLED VASUDHĀ.
KB 82 Lord Krsna and Balarama Meet the Inhabitants of Vrndavana
The WHOLE philosophy is considered on the basis of inconceivable, SIMULTANEOUS ONENESS AND DIFFERENCE.
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
Note: There ARE other earthly planets ALSO: not only just one earth planet Jambudvipa. The reference to the seven Islands(dvipas) are explained further on to refer to PLANETS.
TEXT 2
TRANSLATION
My dear Lord, the rolling wheels of Mahārāja Priyavrata’s chariot created seven ditches, in which the seven oceans came into existence. Because of these seven oceans, Bhū-maṇḍala is divided into seven islands. You have given a very general description of their measurement, names and characteristics. Now I wish to know of them in detail. Kindly fulfill my desire.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/5/16/2
Note: Sapta dvipa (seven Islands) sapta means seven – are described here as PLANETS:
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.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/kb/2/34
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741215SB.BOM
JUST LIKE ON ACCOUNT OF THE SUNSHINE ALL THE PLANETS ARE RESTING AND ROTATING. That is scientific. Due to the heat of the sunshine, all the planets in the sky, they are rotating. It is due to sunshine. Similarly, this brahmāṇḍa, this universe, not only one universe, but millions of universes, they are also rotating in the brahmajyoti. Yasya prabhā prabhavato jagad-aṇḍa–koṭi [Bs. 5.40]. And what is that jagad-aṇḍa? Koṭiṣv aśeṣa-vasudhādi-vibhūti–bhinnam. In each brahmāṇḍa, in each universe, there are unlimited number of planets. Yasya prabhā prabhavato jagad-aṇḍa–koṭi-koṭiṣv aśeṣa–vasudhā [Bs. 5.40].
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/5/1/31
Note: There ARE other earthly planets ALSO: not only just one earth planet Jambudvipa. The reference to the seven Islands(dvipas) are explained further on to refer to PLANETS.
TEXT 2
TRANSLATION
My dear Lord, the rolling wheels of Mahārāja Priyavrata’s chariot created seven ditches, in which the seven oceans came into existence. Because of these seven oceans, Bhū-maṇḍala is divided into seven islands. You have given a very general description of their measurement, names and characteristics. Now I wish to know of them in detail. Kindly fulfill my desire.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/5/16/2
Note: Sapta dvipa (seven Islands) sapta means seven – are described here as PLANETS:
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.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/kb/2/34
++++++++++++++++++++++++
741215SB.BOM
JUST LIKE ON ACCOUNT OF THE SUNSHINE ALL THE PLANETS ARE RESTING AND ROTATING. That is scientific. Due to the heat of the sunshine, all the planets in the sky, they are rotating. It is due to sunshine. Similarly, this brahmāṇḍa, this universe, not only one universe, but millions of universes, they are also rotating in the brahmajyoti. Yasya prabhā prabhavato jagad-aṇḍa–koṭi [Bs. 5.40]. And what is that jagad-aṇḍa? Koṭiṣv aśeṣa-vasudhādi-vibhūti–bhinnam. In each brahmāṇḍa, in each universe, there are unlimited number of planets. Yasya prabhā prabhavato jagad-aṇḍa–koṭi-koṭiṣv aśeṣa–vasudhā [Bs. 5.40].
VASUDHĀ MEANS PLANETS OR GLOBES. THIS EARTHY PLANET IS CALLED VASUDHĀ. Aśeṣa, not one, but aśeṣa, unlimited. Aśeṣa-vasudhādi-vibhūti. Vibhūti means each planet is saturated with different types of atmosphere. Just like the moon planet. The scientist says that it is below zero, two hundred degrees. It is very cold. That’s a fact. Because it is very cold, therefore the shining from so much distance in the evening—we feel very comfortable. Not in the sunshine. God’s arrangement is so nice. You require both. The sunshine also you require, and the moonshine also you require. If simply there is sunshine, then you die. And if there will be simply moonshine, then you will also die. Both.
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661012BG.NY
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661012BG.NY
Just like in this planet you have got so many personalities, similarly, according to Vedic literature, we understand in the sun planet also there are varieties of living entities, but their bodies are made of fire. As our body is made of earth, similarly, their bodies are made of fire. There are five elements in the material nature: earth, water, fire, air, and ether. So in different planets, there are different atmospheres and different bodies also.
Don’t think that each and every planet of the same quality. No. Same quality in the sense because these five elements are present there. Without these five elements, no material thing exists. SO SOMEWHERE THE FIRE IS PROMINENT. SOMEWHERE THE AIR IS PROMINENT. SOMEWHERE WATER IS PROMINENT. SOMEWHERE EARTH IS PROMINENT. SO IN THIS PLANET, OR IN SOME OTHER EARTHLY PLANET, EARTH IS PREDOMINANT. Similarly, there are other planets also. So don’t think that other planets are vacant. No.
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Rūpānuga: They say that “Life as we know it here does not exist.” Human life.
Prabhupāda: No, how you can say so? The condition is the same. EVERY PLANET IS MADE OF EARTH, WATER, AIR, FIRE, THE FIVE ELEMENTS. SO IF UNDER THESE CONDITION THERE ARE LIVING ENTITIES IN THIS PLANET, WHY NOT IN THAT CONDITION LIVING ENTITIES IN OTHER PLANETS? THAT IS THEIR IGNORANCE. THAT IS THEIR BLUFF. THE DIFFERENT CONDITION OF THE PLANETS IS THAT SOME PLANET IS FIERY, SOME PLANET IS GASEOUS, SOME PLANET IS WATERY. THAT MAY BE, BUT AFTER ALL, THEY ARE MADE OF THESE FIVE ELEMENTS. AND EACH ELEMENT, WE FIND THERE IS LIVING ENTITY. So it may be mixture or pure, there must be living entities. And in Bhagavad-gītā it is said sarva–ga. Even in the fire there is living entities. And why not? If living entities can stay in water, why not in fire?
Rūpānuga: On the sun planet.
Prabhupāda: Oh yes. There are also living entities. They are very glowing, fiery. Therefore the whole sun planet is glowing.
Rūpānuga: By their bodily light.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Here is only one sun planet, and in Vaikuṇṭha all the planets are like sun. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gītā it is stated, na tad bhāsayate sūryo na śaśāṅko na pāvakaḥ [Bg. 15.6]. There is no necessity of electricity or moonlight or sunlight. Here it is necessity because here only glowing planet is the sun. But in the Vaikuṇṭha, each and every planet is glowing. Therefore there is no need of sun. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā. Na tad bhāsayate sūryaḥ. There is no necessity of illumination of sun, moon or electricity.
Prajāpati: Spirit soul, it is also luminous like that?
Prabhupāda: Yes. [break] …is luminous, how it is keeping your body warm? As soon as it goes away, immediately cold. Immediately cold. Finished, all temperature finished. These are the evidences.
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Mayesvara das: Moreover, the statement below from Chaitanya-charitamrta clearly expounds that contact with the greater Earth or Bhu-mandala has been on-going despite knowledge of Bhu-mandala being practically expunged from the consciousness of modern Hindus. In the following verse the Chaitanya Caritamrita mentions that pilgrims from the seven islands were visiting Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu during his stay at Jagannatha Puri:
“Dressed in different ways, people from the seven islands (sapta-dwipa) and nine khandas (nava-khanda) visited Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.” (CC Antya-lila 9.9)
The verses cited above raise an obvious question: if pilgrims from the seven islands of the Earth (measuring a distance of 202,800,000 miles) were coming to see Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in India only 500 years ago, where is the rest of this Earth in relation to the so-called Earth planet that is otherwise depicted as an isolated globe floating in dark space?
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Rūpānuga: They say that “Life as we know it here does not exist.” Human life.
Prabhupāda: No, how you can say so? The condition is the same. EVERY PLANET IS MADE OF EARTH, WATER, AIR, FIRE, THE FIVE ELEMENTS. SO IF UNDER THESE CONDITION THERE ARE LIVING ENTITIES IN THIS PLANET, WHY NOT IN THAT CONDITION LIVING ENTITIES IN OTHER PLANETS? THAT IS THEIR IGNORANCE. THAT IS THEIR BLUFF. THE DIFFERENT CONDITION OF THE PLANETS IS THAT SOME PLANET IS FIERY, SOME PLANET IS GASEOUS, SOME PLANET IS WATERY. THAT MAY BE, BUT AFTER ALL, THEY ARE MADE OF THESE FIVE ELEMENTS. AND EACH ELEMENT, WE FIND THERE IS LIVING ENTITY. So it may be mixture or pure, there must be living entities. And in Bhagavad-gītā it is said sarva–ga. Even in the fire there is living entities. And why not? If living entities can stay in water, why not in fire?
Rūpānuga: On the sun planet.
Prabhupāda: Oh yes. There are also living entities. They are very glowing, fiery. Therefore the whole sun planet is glowing.
Rūpānuga: By their bodily light.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Here is only one sun planet, and in Vaikuṇṭha all the planets are like sun. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gītā it is stated, na tad bhāsayate sūryo na śaśāṅko na pāvakaḥ [Bg. 15.6]. There is no necessity of electricity or moonlight or sunlight. Here it is necessity because here only glowing planet is the sun. But in the Vaikuṇṭha, each and every planet is glowing. Therefore there is no need of sun. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā. Na tad bhāsayate sūryaḥ. There is no necessity of illumination of sun, moon or electricity.
Prajāpati: Spirit soul, it is also luminous like that?
Prabhupāda: Yes. [break] …is luminous, how it is keeping your body warm? As soon as it goes away, immediately cold. Immediately cold. Finished, all temperature finished. These are the evidences.
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Mayesvara das: Moreover, the statement below from Chaitanya-charitamrta clearly expounds that contact with the greater Earth or Bhu-mandala has been on-going despite knowledge of Bhu-mandala being practically expunged from the consciousness of modern Hindus. In the following verse the Chaitanya Caritamrita mentions that pilgrims from the seven islands were visiting Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu during his stay at Jagannatha Puri:
“Dressed in different ways, people from the seven islands (sapta-dwipa) and nine khandas (nava-khanda) visited Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.” (CC Antya-lila 9.9)
The verses cited above raise an obvious question: if pilgrims from the seven islands of the Earth (measuring a distance of 202,800,000 miles) were coming to see Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in India only 500 years ago, where is the rest of this Earth in relation to the so-called Earth planet that is otherwise depicted as an isolated globe floating in dark space?
