Category:Describing the Universe
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda provides a comprehensive description of the material universe as an egglike structure encased in seven distinct layers of material energy. He explains that the planetary systems, ranging from the topmost Satyaloka to the lower regions, are organized according to the fruitive activities and desires of the conditioned souls. Unlike the limited observations of modern science, the Vedic perspective reveals that every planet is inhabited and possesses a unique atmosphere—vibhūti-bhinna—perfectly suited for specific organisms. Ultimately, Śrīla Prabhupāda contrasts this material creation, which represents only one-fourth of the Supreme Lord's energy, with the eternal and self-effulgent Vaikuṇṭha planets that exist beyond the universal coverings.
- Universal Structure and Dimensions: The material universe is an egglike globe surrounded by seven coverings—earth, water, fire, air, sky, total material energy, and false ego—spanning billions of miles.
- Diverse Inhabitants and Atmospheres: Every planet within the universe is inhabited by living entities whose bodies are adapted to the specific atmospheric conditions of their respective planetary systems.
- Cosmic Order and Movement: The orbits and movements of the sun, moon, and planets are precisely described, influencing the auspicious and inauspicious conditions of all universal inhabitants.
- The Material and Spiritual Divide: The material world is a place of darkness and limitation, constituting a fraction of the total creation, while the Vaikuṇṭha nature is three times larger and eternally existing.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Describing the Universe - The Structure of the Material World.
Pages in category "Describing the Universe"
The following 26 pages are in this category, out of 26 total.
A
- Adaptability of an organism to different varieties of planets is described in the Brahma-samhita as vibhuti-bhinnam; i.e., each and every one of the innumerable planets within the universe is endowed with a particular type of atmosphere
- Also, please describe the inner and outer space of the universe by specific divisions, as well as the character and activities of the great souls, and also the characteristics of the different classifications of the castes and orders of social life
I
- In this chapter (of the Srimad Bhagavatam) the orbits of the planets are described. According to the movements of the moon and other planets, all the inhabitants of the universe are prone to auspicious and inauspicious situations
- It is also stated (in SB 3.26.52) that this description is of only one egglike universe. There are innumerable universes besides this one, and some of them are many, many times greater
M
- Mercury is described to be similar to Venus, in that it moves sometimes behind the sun, sometimes in front of the sun and sometimes along with it. It is 1,600,000 miles above Venus, or 7,200,000 miles above earth
- Modern so-called scientists, who do not fully understand the moon, describe the moon as being full of deserts. Since the moon is the source for our vegetation, how can the moon be a desert?
- My (Narada's) dear father (Brahma), please describe factually the symptoms of this manifest world. What is its background? How is it created? How is it conserved? And under whose control is all this being done
- My dear King (Pariksit), as I (Sukadeva Gosvami) heard of it from my spiritual master (Vyasadeva), I have fully described to you the creation of this material world according to the fruitive activities and desires of the conditioned souls
- My dear King Pariksit, O best of the descendants of Bharata Maharaja, I (Sukadeva) have thus described to you, as I myself have been instructed, the island of Bharata-varsa and its adjoining islands. These are the islands that constitute Jambudvipa
S
- Seated on His chariot with Arjuna, Krsna proceeded north, crossing over many planetary systems. These are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam as sapta-dvipa. Dvipa means "island." These planets are sometimes described in the Vedic literature as dvipas
- Srila Sridhara Svami rightly commenting on this verse (SB 2.5.39), says that the Brahmaloka mentioned here is Vaikuntha, the kingdom of God, which is sanatana, or eternal, and is not exactly like the material creations described above
T
- The description begins from the bottom because it is in the line of devotion that the Lord's bodily description should begin from His feet. Sukadeva Gosvami is a recognized devotee of the Lord, and he is exactly correct in the description
- The kingdom of God, or the atmosphere of the Vaikuntha nature, which is called the tripad-vibhuti, is three times bigger than the material universes and is described here, as also in the Bhagavad-gita, in a nutshell
- The material world is only one fourth of the SP of Godhead's creation, but it is unlimited and impossible for anyone to know or describe, even with the qualification of a life as long as that of Brahma, who lives for millions and millions of years
- The Vaikuntha planets begin 26,200,000 yojanas (209,600,000 miles) above Satyaloka. Thus the Visnu Purana describes that the covering of the universe is 260,000,000 yojanas (2,080,000,000 miles) away from the sun
- The word uraga indicates that there are planets of enormous serpents. Such a description of the various planets of the universe may challenge modern scientists who think that all planets but this earth are vacant
- These are divided among this planet earth, the luminaries in the sky and the lower planetary systems. You (Sukadeva) have very clearly described these planets and the living entities who live on them
- This universe is fully described in the Fifth Canto of SB. You will see it, where, which planet, where it is situated, what is the dimension, what kind of people live there. Everything is there. Similarly, there are description of the hellish planet
- This verse (SB 6.16.37) describes the coverings of the universe. The first covering is earth, the second is water, the third is fire, the fourth is air, the fifth is sky, the sixth is the total material energy, and the seventh is the false ego