Total Demolition of Mayesvara's Bogus 'Flat Earth' Theory
BY: RAJASEKHARA DASA BRAHMACHARI
May 29, 2016 — INDIA (SUN) — Based on the writings of the previous Acharyas.
Refutation of the recent article by Mayesvara das, "Modern Blasphemy: Earth Is Not a Globe"
First, qusestion, what is this blasphemy that Mayesvara is talking about - because both Shrila Prabhupada and all the previous Acharyas have said that the earth is a globe – does this imply that according to Mayesvara, all the previous acharyas, including Shrila Prabhupada himself are blasphemers – just because the they do not agree with Mayesvara's 'flat earth' conception and instead propose a round earth globe?
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE - THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE QUOTE FROM THE PREVIOUS ACHARYAS SUPPORTING MAYASVARA'S CONCOCTED 'FLAT EARTH' THEORY
In comparison, all my articles on this subject have been in support of the version presented by Shrila Prabhupada and the Vaishnava Acharyas, I am not presenting my own speculations, as Mayesvara does. I am simply repeating the words of the previous Acharyas
The secret of reading the Bhagavatam is that we should follow in the footsteps of the previous acharyas. Otherwise, how else can we enter into the mysteries contained therein – especially those of the 5th canto.
MAYESVARA HAS COMPLETELY REJECTED THE OPINION OF SHRILA PRABHUPADA and ALL THE PREVIOUS ACHARYAS ON THE SUBJECT OF 5th CANTO
PLEASE NOTE
The most distasteful part of Mayesvara's 38-page article is his cunning deception, when he says: "it is not mentioned anywhere by the acharyas that Bharata-varsha is a globe in space".
However, contrary to Mayesvara's diabolical attempt at deception, each and every one of the previous Acharyas have clearly stated that the Earth Is a globe.
The fact is – not even one Vaishnava Acharya has ever proposed a 'flat earth' concept. Neither Shrila Bhaktivinode Thakura or Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, or Shrila Jiva Goswami or any of the other Goswamis of Vrindavana, or Shrila Vishvanatha Chakravarty or any of the previous Bhagavatam commentators!
SECTION ONE
QUOTES FROM BHAGAVATAM SUPPORTING THE
ROUND GLOBE LIKE SPHERICAL EARTH
Shrimad Bhagavatam 5.16.4:> "The great rsi Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear King, there is no limit to the expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead's material energy. This material world is a transformation of the material qualities [sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna], yet no one could possibly explain it perfectly, even in a lifetime as long as that of Brahma. No one in the material world is perfect, and an imperfect person could not describe this material universe accurately, even after continued speculation. O King, I shall nevertheless try to explain to you the principal regions, such as Bhü-goloka [Bhüloka], with their names, forms, measurements and various symptoms."
(FOR AN EXPLANATION OF THIS VERSE SEE THE COMMENTARY BELOW BY VIRARAGHAVA and SRIVANSIDHARA)
FROM THE TRANSLITERATION:
bhü-golam—the surface of the earth;
Shrimad Bhagavatam 10.8. 37-39: "When Krishna opened His mouth wide by the order of mother Yashodä, she saw within His mouth all moving and non-moving entities, outer space, and all directions, along with mountains, islands, oceans, the surface of the Earth, the blowing wind, fire, the moon and the stars. She saw the planetary systems, water, light, air, sky, and creation by transformation of ahankara. She also saw the senses, the mind, sense perception, and the three qualities goodness, passion and ignorance. She saw the time allotted for the living entities, she saw natural instinct and the reactions of karma, and she saw desires and different varieties of bodies, moving and non-moving. Seeing all these aspects of the cosmic manifestation, along with herself and Vrndavana-dhama, she became doubtful and fearful of her son's nature."
prekñayitvä—after showing; bhuvaù—of the universe; golam—the globe; patnyai—to his wife; yävän—as much; sva-saàsthayä—with its arrangements; bahu-äçcaryam—full of many wonders; mahä-yogé—the great yogé (Kardama); sva-äçramäya—to his own hermitage; nyavartata—returned.
Shrimad Bhagavatam 3.23.43 "After showing his wife the globe of the universe and its different arrangements, full of many wonders, the great yogi Kardama Muni returned to his own hermitage."