The description of Bhu-mandala’s seven islands and oceans clearly reveals our area of the Earth to be surrounded by other parts of the Earth landscape. How do supporters of the globe explain this? The globe model depicts an isolated planet floating in space, whilst Srimad Bhagavatam depicts a vast Earth landscape stretching from India to distances beyond most people’s comprehension.
The above account of pilgrims coming from Jambudwipa and other islands of Bhu-mandala to see Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in India, certainly creates an elephant in the room for the supporters of the globe idea. In any case, the above verses, clearly indicate that in the 15th century when Krishna das Kaviraja Goswami wrote the Chaitanya-charitamrta, the devotees of Krishna at that time were still referring to ‘the’ Earth as the colossal Bhu-mandala. In contemporary ISKCON, the devotees of Krishna think of ‘the’ Earth as a globe floating in space. Something is amiss!
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/06-19/editorials16987.htm
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/06-19/editorials16987.htm
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Note: Nothing to do with “Earth landscape” this is Mayesvara Prabhu’s mental speculation to rationalize / justify his Flat Earth concoction.
Here, the SEVEN ISLANDS (DVIPAS) are PLANETS not “Earth landscape”. 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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Note: Sapta means seven. Sometimes the word “sapta” reference is given to the SEVEN CONTINENTS of this EARTH. The word “sapta” ALSO refers sometimes to the Bhu mandala SEVEN PLANETS which includes Jambudvipa PLANET. The word BHU refers to EARTH. The word MANDALA refers to group:
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.
Note: Nothing to do with “Earth landscape” this is Mayesvara Prabhu’s mental speculation to rationalize / justify his Flat Earth concoction.
Here, the SEVEN ISLANDS (DVIPAS) are PLANETS not “Earth landscape”. 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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Note: Sapta means seven. Sometimes the word “sapta” reference is given to the SEVEN CONTINENTS of this EARTH. The word “sapta” ALSO refers sometimes to the Bhu mandala SEVEN PLANETS which includes Jambudvipa PLANET. The word BHU refers to EARTH. The word MANDALA refers to group:
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.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/kb/2/34
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TEXT 5
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.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/5/16/5
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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
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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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Letter to: Rupanuga
Los Angeles
20 December, 1968
68-12-20
Regarding your question of the planetary systems, the planets are arranged in each universe in layers like the petals of a lotus. But in each layer there is mixed both heavenly, hellish and middle planets. On the outside layer there are these three kinds of planets, on the middle layers there are the three kinds of planets and on the inner-most layer there are found these three kinds of planets. Above these layers, in the center, is the Brahmaloka where Lord Brahma, the creator is residing. So the earth planet and the moon planet are both on the same layer but the earth is middle planet and the moon is heavenly planet.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/letters/los_angeles/december/20/1968/rupanuga
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Note: further references to EARTHLY PLANETS:
TEXT 12
matsyo yugānta-samaye manunopalabdhaḥ
kṣoṇīmayo nikhila-jīva-nikāya-ketaḥ
visraṁsitān uru-bhaye salile mukhān me
ādāya tatra vijahāra ha veda-mārgān
SYNONYMS
matsyaḥ—incarnation of the fish; yuga-anta—at the end of the millennium; samaye—at the time of; manunā—the would-be Vaivasvata Manu; upalabdhaḥ—seen; kṣoṇīmayaḥ—up to the earthly planets; nikhila—all; jīva—living entities; nikāya-ketaḥ—shelter for; visraṁsitān—emanating from; uru—great; bhaye—out of fear; salile—in the water; mukhāt—from the mouth; me—mine; ādāya—having taken to; tatra—there; vijahāra—enjoyed; ha—certainly; veda-mārgān—all the Vedas.
TRANSLATION
At the end of the millennium, the would-be Vaivasvata Manu, of the name Satyavrata, would see that the Lord in the fish incarnation is the shelter of all kinds of living entities, up to those in the earthly planets. Because of my fear of the vast water at the end of the millennium, the Vedas come out of my [Brahmā’s] mouth, and the Lord enjoys those vast waters and protects the Vedas.
PURPORT
During one day of Brahmā there are fourteen Manus, and at the end of each Manu there is devastation up to the earthly planets, and the vast water is fearful even to Brahmā. So in the beginning of the would-be Vaivasvata Manu, such devastation would be seen by him. There would be many other incidents also, such as the killing of the famous Śaṅkhāsura. This foretelling is by the past experience of Brahmājī, who knew that in that fearful devastating scene, the Vedas would come out of his mouth, but the Lord in His fish incarnation not only would save all living entities, namely the demigods, animals, men and great sages, but would also save the Vedas.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/2/7/12
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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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TEXT 2
yasyāmbhasi śayānasya
yoga-nidrāṁ vitanvataḥ
nābhi-hradāmbujād āsīd
brahmā viśva-sṛjāṁ patiḥ
SYNONYMS
yasya—whose; ambhasi—in the water; śayānasya—lying down; yoga-nidrām—sleeping in meditation; vitanvataḥ—ministering; nābhi—navel; hrada—out of the lake; ambujāt—from the lotus; āsīt—was manifested; brahmā—the grandfather of the living beings; viśva—the universe; sṛjām—the engineers; patiḥ—master.
TRANSLATION
A part of the puruṣa lies down within the water of the universe, from the navel lake of His body sprouts a lotus stem, and from the lotus flower atop this stem, Brahmā, the master of all engineers in the universe, becomes manifest.
PURPORT
The first puruṣa is the Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. From His skin holes innumerable universes have sprung up. In each and every universe, the puruṣa enters as the Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. He is lying within the half of the universe which is full with the water of His body. And from the navel of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu has sprung the stem of the lotus flower, the birthplace of Brahmā, who is the father of all living beings and the master of all the demigod engineers engaged in the perfect design and working of the universal order. 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 12
matsyo yugānta-samaye manunopalabdhaḥ
kṣoṇīmayo nikhila-jīva-nikāya-ketaḥ
visraṁsitān uru-bhaye salile mukhān me
ādāya tatra vijahāra ha veda-mārgān
SYNONYMS
matsyaḥ—incarnation of the fish; yuga-anta—at the end of the millennium; samaye—at the time of; manunā—the would-be Vaivasvata Manu; upalabdhaḥ—seen; kṣoṇīmayaḥ—up to the earthly planets; nikhila—all; jīva—living entities; nikāya-ketaḥ—shelter for; visraṁsitān—emanating from; uru—great; bhaye—out of fear; salile—in the water; mukhāt—from the mouth; me—mine; ādāya—having taken to; tatra—there; vijahāra—enjoyed; ha—certainly; veda-mārgān—all the Vedas.
TRANSLATION
At the end of the millennium, the would-be Vaivasvata Manu, of the name Satyavrata, would see that the Lord in the fish incarnation is the shelter of all kinds of living entities, up to those in the earthly planets. Because of my fear of the vast water at the end of the millennium, the Vedas come out of my [Brahmā’s] mouth, and the Lord enjoys those vast waters and protects the Vedas.
PURPORT
During one day of Brahmā there are fourteen Manus, and at the end of each Manu there is devastation up to the earthly planets, and the vast water is fearful even to Brahmā. So in the beginning of the would-be Vaivasvata Manu, such devastation would be seen by him. There would be many other incidents also, such as the killing of the famous Śaṅkhāsura. This foretelling is by the past experience of Brahmājī, who knew that in that fearful devastating scene, the Vedas would come out of his mouth, but the Lord in His fish incarnation not only would save all living entities, namely the demigods, animals, men and great sages, but would also save the Vedas.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/2/7/12
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TEXT 31
ye vā u ha tad-ratha-caraṇa-nemi-kṛta-parikhātās te sapta sindhava āsan yata eva kṛtāḥ sapta bhuvo dvīpāḥ.
SYNONYMS
ye—that; vā u ha—certainly; tat-ratha—of his chariot; caraṇa—of the wheels; nemi—by the rims; kṛta—made; parikhātāḥ—trenches; te—those; sapta—seven; sindhavaḥ—oceans; āsan—became; yataḥ—because of which; eva—certainly; kṛtāḥ—were made; sapta—seven; bhuvaḥ—of the Bhū-maṇḍala; dvīpāḥ—islands.
TRANSLATION
When Priyavrata drove his chariot behind the sun, the rims of his chariot wheels created impressions that later became seven oceans, dividing the planetary system known as Bhū-maṇḍala into seven islands.
PURPORT
Sometimes the planets in outer space are called islands. We have experience of various types of islands in the ocean, and similarly the various planets, divided into fourteen lokas, are islands in the ocean of space. As Priyavrata drove his chariot behind the sun, he created seven different types of oceans and planetary systems, which altogether are known as 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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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. Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī admitted that to give full details of this expansive material universe would be impossible, but nevertheless he wanted to give the King as much knowledge as he had received through the paramparā system. We should conclude that if one cannot comprehend the material expansions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one certainly cannot estimate the expansiveness of the spiritual world. The Brahma-saṁhitā (5.33) confirms this:
advaitam acyutam anādim ananta-rūpam
ādyaṁ purāṇa-puruṣaṁ nava-yauvanaṁ ca
The limits of the expansions of Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, cannot be estimated by anyone, even a person as perfect as Brahmā, not to speak of tiny scientists whose senses and instruments are all imperfect and who cannot give us information of even this one universe. We should therefore be satisfied with the information obtainable from Vedic sources as spoken by authorities like Śukadeva Gosvāmī.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/5/16/4
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Note: references to SEVEN CONTINENTS as ISLANDS:
TEXT 2
priyavratottānapādau
sutau svāyambhuvasya vai
yathā-dharmaṁ jugupatuḥ
sapta-dvīpavatīṁ mahīm
SYNONYMS
priyavrata—Mahārāja Priyavrata; uttānapādau—and Mahārāja Uttānapāda; sutau—the two sons; svāyambhuvasya—of Svāyambhuva Manu; vai—indeed; yathā—according to; dharmam—religious principles; jugupatuḥ—ruled; sapta-dvīpa-vatīm—consisting of seven islands; mahīm—the world.
TRANSLATION
The two great sons of Svāyambhuva Manu—Priyavrata and Uttānapāda—ruled the world, consisting of seven islands, just according to religious principles.
PURPORT
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is also a history of the great rulers of different parts of the universe. In this verse the names of Priyavrata and Uttānapāda, sons of Svāyambhuva, are mentioned. They ruled this earth, which is divided into seven islands. These seven islands are still current, as Asia, Europe, Africa, America, Australia and the North and South Poles. There is no chronological history of all the Indian kings in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, but the deeds of the most important kings, such as Priyavrata and Uttānapāda, and many others, like Lord Rāmacandra and Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, are recorded because the activities of such pious kings are worth hearing; people may benefit by studying their histories.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/3/21/2
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SYNONYMS
sarvatra—everywhere; askhalita—irrevocable; ādeśaḥ—order; sapta-dvīpa—seven islands; eka—one; daṇḍa-dhṛk—the ruler who holds the scepter; anyatra—except; brāhmaṇa-kulāt—brāhmaṇas and saintly persons; anyatra—except; acyuta-gotrataḥ—descendants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Vaiṣṇavas).
TRANSLATION
Mahārāja Pṛthu was an unrivaled king and possessed the scepter for ruling all the seven islands on the surface of the globe. No one could disobey his irrevocable orders but the saintly persons, the brāhmaṇas and the descendants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead [the Vaiṣṇavas].
PURPORT
Sapta-dvīpa refers to the seven great islands or continents on the surface of the globe: (1) Asia, (2) Europe, (3) Africa, (4) North America, (5) South America, (6) Australia and (7) Oceania. In the modern age people are under the impression that during the Vedic period or the prehistoric ages America and many other parts of the world had not been discovered, but that is not a fact. Pṛthu Mahārāja ruled over the world many thousands of years before the so-called prehistoric age, and it is clearly mentioned here that in those days not only were all the different parts of the world known, but they were ruled by one king, Mahārāja Pṛthu. The country where Pṛthu Mahārāja resided must have been India because it is stated in the eleventh verse of this chapter that he lived in the tract of land between the rivers Ganges and Yamunā.
This tract of land, which is called Brahmāvarta, consists of what is known in the modern age as portions of Punjab and northern India. It is clear that the kings of India once ruled all the world and that their culture was Vedic.
The word askhalita indicates that orders by the king could not be disobeyed by anyone in the entire world. Such orders, however, were never issued to control saintly persons or the descendants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu. The Supreme Lord is known as Acyuta, and Lord Kṛṣṇa is addressed as such by Arjuna in Bhagavad-gītā (senayor ubhayor madhye rathaṁ sthāpaya me ’cyuta). Acyuta refers to one who does not fall because He is never influenced by the modes of material nature. When a living entity falls down to the material world from his original position, he becomes cyuta, which means that he forgets his relationship with Acyuta.
Actually every living entity is a part and parcel, or a son, of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When influenced by the modes of material nature, a living entity forgets this relationship and thinks in terms of different species of life; but when he again comes to his original consciousness, he does not observe such bodily designations. This is indicated in Bhagavad-gītā (5.18) by the words paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ.
Material designations create differentiation in terms of caste, color, creed, nationality, etc. Different gotras, or family designations, are distinctions in terms of the material body, but when one comes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness he immediately becomes one of the Acyuta-gotra, or descendants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and thus becomes transcendental to all considerations of caste, creed, color and nationality.
Pṛthu Mahārāja had no control over the brāhmaṇa-kula, which refers to the learned scholars in Vedic knowledge, nor over the Vaiṣṇavas, who are above the considerations of Vedic knowledge. It is therefore said:
arcye viṣṇau śilā-dhīr guruṣu nara-matir vaiṣṇave jāti-buddhir
viṣṇor vā vaiṣṇavānāṁ kali-mala-mathane pāda-tīrthe ’mbu-buddhiḥ
śrī-viṣṇor nāmni mantre sakala-kaluṣa-he śabda-sāmānya-buddhir
viṣṇau sarveśvareśe tad-itara-sama-dhīr yasya vā nārakī saḥ
“One who thinks the Deity in the temple to be made of wood or stone, who thinks of the spiritual master in the disciplic succession as an ordinary man, who thinks the Vaiṣṇava in the Acyuta-gotra to belong to a certain caste or creed or who thinks of caraṇāmṛta or Ganges water as ordinary water is taken to be a resident of hell.” (Padma Purāṇa)
From the facts presented in this verse, it appears that people in general should be controlled by a king until they come to the platform of Vaiṣṇavas and brāhmaṇas, who are not under the control of anyone. Brāhmaṇa refers to one who knows Brahman, or the impersonal feature of the Absolute Truth, and a Vaiṣṇava is one who serves the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/4/21/12
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720406LE.MEL
So the archaeological investigation has found so many relics, and in the Vedic literature we also find the mention of all the island, sapta-dvīpa, seven islands. Seven islands means Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Australia, and Oceania. These are mentioned already in the Vedic literature. So it is not that the world was not known to Vedic culture. It was fully known. And one king—he was that Mahārāja Pṛthu—he was the only one ruler all over the world, and he was ruling over these seven islands—that is mentioned-although his residential quarter was in the Brahmāvarta, the piece of land between the rivers Yamunā and Ganges. That tract of land is still considered a very sanctified land. Practically all the Vedic culture is there still.
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Mayesvara das Prabhu:
Danavir Goswami’s erroneous identification of Bhu-mandala with the supposed Earth-globe is explicitly stated in his shocking misappropriation of the names of Bhu-mandala to further the idea that these names refer to ‘the Earth globe’:
Danvir Goswami: “We may note that there is agreement between the Puranic literature and Siddhantic literature on the specific nine islands created by Sagara’s sons. Furthermore, there is concurrence on the spherical nature of earth which is coincidentally supported by the western scientific view also. The Bhagavata Purana refers to the earth as a globe in the following verses: 3.21.36 (mahīm), 4.9.51 (maṇḍalam), 4.18.29 (bhū-maṇḍalam); 4.21.36 (kṣoṇi-tale); 4.21.48 (pṛthvyāḥ), 4.24.10 (vasudhā-talam) 5.7.1 (avani-tala); 6.11.8 (gām), 7.3.5 (bhūḥ); 8.7.26 (kṣitim), 8.19.5 (mahīm), 10.68.46 (bhū-maṇḍalaṁ), 12.2.7 (kṣiti-maṇḍale).”
Actually, despite what Danavir Goswami says here, the Bhagavata Purana itself never refers to the Earth as a globe. Yes, in all of the above verses Srila Prabhupada has certainly translated these various names of the Bhu-mandala using the conventional term ‘Earth globe’, but Sukadeva Goswami’s description of the said Earth in chapters 16-26 of the fifth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam in no way corresponds to the modern Earth-globe conception. Why does Danavir Goswami not point out the difference?
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/06-19/editorials17000.htm
Note: We cannot follow Sukadeva Gosvami direct, THEREFORE, we have to follow Srila Prabhupada’s PURPORTS and HIS OWN EXPLANATION in HIS books as he is both OUR Bona fide Diksa AND Siksa Guru. Srila Prabhupada confirms: This is the parampara system.
If Sukdeva Gosvami was to be followed DIRECT then what is the USE of Srila Prabhupada’s PURPORTS and explanations? WHERE is the meaning to FOLLOWING the Guru Parampara? THIS is WHERE Mayesvara Prabhu has a very serious problem – he brings in many other references that actually CONFLICT with Srila Prabhupada from external sources INSTEAD of USING Srila Prabhupada’s books: Srila Prabhupada’s OWN words.
Simple equation: Either you accept Srila Prabhupada OR you don’t.
Letter to: Upendra
Calcutta
19 February, 1972
(2) As for your question about Santa Rasa and the opinions of Rupa Goswami and Sridhara Swami, I don’t remember. You can send me the appropriate passages. There is no reason why Acaryas cannot differ on certain points.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/letters/calcutta/february/19/1972/upendra
Note: here is an example of HOW Srila Prabhupada gives HIS OWN understanding in comparison to Sukdeva Gosvami:
1) This was definitely due to his past karma.
2) Such punishment is only for a short period, and it is not due to past karma.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Due to the fruitive results of his past deeds, he fell down from mystic yoga, austerity and worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If it were not due to his past fruitive activity, how could he have been attracted to the deer after giving up the association of his own son and family, considering them stumbling blocks on the path of spiritual life? How could he show such uncontrollable affection for a deer? This was definitely due to his past karma.
Srila Prabhupada : In Brahma–saṁhitā (5.54) it is said, karmāṇi nirdahati kintu ca bhakti–bhājām: “For those engaged in devotional service, bhakti–bhajana, the results of past deeds are indemnified.” According to this, Bharata Mahārāja could not be punished for his past misdeeds. The conclusion must be that Mahārāja Bharata purposefully became over-addicted to the deer and neglected his spiritual advancement. To immediately rectify his mistake, for a short time he was awarded the body of a deer.
This was just to increase his desire for mature devotional service. Although Bharata Mahārāja was awarded the body of an animal, he did not forget what had previously happened due to his purposeful mistake. He was very anxious to get out of his deer body, and this indicates that his affection for devotional service was intensified, so much so that he was quickly to attain perfection in a brāhmaṇa body in the next life. It is with this conviction that we declare in our Back to Godhead magazine that devotees like the gosvāmīs living in Vṛndāvana who purposely commit some sinful activity are born in the bodies of dogs, monkeys and tortoises in that holy land.
Thus they take on these lower life forms for a short while. and after they give up those animal bodies, they are again promoted to the spiritual world. Such punishment is only for a short period, and it is not due to past karma. It may appear to be due to past karma, but it is offered to rectify the devotee and bring him to pure devotional service.