(FOR AN EXPLANATION OF THIS VERSE SEE THE COMMENTARY BELOW BY SRIVAMSIDHARA)
SECTION TWO
QUOTES BY THE VAISHNAVA ACHARYAS ESTABLISHING THAT
EARTH IS A GLOBE-LIKE SPHERE
(Adapted from the book Commentaries on Bhagavatam's Cosmology)
Commentary of Shrila Shridhara Swami (SB.5.16.1) C.p1
In the previous chapter, while narrating the story of King Priyavrata, mention was made of the divisions of the globe into islands.
Commentary of Vijayadvaj Tirtha (SB.5.16.1) C.p2
The knowledge of the world-globe and its particulars is illustrative of Sri Narayana's greatness and hence is essential for liberation.
Commentary of Bhagavataprasadacarya (SB.5.16.1) C.p4
(Commenting on Shridhara Swami's second verse) The periphery, the top, the bottom and the configuration of the earth globe and Meru, the central part of the earth lotus, are explained in the 16th chapter. The purport of this chapter it was said; "As much as the sun in going around Meru illuminates it, it lights up half the surface of the earth and covers half." By this is to be understood that the sun makes day in one half of Meru by illumination not endowed with the darkness of night. The moon, along with the stars illuminating the portion of Meru not illuminated (by the sun) with qualities of moonlight surrounded with darkness makes night. Because this is the intention of the sages, followed by smrtis, it is not repeated.
Commentary of Viraraghava (SB.5.17.1-3) C.p9
Thus having heard the episode of Priyavrata and his progeny, King Pariksit asks about the particulars of the division of islands etc. which were only briefly mentioned. Earth's length (extent) and the world (globe) etc.
Commentary of Viraraghava (SB.5.17.4) Cp14
After having been questioned, the sage-son of Badrinarayana replies that, "as the forms of the Lord are infinite, it is impossible to deal with them exhaustively by mind or words. Still, I promise to explain in more detail the earth globe. Oh great king! Bhagavan's treasure of amazing attributes, manifested into myriad, infinite globes for his sporting are countless and cannot be ascertained even through the entire life-span of any human being. Hence instead of attempting to contemplate the impossible, I shall dwell on the prominent details of the earth-globe, its divisions, including the names, extents and nature etc. to answer your query."
Commentary by Srivamsidhara on SB.5.20.38 Cp445
Parikshit has questioned about the Bhu-gola (the earth sphere) and Suka has replied. This confirms the spherical shape of astronomy. There is another word in that context - it is "vishesa" which means the golden anda (egg, universe). It is said that earth rests like a mustard seed on the hood of Ananta. The anology implies the spherical shape. In the Kardama story (SB.2.23.43) the word "bhuva golam" is used, which confirms the above fact. This is the small earth, but where is another big earth? We reply that it is above the star belt. It is like a reflection. Its circumference is 95,100,000 yojanas [760,800,000 miles] as told in Bhagavata. There is a sphere of fire in between the two earths. There is also a sphere of water in between the two. This has been stated in the Surya-siddhanta and other works.
SECTION THREE
QUOTES BY THE VAISHNAVA ACHARYAS ESTABLISHING THAT
THE SAPTA-DWIPA ARE LOCATED ON THE GLOBE-LIKE EARTH
(Adapted from the book 'Commentaries on Bhagavatam's Cosmology')
Commentary of Shrila Shridhara Swami (SB.5.16.1) C.p1
In the previous chapter, while narrating the story of King Priyavrata, mention was made of the divisions of the globe into islands.
Commentary of Srivamsidhara (SB.5.16.1) C.p2
Comment by Shridhara Swami's first verse. The term "etc" after "islands" indicates continents.
Commentary of Vijayadvaj Tirtha (SB.5.16.1) C.p2
The knowledge of the world-globe and its particulars is illustrative of Sri Narayana's greatness and hence is essential for liberation.
Commentary of Bhagavataprasadacarya (SB.5.16.1) C.p4
(Commenting on Shridhara Swami's second verse) The periphery, the top, the bottom and the configuration of the earth globe and Meru, the central part of the earth lotus, are explained in the 16th chapter. The purport of this chapter it was said;
"As much as the sun in going around Meru illuminates it, it lights up half the surface of the earth and covers half."
By this is to be understood that the sun makes day in one half of Meru by illumination not endowed with the darkness of night. The moon, along with the stars illuminating the portion of Meru not illuminated (by the sun) with qualities of moonlight surrounded with darkness makes night. Because this is the intention of the sages, followed by smrtis, it is not repeated.