TEXT 26
evam aghaṭamāna-manorathākula-hṛdayo mṛga-dārakābhāsena svārabdha-karmaṇā yogārambhaṇato vibhraṁśitaḥ sa yoga-tāpaso bhagavad-ārādhana-lakṣaṇāc ca katham itarathā jāty-antara eṇa-kuṇaka āsaṅgaḥ sākṣān niḥśreyasa-pratipakṣatayā prāk-parityakta-dustyaja-hṛdayābhijātasya tasyaivam antarāya-vihata-yogārambhaṇasya rājarṣer bharatasya tāvan mṛgārbhaka-poṣaṇa-pālana-prīṇana-lālanānuṣaṅgeṇāvigaṇayata ātmānam ahir ivākhu-bilaṁ duratikramaḥ kālaḥ karāla-rabhasa āpadyata.
SYNONYMS
evam—in that way; aghaṭamāna—impossible to be achieved; manaḥ–ratha—by desires, which are like mental chariots; ākula—aggrieved; hṛdayaḥ—whose heart; mṛga–dāraka–ābhāsena—resembling the son of a deer; sva–ārabdha–karmaṇā—by the bad results of his unseen fruitive actions; yoga–ārambhaṇataḥ—from the activities of yoga performances; vibhraṁśitaḥ—fallen down; saḥ—he (Mahārāja Bharata); yoga–tāpasaḥ—executing the activities of mystic yoga and austerities; bhagavat–ārādhana–lakṣaṇāt—from the activities of devotional service rendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ca—and; katham—how; itarathā—else; jāti–antare—belonging to a different species of life; eṇa–kuṇake—to the body of a deer calf; āsaṅgaḥ—so much affectionate attachment; sākṣāt—directly; niḥśreyasa—to achieve the ultimate goal of life; pratipakṣatayā—with the quality of being an obstacle; prāk—who previously; parityakta—given up; dustyaja—although very difficult to give up; hṛdaya–abhijātasya—his sons, born of his own heart; tasya—of him; evam—thus; antarāya—by that obstacle; vihata—obstructed; yoga–ārambhaṇasya—whose path of executing the mystic yoga practices; rāja–ṛṣeḥ—of the great saintly King; bharatasya—of Mahārāja Bharata; tāvat—in that way; mṛga–arbhaka—the son of a deer; poṣaṇa—i n maintaining; pālana—in protecting; prīṇana—in making happy; lālana—in fondling; anuṣaṅgeṇa—by constant absorption; avigaṇayataḥ—neglecting; ātmānam—his own soul; ahiḥ iva—like a serpent; ākhu–bilam—the hole of a mouse; duratikramaḥ—unsurpassable; kālaḥ—ultimate death; karāla—terrible; rabhasaḥ—having speed; āpadyata—arrived.
TRANSLATION
Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: My dear King, in this way Bharata Mahārāja was overwhelmed by an uncontrollable desire which was manifest in the form of the deer. Due to the fruitive results of his past deeds, he fell down from mystic yoga, austerity and worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If it were not due to his past fruitive activity, how could he have been attracted to the deer after giving up the association of his own son and family, considering them stumbling blocks on the path of spiritual life? How could he show such uncontrollable affection for a deer? This was definitely due to his past karma. The King was so engrossed in petting and maintaining the deer that he fell down from his spiritual activities. In due course of time, insurmountable death, which is compared to a venomous snake that enters the hole created by a mouse, situated itself before him.
PURPORT
As will be seen in later verses, Bharata Mahārāja, at the time of death, would be forced to accept the body of a deer due to his attraction for the deer. In this regard, a question may be raised. How can a devotee be affected by his past misconduct and vicious activities? In Brahma–saṁhitā (5.54) it is said, karmāṇi nirdahati kintu ca bhakti–bhājām: “For those engaged in devotional service, bhakti–bhajana, the results of past deeds are indemnified.” According to this, Bharata Mahārāja could not be punished for his past misdeeds. The conclusion must be that Mahārāja Bharata purposefully became over-addicted to the deer and neglected his spiritual advancement. To immediately rectify his mistake, for a short time he was awarded the body of a deer. This was just to increase his desire for mature devotional service.
Although Bharata Mahārāja was awarded the body of an animal, he did not forget what had previously happened due to his purposeful mistake. He was very anxious to get out of his deer body, and this indicates that his affection for devotional service was intensified, so much so that he was quickly to attain perfection in a brāhmaṇa body in the next life. It is with this conviction that we declare in our Back to Godhead magazine that devotees like the gosvāmīs living in Vṛndāvana who purposely commit some sinful activity are born in the bodies of dogs, monkeys and tortoises in that holy land. Thus they take on these lower life forms for a short while. and after they give up those animal bodies, they are again promoted to the spiritual world. Such punishment is only for a short period, and it is not due to past karma. It may appear to be due to past karma, but it is offered to rectify the devotee and bring him to pure devotional service.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/5/8/26
731208SB.LA Lectures
So if you want to understand Bhagavad-gita, then we must understand in the same way as the person who directly heard from. This is called parampara system. Suppose I have heard something from my spiritual master, so I speak to you the same thing. So this is parampara system. You cannot imagine what my spiritual master said. OR EVEN IF YOU READ SOME BOOKS, YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND UNLESS YOU UNDERSTAND IT FROM ME. THIS IS CALLED PARAMPARA SYSTEM. YOU CANNOT JUMP OVER TO THE SUPERIOR GURU, NEGLECTING THE NEXT ACARYA, IMMEDIATE NEXT ACARYA. Just like our, this Gau…, Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s cult; we cannot understand Caitanya Mahaprabhu directly. It is not possible. We have to understand through the Gosvamis. Therefore you’ll find in the Caitanya-caritamrta and at the end of every chapter, the writer says,
sri-rupa-ragunatha-pade yara asa
caitanya-caritamrta kahe krsna-dasa
This is the process. He does not say that “I’ve understood Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu directly.” No. That is not understanding. That is foolishness. You cannot understand what is Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore repeatedly he says, rupa-ragunatha-pade… “I am that Krsna dasa, Kaviraja, who is always under the subordination of the Gosvamis.” This is parampara system. Similarly, Narottama dasa Thakura also says, ei chay gosai jar mui tar das, “I am servant of that person who has accepted this six Gosvamis as his master. I am not going to be servant of any other person who does not accept the way and means of…”
Therefore we say or we offer our prayer to our spiritual master, rupanuga-varaya te, rupanuga-varaya te, because he follows Rupa Gosvami, therefore we accept, spiritual master. Not that one has become more than Rupa Gosvami or more than… No. Tandera carana-sebi-bhakta-sane vas. This is the parampara system.
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Sri Govinda, January 20th, 1972
“There is no need by any of my disciples to read any books besides my books – in fact, such reading may be detrimental to their advancement in Krishna Consciousness. All reading of outside books, except in certain authorized cases such as for example to read some philosopher like Plato to make an essay comparing his philosophy with Krishna’s philosophy – but otherwise all such outside reading should be stopped immediately. It is simply another botheration. If my students cannot even read my own books thoroughly, why they should read others? I have given you TLC, what need is there to read Caitanya Caritamrta translated by someone else. You are right to stop such reading.”
73-12-25.Letter: Gurukrpa , Yasodanandana
Whatever is to be learned of the teachings of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura can be learned from our books. THERE IS NO NEED WHATSOEVER FOR ANY OUTSIDE INSTRUCTION.
74-11-22. Letter: Bahurupa
I am pleased to hear that you are chanting 16 rounds daily and reading my books regularly and following the four rules. IN MY BOOKS THE PHILOSOPHY OF KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS IS EXPLAINED FULLY SO IF THERE IS ANYTHING WHICH YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND, THEN YOU SIMPLY HAVE TO READ AGAIN AND AGAIN. BY READING DAILY THE KNOWLEDGE WILL BE REVEALED TO YOU AND BY THIS PROCESS YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE WILL DEVELOP.
75-09-18. Letter: Babhru, Satyaki
PLEASE CONTINUE READING MY BOOKS SERIOUSLY AND EVERYTHING WILL BE REVEALED TO YOU.
74-11-22. Letter: Hugo Salemon
So far your worship of Lord Jagannatha in your home and your becoming initiated. It is alright provided you have the recommendation of the temple president. I am very glad to see that such a young boy as yourself you are taking serious interest in this Krishna Consciousness Movement. Please continue in this way Our process is something universal. It cannot be checked by any means. Anyone in any place, in any country can chant Hare Krishna. If it is possible to go to the temple, then take advantage of the temple. A temple is a place where by one is given the opportunity to render direct devotional service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS YOU SHOULD ALWAYS READ MY BOOKS DAILY AND ALL YOUR QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED AND YOU WILL HAVE A FIRM BASIS OF KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS. IN THIS WAY YOUR LIFE WILL BE PERFECT.
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Note: Srila Prabhupada is FIXED on THIS Earth GLOBE:
Prabhupada: NO, ABOUT THIS EARTH GLOBE
Devotee (2): Srila Prabhupada, previously we painted in the art department…Just like Varaha lifted the earth, and the earth was a globe, and we showed also a globe of the earth. How does that relate to this? Previously, when we painted, we showed the earth a ball. So now the artists will be very confused. How it fell in the Garbha Ocean as a ball?
Yashodanandana: It depends on what we mean by earth. The Western conception of earth is just five continents and a few oceans, but according to Bhagavatam, earth means Jambudvipa, because earth is connected with Jambudvipa.
Devotee (2): So whole Jambudvipa fell.
Bhakti-Prema: Bhagavata describes the height of Himalayas, eighty thousand miles.
Prabhupada: NO, ABOUT THIS EARTH GLOBE.
Bhakti-Prema: About the Earth it describes four billion miles.
Tamala Krishna: That means Jambudvipa.
Bhakti-Prema: No, that means complete Earth, four billion miles. That[Jambudvipa] is eight lakhs miles [800,000 miles], Jambudvipa. Tamala Krishna: Four billion is the universe.
Bhakti-Prema: Bhu-mandala!
Tamala Krshna: Bhu-mandala! Oh, the Bhagavatam describes Bhu-mandala as Earth.
Prabhupada: Oh.
Yashodanandana: Bhumi.
Bhakti-Prema: …has come right from the ocean, from the bottom of the ocean.
Prabhupada: So explained there. Then this question is solved.
Tamala Krishna: Yes. The whole Bhu-mandala fell.
Bhakti-Prema: So the universe is round, and from bottom of the Garbhodaka ocean to top of Satyaloka there is four billion miles. Then the again, from east to west again is another four billion miles. Because Bhu-mandala is situated in between the earth.
Prabhupada: Explain. He’ll explain.
(Showing of Planetary Sketches, 28 June, 1977, Vrindvana)
Mayesvara das: Bhakti-prema dasa rightly points out that the diameter of the Earth is four billion miles, and that it was the entire Bhu-mandala (not some so-called Earth globe) that fell into the Garbhodaka Ocean. Srila Prabhupada affirms: “So explained there. Then this question is solved.” Bhakti-prema dasa also corrects the misunderstanding of Yasodanandana Prabhu and Tamala Krishna Goswami regarding Jambudwipa. Jambudvipa is the name of the central island of Bhu-mandala, not the name of the Earth itself. Unfortunately, the following conclusion didn’t arise at the time: since the Earth is 4 billion miles in diameter, and the central island of Bhu-mandala is Jambudwipa which is 100,000 yojana (800,000 miles) in diameter, then Bharata-varsha (which is part of the island of Jambudwipa) cannot be a separate globe-like planet floating in space. From the description, Bharata-varsha is just a tiny area that is situated on the Earth’s massive plane; it is not described as a planet floating in space
http://www.prabhupadanugas.eu/news/?p=50295#more-50295
Mayesvara das Prabhu: “Jambudvipa is the name of the central island of Bhu-mandala, not the name of the Earth itself.”
Note: now, compare Srila Prabhupada’s answer :
Srila Prabhupada: THIS EARTH IS CALLED JAMBŪDVĪPA:
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).
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/1/16/12
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Note: Srila Prabhupada is speaking of EARTHLY System. This earthly system EARTHLY planets WITHIN the PLANETARY SYSTEM. This is not ONLY Jambudvipa but EARTHLY SYSTEM:
2) The earthly system (bhu-mandala with Sumeru in center, seven islands (saptadvipa), seven oceans (sapta-samudra), Manosattara Parvata, Lokaloka Parvata, Alokavarsa.
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: there is further evidence that Srila Prabhupada speaks about sun is moving up and down, north and south we KNOW that when there is winter in Australia(south DOWN) in UK (UP north) there is summer so this ALSO another way Srila Prabhupada teaches us we live on the Earth GLOBE:
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Amar Puri Prabhu has correctly pointed out that it is important these Srila Prabhupada’s instructions be included:
Srila Prabhupada says:
All The Planets And The Universes, They Are Egg Shaped.
Further, HDG. Srila Prabhupada confirms that both geocentric and heliocentric models are wrong. The planet earth is definitely moving, along with other planets. It is not static. And it is round (egg-shape), not a plane (flat earth).
Mayapura, February 4, 1976
Prabhupada: Then, in the morning, it rises reddish. So why it does not look reddish always if it is fixed?
Harikesa: Well, the material scientists say it’s because of the atmospheric condition. It refracts the light in such a way that it becomes reddish. That’s what they say. Because it’s thicker atmosphere. You have to look through more atmos…
Prabhupada: Then how it comes so high? After few hours it goes so high.
Harikesa: Well, there is less atmosphere to look through. Why it goes up there?
Prabhupada: So that means move?
Harikesa: No, no. Because we’re moving this way. The earth is rotating.
Prabhupada: You are moving, but why you say sometimes this position and sometimes that position?
Harikesa: Because the earth also moves like this. It’s going around the sun, and then every day it rotates once.
Prabhupada: Hm?
Harikesa: It rotates on an axis like this. So therefore the sun seems to go around, but actually it’s the earth that goes around.
Prabhupada: Now, if you measure when this sun and when it comes meridian distance, so do you think the earth is moving so quickly? It is… According to their modern science, the earth is moving twenty-five thousand miles only throughout… No, within twenty-four hours.
Harikesa: That’s around the sun.
Prabhupada: Huh? Then is it possible…
Jagadisa: Twenty-four-hour day, twenty-five thousand miles circumference.
Prabhupada: So how earth has gone so quickly round that it is seen, the different position of the sun? This means sun is not fixed. Sun is moving. And in the Bhagavata it is said that it is moving at the rate of sixteen thousand miles per second. I think I have calculated that. Sixteen thousand miles.
Hrdayananda: Prabhupada? Does that mean that the sun is going around the earth?
Prabhupada: Hm?
Hrdayananda: Is the sun going around the earth?
Prabhupada: Sun is going around the whole planetary system.
Tamala Krsna: The scientists think the whole planetary system is going around the sun.
Bhavananda: Srila Prabhupada, earth is also moving?
Prabhupada: Hm?
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.
Another conversation of Srila Prabhupada states ;
Prabhupāda: Aṇor aṇīyān mahato mahīyāt. So He is greater than the greatest. Yaśodāmāyī thought that “My child are eating earth? So show.” She saw all the planetary system within His mouth. So she thought, “What is this? All right, don’t do this.” (laughs)
Hṛdayānanda: So to accept a spiritual master means that one has to learn everything again.
Prabhupāda: What is that?
Hṛdayānanda: That to accept a spiritual master means that we have to learn everything over again. Practically everything we learned was incorrect.
Prabhupāda: It is correct to SOME extent but… Just like you can see to some extent, but that does not mean you can see everything. You have got limited potency. This is called unlimited and limited. We are limited.
https://prabhupadabooks.com/conversations/1976/feb/morning_walk/mayapura/february/04/1976
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Srila Prabhupada Letter to: Svarupa Damodara ;
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
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NONE OF THE ABOVE CITED information from Srila Prabhupada, neither Mayesvara dasa nor Dhanvir Goswami refer to and mention at all in their presentation. WHY, if I may ask ?
Is it Mayesvara dasa and / or Dhanvir Goswami ” intent and purpose ” different than that of Srila Prabhupada ?
ALL THE PLANETS AND THE UNIVERSES, THEY ARE EGG SHAPED
JUST LIKE THE EARTH HAS ITS ORBIT—IT IS ROTATING—SIMILARLY, EVERY PLANET IS ROTATING
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/kb/2/34
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TEXT 5
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.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/5/16/5
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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
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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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Letter to: Rupanuga
Los Angeles
20 December, 1968
68-12-20
Regarding your question of the planetary systems, the planets are arranged in each universe in layers like the petals of a lotus. But in each layer there is mixed both heavenly, hellish and middle planets. On the outside layer there are these three kinds of planets, on the middle layers there are the three kinds of planets and on the inner-most layer there are found these three kinds of planets. Above these layers, in the center, is the Brahmaloka where Lord Brahma, the creator is residing. So the earth planet and the moon planet are both on the same layer but the earth is middle planet and the moon is heavenly planet.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/letters/los_angeles/december/20/1968/rupanuga
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Note: further references to EARTHLY PLANETS:
TEXT 12
matsyo yugānta-samaye manunopalabdhaḥ
kṣoṇīmayo nikhila-jīva-nikāya-ketaḥ
visraṁsitān uru-bhaye salile mukhān me
ādāya tatra vijahāra ha veda-mārgān
SYNONYMS
matsyaḥ—incarnation of the fish; yuga-anta—at the end of the millennium; samaye—at the time of; manunā—the would-be Vaivasvata Manu; upalabdhaḥ—seen; kṣoṇīmayaḥ—up to the earthly planets; nikhila—all; jīva—living entities; nikāya-ketaḥ—shelter for; visraṁsitān—emanating from; uru—great; bhaye—out of fear; salile—in the water; mukhāt—from the mouth; me—mine; ādāya—having taken to; tatra—there; vijahāra—enjoyed; ha—certainly; veda-mārgān—all the Vedas.
TRANSLATION
At the end of the millennium, the would-be Vaivasvata Manu, of the name Satyavrata, would see that the Lord in the fish incarnation is the shelter of all kinds of living entities, up to those in the earthly planets. Because of my fear of the vast water at the end of the millennium, the Vedas come out of my [Brahmā’s] mouth, and the Lord enjoys those vast waters and protects the Vedas.
PURPORT
During one day of Brahmā there are fourteen Manus, and at the end of each Manu there is devastation up to the earthly planets, and the vast water is fearful even to Brahmā. So in the beginning of the would-be Vaivasvata Manu, such devastation would be seen by him. There would be many other incidents also, such as the killing of the famous Śaṅkhāsura. This foretelling is by the past experience of Brahmājī, who knew that in that fearful devastating scene, the Vedas would come out of his mouth, but the Lord in His fish incarnation not only would save all living entities, namely the demigods, animals, men and great sages, but would also save the Vedas.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/2/7/12
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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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TEXT 2
yasyāmbhasi śayānasya
yoga-nidrāṁ vitanvataḥ
nābhi-hradāmbujād āsīd
brahmā viśva-sṛjāṁ patiḥ
SYNONYMS
yasya—whose; ambhasi—in the water; śayānasya—lying down; yoga-nidrām—sleeping in meditation; vitanvataḥ—ministering; nābhi—navel; hrada—out of the lake; ambujāt—from the lotus; āsīt—was manifested; brahmā—the grandfather of the living beings; viśva—the universe; sṛjām—the engineers; patiḥ—master.
TRANSLATION
A part of the puruṣa lies down within the water of the universe, from the navel lake of His body sprouts a lotus stem, and from the lotus flower atop this stem, Brahmā, the master of all engineers in the universe, becomes manifest.