Commentary of Viraraghava (SB.5.17.1-3) C.p9
Thus having heard the episode of Priyavrata and his progeny, King Pariksit asks about the particulars of the division of islands etc. which were only briefly mentioned. Earth's length (extent) and the world (globe) etc.
Commentary of Viraraghava (SB.5.17.4) C.p14
After having been questioned, the sage-son of Badrinarayana replies that, "as the forms of the Lord are infinite, it is impossible to deal with them exhaustively by mind or words. Still, I promise to explain in more detail the earth globe."
QUOTE FROM MAHABHARATA
"It is I who, assuming the form of Sesha support on my head this earth bounded by the four seas and decked by Meru and Mandara. Mahabharata."(3.188)
RESPONSE: It should be seen here that there are only four seas mentioned and not seven oceans. The four seas are Southern Ocean, Northern Ocean, Eastern Ocean and Western Ocean, or in other words the Ocean of Salt that surrounds Jambhudweep in the four cardinal directions. Thus the general perception found in Mahabharata is that the Earth is a globe and there is only one Salt Ocean in the four cardinal directions.
SECTION FOUR
COMMENTS BY SHRILA PRABHUPADA ON THE GLOBE-LIKE EARTH SPHERE
Shrimad Bhagavatam 3.21.2. purport: "Srimad-Bhagavatam is also a history of the great rulers of different parts of the universe. In this verse, the names of Priyavrata and Uttanapada, the sons of Svayambhuva Manu 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."
Morning Walk. December 9, 1973, Los Angeles - In Vedic literature it is bhü-gola, jagad-andha. These words are there. We can see also it is round, jagad- andha. The universe is round. And Goloka. Or Bhü-gola. Bhü-gola, the earth is round. So in the Vedic literatures... Therefore their knowledge is also imperfect because they do not refer to the Vedic literatures. It is already there. Bhü-gola. Bhü means the earth; gola means round. It is already there. And the geography's called, according to Sanskrit, it is called Bhü-gola. Long, long ago, before Galileo.
There is a control… Just like here, in this planet, when you go up, you see it is ball, but in this ball there are so many controlling deities here also. President Johnson, prime minister of India, this and that and so many things. But when you go up you see just like a ball. So when you come here you find… " (Lectures, Bhagavad-gita 2.12, Bhagavad-gita 2.12, New York, March 9, 1966)
How much big the Varāha animal was to show that it can pick up the whole earth, earthly planet just like a ball. He cannot imagine such big animals. (Philosophy Discussions: Discussion on Charles Darwin)
You can become immediately out of the scope of maya if you always remain surrendered to Krsna. Maya will not touch you. Just like if you remain always in the sunshine, there is no question of night. Nowadays it is very easy. If you simply drive your plane on the western side, you'll never get night. You just round about. Yes. Just like it is materially possible. You drive your plane simply on the western side. Start your plane in the morning and go to the western side and don't stop it. You go on for three, four, as many days as you like. You'll never get night. This is practical. Similarly, if you keep always with Krsna, you are gudakesa, you will never get darkness. Or maya will not touch you. This is Krsna consciousness. So try to become Gudakesa." (Lectures, Bhagavad-gita 1.24-25, London, July 20, 1973)
And again, if you start your plane in sunlight, in the morning, in daylight, so in the morning, and go to the western side, you will find never night. You will find never night, always light, always light. Sometimes we have got experience. We start from a place, say, at ten o'clock, and going western side. Then, after few hours, we see it is still ten o'clock, and the light is there. This is our practical experience. (Lectures, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.17, Los Angeles, January 12, 1974)
Prabhupāda: Just like the sunrise. As soon as the rises, you start your airplane, and you go on, towards the eastern, western side, you'll find always day. A practical… There will be no sunset. We have seen it while coming from Paris to London. Was it not? There was sunshine. We started from Paris at twelve o'clock and we reached London at three o'clock.
Śyāmasundara: Los Angeles.