PURPORT
The first puruṣa is the Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. From His skin holes innumerable universes have sprung up. In each and every universe, the puruṣa enters as the Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. He is lying within the half of the universe which is full with the water of His body. And from the navel of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu has sprung the stem of the lotus flower, the birthplace of Brahmā, who is the father of all living beings and the master of all the demigod engineers engaged in the perfect design and working of the universal order. 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 12
matsyo yugānta-samaye manunopalabdhaḥ
kṣoṇīmayo nikhila-jīva-nikāya-ketaḥ
visraṁsitān uru-bhaye salile mukhān me
ādāya tatra vijahāra ha veda-mārgān
SYNONYMS
matsyaḥ—incarnation of the fish; yuga-anta—at the end of the millennium; samaye—at the time of; manunā—the would-be Vaivasvata Manu; upalabdhaḥ—seen; kṣoṇīmayaḥ—up to the earthly planets; nikhila—all; jīva—living entities; nikāya-ketaḥ—shelter for; visraṁsitān—emanating from; uru—great; bhaye—out of fear; salile—in the water; mukhāt—from the mouth; me—mine; ādāya—having taken to; tatra—there; vijahāra—enjoyed; ha—certainly; veda-mārgān—all the Vedas.
TRANSLATION
At the end of the millennium, the would-be Vaivasvata Manu, of the name Satyavrata, would see that the Lord in the fish incarnation is the shelter of all kinds of living entities, up to those in the earthly planets. Because of my fear of the vast water at the end of the millennium, the Vedas come out of my [Brahmā’s] mouth, and the Lord enjoys those vast waters and protects the Vedas.
PURPORT
During one day of Brahmā there are fourteen Manus, and at the end of each Manu there is devastation up to the earthly planets, and the vast water is fearful even to Brahmā. So in the beginning of the would-be Vaivasvata Manu, such devastation would be seen by him. There would be many other incidents also, such as the killing of the famous Śaṅkhāsura. This foretelling is by the past experience of Brahmājī, who knew that in that fearful devastating scene, the Vedas would come out of his mouth, but the Lord in His fish incarnation not only would save all living entities, namely the demigods, animals, men and great sages, but would also save the Vedas.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/2/7/12
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TEXT 31
ye vā u ha tad-ratha-caraṇa-nemi-kṛta-parikhātās te sapta sindhava āsan yata eva kṛtāḥ sapta bhuvo dvīpāḥ.
SYNONYMS
ye—that; vā u ha—certainly; tat-ratha—of his chariot; caraṇa—of the wheels; nemi—by the rims; kṛta—made; parikhātāḥ—trenches; te—those; sapta—seven; sindhavaḥ—oceans; āsan—became; yataḥ—because of which; eva—certainly; kṛtāḥ—were made; sapta—seven; bhuvaḥ—of the Bhū-maṇḍala; dvīpāḥ—islands.
TRANSLATION
When Priyavrata drove his chariot behind the sun, the rims of his chariot wheels created impressions that later became seven oceans, dividing the planetary system known as Bhū-maṇḍala into seven islands.
PURPORT
Sometimes the planets in outer space are called islands. We have experience of various types of islands in the ocean, and similarly the various planets, divided into fourteen lokas, are islands in the ocean of space. As Priyavrata drove his chariot behind the sun, he created seven different types of oceans and planetary systems, which altogether are known as 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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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. Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī admitted that to give full details of this expansive material universe would be impossible, but nevertheless he wanted to give the King as much knowledge as he had received through the paramparā system. We should conclude that if one cannot comprehend the material expansions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one certainly cannot estimate the expansiveness of the spiritual world. The Brahma-saṁhitā (5.33) confirms this:
advaitam acyutam anādim ananta-rūpam
ādyaṁ purāṇa-puruṣaṁ nava-yauvanaṁ ca
The limits of the expansions of Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, cannot be estimated by anyone, even a person as perfect as Brahmā, not to speak of tiny scientists whose senses and instruments are all imperfect and who cannot give us information of even this one universe. We should therefore be satisfied with the information obtainable from Vedic sources as spoken by authorities like Śukadeva Gosvāmī.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/5/16/4
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Note: references to SEVEN CONTINENTS as ISLANDS:
TEXT 2
priyavratottānapādau
sutau svāyambhuvasya vai
yathā-dharmaṁ jugupatuḥ
sapta-dvīpavatīṁ mahīm
SYNONYMS
priyavrata—Mahārāja Priyavrata; uttānapādau—and Mahārāja Uttānapāda; sutau—the two sons; svāyambhuvasya—of Svāyambhuva Manu; vai—indeed; yathā—according to; dharmam—religious principles; jugupatuḥ—ruled; sapta-dvīpa-vatīm—consisting of seven islands; mahīm—the world.
TRANSLATION
The two great sons of Svāyambhuva Manu—Priyavrata and Uttānapāda—ruled the world, consisting of seven islands, just according to religious principles.
PURPORT
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is also a history of the great rulers of different parts of the universe. In this verse the names of Priyavrata and Uttānapāda, sons of Svāyambhuva, are mentioned. They ruled this earth, which is divided into seven islands. These seven islands are still current, as Asia, Europe, Africa, America, Australia and the North and South Poles. There is no chronological history of all the Indian kings in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, but the deeds of the most important kings, such as Priyavrata and Uttānapāda, and many others, like Lord Rāmacandra and Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, are recorded because the activities of such pious kings are worth hearing; people may benefit by studying their histories.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/3/21/2
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SYNONYMS
sarvatra—everywhere; askhalita—irrevocable; ādeśaḥ—order; sapta-dvīpa—seven islands; eka—one; daṇḍa-dhṛk—the ruler who holds the scepter; anyatra—except; brāhmaṇa-kulāt—brāhmaṇas and saintly persons; anyatra—except; acyuta-gotrataḥ—descendants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Vaiṣṇavas).
TRANSLATION
Mahārāja Pṛthu was an unrivaled king and possessed the scepter for ruling all the seven islands on the surface of the globe. No one could disobey his irrevocable orders but the saintly persons, the brāhmaṇas and the descendants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead [the Vaiṣṇavas].
PURPORT
Sapta-dvīpa refers to the seven great islands or continents on the surface of the globe: (1) Asia, (2) Europe, (3) Africa, (4) North America, (5) South America, (6) Australia and (7) Oceania. In the modern age people are under the impression that during the Vedic period or the prehistoric ages America and many other parts of the world had not been discovered, but that is not a fact. Pṛthu Mahārāja ruled over the world many thousands of years before the so-called prehistoric age, and it is clearly mentioned here that in those days not only were all the different parts of the world known, but they were ruled by one king, Mahārāja Pṛthu. The country where Pṛthu Mahārāja resided must have been India because it is stated in the eleventh verse of this chapter that he lived in the tract of land between the rivers Ganges and Yamunā.
This tract of land, which is called Brahmāvarta, consists of what is known in the modern age as portions of Punjab and northern India. It is clear that the kings of India once ruled all the world and that their culture was Vedic.
The word askhalita indicates that orders by the king could not be disobeyed by anyone in the entire world. Such orders, however, were never issued to control saintly persons or the descendants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu. The Supreme Lord is known as Acyuta, and Lord Kṛṣṇa is addressed as such by Arjuna in Bhagavad-gītā (senayor ubhayor madhye rathaṁ sthāpaya me ’cyuta). Acyuta refers to one who does not fall because He is never influenced by the modes of material nature. When a living entity falls down to the material world from his original position, he becomes cyuta, which means that he forgets his relationship with Acyuta.
Actually every living entity is a part and parcel, or a son, of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When influenced by the modes of material nature, a living entity forgets this relationship and thinks in terms of different species of life; but when he again comes to his original consciousness, he does not observe such bodily designations. This is indicated in Bhagavad-gītā (5.18) by the words paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ.
Material designations create differentiation in terms of caste, color, creed, nationality, etc. Different gotras, or family designations, are distinctions in terms of the material body, but when one comes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness he immediately becomes one of the Acyuta-gotra, or descendants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and thus becomes transcendental to all considerations of caste, creed, color and nationality.
Pṛthu Mahārāja had no control over the brāhmaṇa-kula, which refers to the learned scholars in Vedic knowledge, nor over the Vaiṣṇavas, who are above the considerations of Vedic knowledge. It is therefore said:
arcye viṣṇau śilā-dhīr guruṣu nara-matir vaiṣṇave jāti-buddhir
viṣṇor vā vaiṣṇavānāṁ kali-mala-mathane pāda-tīrthe ’mbu-buddhiḥ
śrī-viṣṇor nāmni mantre sakala-kaluṣa-he śabda-sāmānya-buddhir
viṣṇau sarveśvareśe tad-itara-sama-dhīr yasya vā nārakī saḥ
“One who thinks the Deity in the temple to be made of wood or stone, who thinks of the spiritual master in the disciplic succession as an ordinary man, who thinks the Vaiṣṇava in the Acyuta-gotra to belong to a certain caste or creed or who thinks of caraṇāmṛta or Ganges water as ordinary water is taken to be a resident of hell.” (Padma Purāṇa)
From the facts presented in this verse, it appears that people in general should be controlled by a king until they come to the platform of Vaiṣṇavas and brāhmaṇas, who are not under the control of anyone. Brāhmaṇa refers to one who knows Brahman, or the impersonal feature of the Absolute Truth, and a Vaiṣṇava is one who serves the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/4/21/12
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720406LE.MEL
So the archaeological investigation has found so many relics, and in the Vedic literature we also find the mention of all the island, sapta-dvīpa, seven islands. Seven islands means Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Australia, and Oceania. These are mentioned already in the Vedic literature. So it is not that the world was not known to Vedic culture. It was fully known. And one king—he was that Mahārāja Pṛthu—he was the only one ruler all over the world, and he was ruling over these seven islands—that is mentioned-although his residential quarter was in the Brahmāvarta, the piece of land between the rivers Yamunā and Ganges. That tract of land is still considered a very sanctified land. Practically all the Vedic culture is there still.
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Mayesvara das Prabhu:
Danavir Goswami’s erroneous identification of Bhu-mandala with the supposed Earth-globe is explicitly stated in his shocking misappropriation of the names of Bhu-mandala to further the idea that these names refer to ‘the Earth globe’:
Danvir Goswami: “We may note that there is agreement between the Puranic literature and Siddhantic literature on the specific nine islands created by Sagara’s sons. Furthermore, there is concurrence on the spherical nature of earth which is coincidentally supported by the western scientific view also. The Bhagavata Purana refers to the earth as a globe in the following verses: 3.21.36 (mahīm), 4.9.51 (maṇḍalam), 4.18.29 (bhū-maṇḍalam); 4.21.36 (kṣoṇi-tale); 4.21.48 (pṛthvyāḥ), 4.24.10 (vasudhā-talam) 5.7.1 (avani-tala); 6.11.8 (gām), 7.3.5 (bhūḥ); 8.7.26 (kṣitim), 8.19.5 (mahīm), 10.68.46 (bhū-maṇḍalaṁ), 12.2.7 (kṣiti-maṇḍale).”
Actually, despite what Danavir Goswami says here, the Bhagavata Purana itself never refers to the Earth as a globe. Yes, in all of the above verses Srila Prabhupada has certainly translated these various names of the Bhu-mandala using the conventional term ‘Earth globe’, but Sukadeva Goswami’s description of the said Earth in chapters 16-26 of the fifth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam in no way corresponds to the modern Earth-globe conception. Why does Danavir Goswami not point out the difference?
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/06-19/editorials17000.htm
Note: We cannot follow Sukadeva Gosvami direct, THEREFORE, we have to follow Srila Prabhupada’s PURPORTS and HIS OWN EXPLANATION in HIS books as he is both OUR Bona fide Diksa AND Siksa Guru. Srila Prabhupada confirms: This is the parampara system.
If Sukdeva Gosvami was to be followed DIRECT then what is the USE of Srila Prabhupada’s PURPORTS and explanations? WHERE is the meaning to FOLLOWING the Guru Parampara? THIS is WHERE Mayesvara Prabhu has a very serious problem – he brings in many other references that actually CONFLICT with Srila Prabhupada from external sources INSTEAD of USING Srila Prabhupada’s books: Srila Prabhupada’s OWN words.
Simple equation: Either you accept Srila Prabhupada OR you don’t.
Letter to: Upendra
Calcutta
19 February, 1972
(2) As for your question about Santa Rasa and the opinions of Rupa Goswami and Sridhara Swami, I don’t remember. You can send me the appropriate passages. There is no reason why Acaryas cannot differ on certain points.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/letters/calcutta/february/19/1972/upendra
Note: here is an example of HOW Srila Prabhupada gives HIS OWN understanding in comparison to Sukdeva Gosvami:
1) This was definitely due to his past karma.
2) Such punishment is only for a short period, and it is not due to past karma.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Due to the fruitive results of his past deeds, he fell down from mystic yoga, austerity and worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If it were not due to his past fruitive activity, how could he have been attracted to the deer after giving up the association of his own son and family, considering them stumbling blocks on the path of spiritual life? How could he show such uncontrollable affection for a deer? This was definitely due to his past karma.
Srila Prabhupada : In Brahma–saṁhitā (5.54) it is said, karmāṇi nirdahati kintu ca bhakti–bhājām: “For those engaged in devotional service, bhakti–bhajana, the results of past deeds are indemnified.” According to this, Bharata Mahārāja could not be punished for his past misdeeds. The conclusion must be that Mahārāja Bharata purposefully became over-addicted to the deer and neglected his spiritual advancement. To immediately rectify his mistake, for a short time he was awarded the body of a deer.
This was just to increase his desire for mature devotional service. Although Bharata Mahārāja was awarded the body of an animal, he did not forget what had previously happened due to his purposeful mistake. He was very anxious to get out of his deer body, and this indicates that his affection for devotional service was intensified, so much so that he was quickly to attain perfection in a brāhmaṇa body in the next life. It is with this conviction that we declare in our Back to Godhead magazine that devotees like the gosvāmīs living in Vṛndāvana who purposely commit some sinful activity are born in the bodies of dogs, monkeys and tortoises in that holy land.
Thus they take on these lower life forms for a short while. and after they give up those animal bodies, they are again promoted to the spiritual world. Such punishment is only for a short period, and it is not due to past karma. It may appear to be due to past karma, but it is offered to rectify the devotee and bring him to pure devotional service.
TEXT 26
evam aghaṭamāna-manorathākula-hṛdayo mṛga-dārakābhāsena svārabdha-karmaṇā yogārambhaṇato vibhraṁśitaḥ sa yoga-tāpaso bhagavad-ārādhana-lakṣaṇāc ca katham itarathā jāty-antara eṇa-kuṇaka āsaṅgaḥ sākṣān niḥśreyasa-pratipakṣatayā prāk-parityakta-dustyaja-hṛdayābhijātasya tasyaivam antarāya-vihata-yogārambhaṇasya rājarṣer bharatasya tāvan mṛgārbhaka-poṣaṇa-pālana-prīṇana-lālanānuṣaṅgeṇāvigaṇayata ātmānam ahir ivākhu-bilaṁ duratikramaḥ kālaḥ karāla-rabhasa āpadyata.
SYNONYMS
evam—in that way; aghaṭamāna—impossible to be achieved; manaḥ–ratha—by desires, which are like mental chariots; ākula—aggrieved; hṛdayaḥ—whose heart; mṛga–dāraka–ābhāsena—resembling the son of a deer; sva–ārabdha–karmaṇā—by the bad results of his unseen fruitive actions; yoga–ārambhaṇataḥ—from the activities of yoga performances; vibhraṁśitaḥ—fallen down; saḥ—he (Mahārāja Bharata); yoga–tāpasaḥ—executing the activities of mystic yoga and austerities; bhagavat–ārādhana–lakṣaṇāt—from the activities of devotional service rendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ca—and; katham—how; itarathā—else; jāti–antare—belonging to a different species of life; eṇa–kuṇake—to the body of a deer calf; āsaṅgaḥ—so much affectionate attachment; sākṣāt—directly; niḥśreyasa—to achieve the ultimate goal of life; pratipakṣatayā—with the quality of being an obstacle; prāk—who previously; parityakta—given up; dustyaja—although very difficult to give up; hṛdaya–abhijātasya—his sons, born of his own heart; tasya—of him; evam—thus; antarāya—by that obstacle; vihata—obstructed; yoga–ārambhaṇasya—whose path of executing the mystic yoga practices; rāja–ṛṣeḥ—of the great saintly King; bharatasya—of Mahārāja Bharata; tāvat—in that way; mṛga–arbhaka—the son of a deer; poṣaṇa—i n maintaining; pālana—in protecting; prīṇana—in making happy; lālana—in fondling; anuṣaṅgeṇa—by constant absorption; avigaṇayataḥ—neglecting; ātmānam—his own soul; ahiḥ iva—like a serpent; ākhu–bilam—the hole of a mouse; duratikramaḥ—unsurpassable; kālaḥ—ultimate death; karāla—terrible; rabhasaḥ—having speed; āpadyata—arrived.
TRANSLATION
Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: My dear King, in this way Bharata Mahārāja was overwhelmed by an uncontrollable desire which was manifest in the form of the deer. Due to the fruitive results of his past deeds, he fell down from mystic yoga, austerity and worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If it were not due to his past fruitive activity, how could he have been attracted to the deer after giving up the association of his own son and family, considering them stumbling blocks on the path of spiritual life? How could he show such uncontrollable affection for a deer? This was definitely due to his past karma. The King was so engrossed in petting and maintaining the deer that he fell down from his spiritual activities. In due course of time, insurmountable death, which is compared to a venomous snake that enters the hole created by a mouse, situated itself before him.
PURPORT
As will be seen in later verses, Bharata Mahārāja, at the time of death, would be forced to accept the body of a deer due to his attraction for the deer. In this regard, a question may be raised. How can a devotee be affected by his past misconduct and vicious activities? In Brahma–saṁhitā (5.54) it is said, karmāṇi nirdahati kintu ca bhakti–bhājām: “For those engaged in devotional service, bhakti–bhajana, the results of past deeds are indemnified.” According to this, Bharata Mahārāja could not be punished for his past misdeeds. The conclusion must be that Mahārāja Bharata purposefully became over-addicted to the deer and neglected his spiritual advancement. To immediately rectify his mistake, for a short time he was awarded the body of a deer. This was just to increase his desire for mature devotional service.
Although Bharata Mahārāja was awarded the body of an animal, he did not forget what had previously happened due to his purposeful mistake. He was very anxious to get out of his deer body, and this indicates that his affection for devotional service was intensified, so much so that he was quickly to attain perfection in a brāhmaṇa body in the next life. It is with this conviction that we declare in our Back to Godhead magazine that devotees like the gosvāmīs living in Vṛndāvana who purposely commit some sinful activity are born in the bodies of dogs, monkeys and tortoises in that holy land. Thus they take on these lower life forms for a short while. and after they give up those animal bodies, they are again promoted to the spiritual world. Such punishment is only for a short period, and it is not due to past karma. It may appear to be due to past karma, but it is offered to rectify the devotee and bring him to pure devotional service.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/5/8/26
731208SB.LA Lectures
So if you want to understand Bhagavad-gita, then we must understand in the same way as the person who directly heard from. This is called parampara system. Suppose I have heard something from my spiritual master, so I speak to you the same thing. So this is parampara system. You cannot imagine what my spiritual master said. OR EVEN IF YOU READ SOME BOOKS, YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND UNLESS YOU UNDERSTAND IT FROM ME. THIS IS CALLED PARAMPARA SYSTEM. YOU CANNOT JUMP OVER TO THE SUPERIOR GURU, NEGLECTING THE NEXT ACARYA, IMMEDIATE NEXT ACARYA. Just like our, this Gau…, Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s cult; we cannot understand Caitanya Mahaprabhu directly. It is not possible. We have to understand through the Gosvamis. Therefore you’ll find in the Caitanya-caritamrta and at the end of every chapter, the writer says,
sri-rupa-ragunatha-pade yara asa
caitanya-caritamrta kahe krsna-dasa
This is the process. He does not say that “I’ve understood Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu directly.” No. That is not understanding. That is foolishness. You cannot understand what is Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore repeatedly he says, rupa-ragunatha-pade… “I am that Krsna dasa, Kaviraja, who is always under the subordination of the Gosvamis.” This is parampara system. Similarly, Narottama dasa Thakura also says, ei chay gosai jar mui tar das, “I am servant of that person who has accepted this six Gosvamis as his master. I am not going to be servant of any other person who does not accept the way and means of…”
Therefore we say or we offer our prayer to our spiritual master, rupanuga-varaya te, rupanuga-varaya te, because he follows Rupa Gosvami, therefore we accept, spiritual master. Not that one has become more than Rupa Gosvami or more than… No. Tandera carana-sebi-bhakta-sane vas. This is the parampara system.