Prabhupāda: Los Angeles. Yes. Los Angeles at three o'clock. It actually took eleven hours, but it appeared three hours. But there was no sunset. Actually so many hours have been passed. (Lectures, The Nectar of Devotion, Bombay, January 4, 1973)
All the planets and the universes, they are egg shaped. Therefore they are called anda, jagad-anda, brahmanda. (Lecture, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 13.8-12, Bombay, September 30, 1973)
Jagad-anda means this universe is a big, I mean to say, volume. Just like anda, egg. Everything, every planet is just like egg. This brahmanda, this universe, is also like egg. So there are many many, many millions of jagad-anda. And in each and every jagad-anda, kotisu vasudhādi-vibhūti-bhinnam, there are innumerable planets also. (Lecture, Srimad-Bhagavatam, 1.2.5, Melbourne, April 3, 1972)
Prabhupāda: Jagad-anda. Jagad-anda means universe. Brahmanda or jagad-anda. Anda. Anda means it is egg-shaped, round, egg-shaped. Therefore it is called anda, brahmanda. Bhu-gola. Gola means round. I have heard that before the science, the people were under the impression that this world is square. Is it not?
Devotees: Flat.
Prabhupada: Flat. Flat, yes. But in the Vedic sastra, millions of years ago it is mentioned: bhu-gola. Gola means round. Just see. And these rascals say that formerly people were not so intelligent. They are intelligent because they are thinking that this world is flat. And those who have spoken millions of years ago, "It is round," they will have less intelligence. Just see. Bhu, gola. Gola means round. Bhu-gola. Similarly, jagad-anda. Abda means round, just like egg. Anda means egg. Jagad-anda. This universe is egg-shaped. And we can see also, the sky is round. This is the wall of this universe." (Lecture, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 1.43, London, July 30, 1973)
Srimad-Bhagavatam is also a history of the great rulers of different parts of the universe. In this verse, the names of Priyavrata and Uttanapada, the sons of Svayambhuva Manu 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." Shrimad Bhagavatam 3.21.2. purport:
SECTION FIVE
Here are some of the ridiculous statements from Mayesvara's article, "Modern Blasphemy: Earth Is Not a Globe":
AFTER FIRST READING THE STATEMENTS OF THE PREVIOUS ACHARYAS – NOW READ AGAIN SOME OF THE TOTALLY MISGUIDED STATEMENTS OF MAYESVARA
MAYESVARA: Accepting these essential points, we may have to second check, Srila Prabhupada's statements about the globe, but we should not take that as a sign that Prabhupada was ever bewildered by asuric science that presents a godless and impersonal world. Regarding the true nature of the Earth, Srila Prabhupada directed us time and again to the Srimad Bhagavatam's literal description and indeed his own translation reveals the truth of the matter:
RESPONSE: Those who present the round earth are, as Mayesvara says, "bewildered by asuric science that presents a godless and impersonal world." Oh dear! how offensive is that to Shrila Prabhupada and the previous acharyas who say the earth is a globe.
MAYESVARA: I don't think Srila Prabhupada had a false ego in which he was unable to second check his understanding of the detail of things. Srila Prabhupada requested his disciples to research the issue! In quite a few of these later conversations he did not give his own understanding but repeated the same instruction: Take the version of Srimad Bhagavatam . The version of Bhagavatam obviously includes the commentaries made by the previous acharyas who provide the paramapara understanding.
RESPONSE: It is very obvious that Mayesvara has not received the 'paramapara understanding' from the previous acharyas as he does not accept any of their realizations about the earth being a globe.
MAYESVARA: In the 1959 book by Amadeo F. Giannini called World Beyond the Poles: Physical Continuity of the Universe, an argument is made by the author that military expeditions by Admiral Byrd and others revealed 'indeterminable land extent beyond both poles,' and that 'there are no northern or southern limits to the Earth.'
RESPONSE: Mayesvara does not except the words of Shrila Prabhupada or the previous acharyas – but blindly believes in the escapades of the nutcase "Admiral Byrd", who supposedly flew over the north-pole, and after seeing "indeterminable land extent beyond both poles" was abducted by aliens in flying-saucers with Nazi swastikas painted on them - and then – 'taken to meet their leader' who offered him a cup of tea and then sent him on his way.
Come on Mayesvara – are we actually supposed to take you seriously? Or was this 'hard evidence' from Youtube simply included to lighten up your boring article and make everyone laugh their socks-off?
MAYESVARA: Regarding the parampara teachings on the nature of Bharata-varsha, it is not mentioned anywhere by the acharyas that Bharata-varsha is a globe in space. Such a conception was introduced by the Western translators of the Vedic texts who could not accommodate the idea of the Bhu-mandala, and thus imposed a foreign idea of a globe onto the Vedic concept of the bhu-mandala or bhu-gola which is just another name for the same thing.