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Sri Govinda, January 20th, 1972
“There is no need by any of my disciples to read any books besides my books – in fact, such reading may be detrimental to their advancement in Krishna Consciousness. All reading of outside books, except in certain authorized cases such as for example to read some philosopher like Plato to make an essay comparing his philosophy with Krishna’s philosophy – but otherwise all such outside reading should be stopped immediately. It is simply another botheration. If my students cannot even read my own books thoroughly, why they should read others? I have given you TLC, what need is there to read Caitanya Caritamrta translated by someone else. You are right to stop such reading.”
73-12-25.Letter: Gurukrpa , Yasodanandana
Whatever is to be learned of the teachings of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura can be learned from our books. THERE IS NO NEED WHATSOEVER FOR ANY OUTSIDE INSTRUCTION.
74-11-22. Letter: Bahurupa
I am pleased to hear that you are chanting 16 rounds daily and reading my books regularly and following the four rules. IN MY BOOKS THE PHILOSOPHY OF KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS IS EXPLAINED FULLY SO IF THERE IS ANYTHING WHICH YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND, THEN YOU SIMPLY HAVE TO READ AGAIN AND AGAIN. BY READING DAILY THE KNOWLEDGE WILL BE REVEALED TO YOU AND BY THIS PROCESS YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE WILL DEVELOP.
75-09-18. Letter: Babhru, Satyaki
PLEASE CONTINUE READING MY BOOKS SERIOUSLY AND EVERYTHING WILL BE REVEALED TO YOU.
74-11-22. Letter: Hugo Salemon
So far your worship of Lord Jagannatha in your home and your becoming initiated. It is alright provided you have the recommendation of the temple president. I am very glad to see that such a young boy as yourself you are taking serious interest in this Krishna Consciousness Movement. Please continue in this way Our process is something universal. It cannot be checked by any means. Anyone in any place, in any country can chant Hare Krishna. If it is possible to go to the temple, then take advantage of the temple. A temple is a place where by one is given the opportunity to render direct devotional service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS YOU SHOULD ALWAYS READ MY BOOKS DAILY AND ALL YOUR QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED AND YOU WILL HAVE A FIRM BASIS OF KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS. IN THIS WAY YOUR LIFE WILL BE PERFECT.
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Note: Srila Prabhupada is FIXED on THIS Earth GLOBE:
Prabhupada: NO, ABOUT THIS EARTH GLOBE
Devotee (2): Srila Prabhupada, previously we painted in the art department…Just like Varaha lifted the earth, and the earth was a globe, and we showed also a globe of the earth. How does that relate to this? Previously, when we painted, we showed the earth a ball. So now the artists will be very confused. How it fell in the Garbha Ocean as a ball?
Yashodanandana: It depends on what we mean by earth. The Western conception of earth is just five continents and a few oceans, but according to Bhagavatam, earth means Jambudvipa, because earth is connected with Jambudvipa.
Devotee (2): So whole Jambudvipa fell.
Bhakti-Prema: Bhagavata describes the height of Himalayas, eighty thousand miles.
Prabhupada: NO, ABOUT THIS EARTH GLOBE.
Bhakti-Prema: About the Earth it describes four billion miles.
Tamala Krishna: That means Jambudvipa.
Bhakti-Prema: No, that means complete Earth, four billion miles. That[Jambudvipa] is eight lakhs miles [800,000 miles], Jambudvipa. Tamala Krishna: Four billion is the universe.
Bhakti-Prema: Bhu-mandala!
Tamala Krshna: Bhu-mandala! Oh, the Bhagavatam describes Bhu-mandala as Earth.
Prabhupada: Oh.
Yashodanandana: Bhumi.
Bhakti-Prema: …has come right from the ocean, from the bottom of the ocean.
Prabhupada: So explained there. Then this question is solved.
Tamala Krishna: Yes. The whole Bhu-mandala fell.
Bhakti-Prema: So the universe is round, and from bottom of the Garbhodaka ocean to top of Satyaloka there is four billion miles. Then the again, from east to west again is another four billion miles. Because Bhu-mandala is situated in between the earth.
Prabhupada: Explain. He’ll explain.
(Showing of Planetary Sketches, 28 June, 1977, Vrindvana)
Mayesvara das: Bhakti-prema dasa rightly points out that the diameter of the Earth is four billion miles, and that it was the entire Bhu-mandala (not some so-called Earth globe) that fell into the Garbhodaka Ocean. Srila Prabhupada affirms: “So explained there. Then this question is solved.” Bhakti-prema dasa also corrects the misunderstanding of Yasodanandana Prabhu and Tamala Krishna Goswami regarding Jambudwipa. Jambudvipa is the name of the central island of Bhu-mandala, not the name of the Earth itself. Unfortunately, the following conclusion didn’t arise at the time: since the Earth is 4 billion miles in diameter, and the central island of Bhu-mandala is Jambudwipa which is 100,000 yojana (800,000 miles) in diameter, then Bharata-varsha (which is part of the island of Jambudwipa) cannot be a separate globe-like planet floating in space. From the description, Bharata-varsha is just a tiny area that is situated on the Earth’s massive plane; it is not described as a planet floating in space
http://www.prabhupadanugas.eu/news/?p=50295#more-50295
Mayesvara das Prabhu: “Jambudvipa is the name of the central island of Bhu-mandala, not the name of the Earth itself.”
Note: now, compare Srila Prabhupada’s answer :
Srila Prabhupada: THIS EARTH IS CALLED JAMBŪDVĪPA:
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).
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/1/16/12
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Note: Srila Prabhupada is speaking of EARTHLY System. This earthly system EARTHLY planets WITHIN the PLANETARY SYSTEM. This is not ONLY Jambudvipa but EARTHLY SYSTEM:
2) The earthly system (bhu-mandala with Sumeru in center, seven islands (saptadvipa), seven oceans (sapta-samudra), Manosattara Parvata, Lokaloka Parvata, Alokavarsa.
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: there is further evidence that Srila Prabhupada speaks about sun is moving up and down, north and south we KNOW that when there is winter in Australia(south DOWN) in UK (UP north) there is summer so this ALSO another way Srila Prabhupada teaches us we live on the Earth GLOBE:
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Amar Puri Prabhu has correctly pointed out that it is important these Srila Prabhupada’s instructions be included:
Srila Prabhupada says:
All The Planets And The Universes, They Are Egg Shaped.
Further, HDG. Srila Prabhupada confirms that both geocentric and heliocentric models are wrong. The planet earth is definitely moving, along with other planets. It is not static. And it is round (egg-shape), not a plane (flat earth).
Mayapura, February 4, 1976
Prabhupada: Then, in the morning, it rises reddish. So why it does not look reddish always if it is fixed?
Harikesa: Well, the material scientists say it’s because of the atmospheric condition. It refracts the light in such a way that it becomes reddish. That’s what they say. Because it’s thicker atmosphere. You have to look through more atmos…
Prabhupada: Then how it comes so high? After few hours it goes so high.
Harikesa: Well, there is less atmosphere to look through. Why it goes up there?
Prabhupada: So that means move?
Harikesa: No, no. Because we’re moving this way. The earth is rotating.
Prabhupada: You are moving, but why you say sometimes this position and sometimes that position?
Harikesa: Because the earth also moves like this. It’s going around the sun, and then every day it rotates once.
Prabhupada: Hm?
Harikesa: It rotates on an axis like this. So therefore the sun seems to go around, but actually it’s the earth that goes around.
Prabhupada: Now, if you measure when this sun and when it comes meridian distance, so do you think the earth is moving so quickly? It is… According to their modern science, the earth is moving twenty-five thousand miles only throughout… No, within twenty-four hours.
Harikesa: That’s around the sun.
Prabhupada: Huh? Then is it possible…
Jagadisa: Twenty-four-hour day, twenty-five thousand miles circumference.
Prabhupada: So how earth has gone so quickly round that it is seen, the different position of the sun? This means sun is not fixed. Sun is moving. And in the Bhagavata it is said that it is moving at the rate of sixteen thousand miles per second. I think I have calculated that. Sixteen thousand miles.
Hrdayananda: Prabhupada? Does that mean that the sun is going around the earth?
Prabhupada: Hm?
Hrdayananda: Is the sun going around the earth?
Prabhupada: Sun is going around the whole planetary system.
Tamala Krsna: The scientists think the whole planetary system is going around the sun.
Bhavananda: Srila Prabhupada, earth is also moving?
Prabhupada: Hm?
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.
Another conversation of Srila Prabhupada states ;
Prabhupāda: Aṇor aṇīyān mahato mahīyāt. So He is greater than the greatest. Yaśodāmāyī thought that “My child are eating earth? So show.” She saw all the planetary system within His mouth. So she thought, “What is this? All right, don’t do this.” (laughs)
Hṛdayānanda: So to accept a spiritual master means that one has to learn everything again.
Prabhupāda: What is that?
Hṛdayānanda: That to accept a spiritual master means that we have to learn everything over again. Practically everything we learned was incorrect.
Prabhupāda: It is correct to SOME extent but… Just like you can see to some extent, but that does not mean you can see everything. You have got limited potency. This is called unlimited and limited. We are limited.
https://prabhupadabooks.com/conversations/1976/feb/morning_walk/mayapura/february/04/1976
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Srila Prabhupada Letter to: Svarupa Damodara ;
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
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NONE OF THE ABOVE CITED information from Srila Prabhupada, neither Mayesvara dasa nor Dhanvir Goswami refer to and mention at all in their presentation. WHY, if I may ask ?
Is it Mayesvara dasa and / or Dhanvir Goswami ” intent and purpose ” different than that of Srila Prabhupada ?
ALL THE PLANETS AND THE UNIVERSES, THEY ARE EGG SHAPED
JUST LIKE THE EARTH HAS ITS ORBIT—IT IS ROTATING—SIMILARLY, EVERY PLANET IS ROTATING
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