RESPONSE: A totally misleading and corrupt statement that is being presented by Mayesvara as a fact.
MAYESVARA: However, if the TOVP management simply continue to try and convince everyone that they are indeed living on a ball in space, the whole purpose of the TOVP will be lost as people will remain in blissful ignorance about the true expanse of the Earth they live on.
RESPONSE: Because of their complete rejection of the words of the spiritual master and the previous acharyas, Mayesvara, TOVP and other 'flat earth' believers "will remain in blissful ignorance about the true expanse of the Earth they live on".
MAYESVARA: Unraveling the globe deception is part of distinguishing reality from illusion for the benefit of all. The horizontal plane concept of Srimad Bhagavatam is certainly a revolutionary concept that brings transcendental peace to the mind by revealing the truth of Krishna's creation, and thereby exposing the lies and deceptions of asuric science and government.
RESPONSE: Does this mean we should all surrender to Mayesvara and abandon the "globe deception" "of asuric science" that has been proposed
by Shrila Prabhupada and the previous acharyas?
MAYESVARA: Upon researching evidence for the flat-earth, and the faking of images of the globe from outer space, it quickly becomes obvious that we are living in an artificially manipulated reality of stupendous proportions, and one must be prepared for a major shock to the system. Listening to the many arguments in favour of the flat-Earth, it may come as a great shock to discover the extent of how our present experience of reality has been manipulated by a very clever ruling class. Srila Prabhupada himself referred to the present world governments as asuric (demoniac).
RESPONSE: It should be quite obvious to everyone that without the guidance of the acharyas, it is Mayesvara who is living in "an artificially manipulated reality of stupendous proportions".
MAYESVARA: The vast majority of people have been taught to scoff at the flat-Earth idea as primitive and unscientific, and have been indoctrinated otherwise into believing the pseudo-science and fake images that support the globe model. Rajasekhara dasa has presented a few conversations from Srila Prabhupada in which he also seems to scoff at the flat-Earth concept; but as we have seen, the issue of the Earth's shape and location is more complex than a few cursory comments from Srila Prabhupada may indicate.
RESPONSE: Wrong again Mayesvara – "a few cursory comments from Srila Prabhupada" - but a whole plethora of comments by the previous acharyas supporting the globular earth
MAYESVARA: We see here in this purport how Srila Prabhupada appreciates that Pariksit Maharaja was using his intelligence to question the logic of Sukadeva's presentation and not just docilely accepting everything that Sukadeva Goswami said. I believe Srila Prabhupada would similarly also appreciate some questioning of his belief that the Earth is a globe.
RESPONSE: Yes why not, "appreciate some questioning of his belief" – but Mayesvara has already publicly declared that the round ball-like globular earth concept is equal to 'modern blasphemy'. It is quite obvious Mayesvara is not here to question or discuss anything, but is simply intent on dictatorially declaring his own 'flat earth' concept as the only acceptable version – even going as far as to conceitedly label his version as – Bhagavatam 'as it is'.
MAYESVARA: Contrary to Rajasekhara dasa's claim that the horizontal plane model is some kind of schismatic and heretical idea, it is ironic that the horizontal plane model will be the one exhibited in the main dome of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium which itself is based on sketches that were first prepared and presented to Srila Prabhupada in 1977. This is a screen shot from the official TOVP animation called Vedic Planetarium Chandelier which depicts Earth's position on the central island of Bhu-mandala called Jambudwipa
RESPONSE: Our first article in the Sampradaya Sun was to challenge the 'flat earth' model presented by TOVP, simply because it did not conform to the opinion of Shrila Prabhupada or the previous acharyas' globular earth presentation. Therefore it is still our opinion that "the horizontal plane model is some kind of schismatic and heretical idea" that is not supported by the parampara.
MAYESVARA: With the exception of Srila Prabhupada, none of the acharyas in their commentaries on the Fifth Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam describe Bharata-varsha as a globe. Bharata-varsha is consistently understood to be simply a small section of a much larger area called Bhu-mandala which is a huge horizontal plane crossing the universe.
RESPONSE: Has Mayesvara actually read the commentaries of the previous acharyas?
MAYESVARA: The attempt by the current TOVP cosmology department to present the Earth as a globe is based primarily on selected extracts from secondary literature such as the Surya Siddhanta, but the acharyas in their commentaries on the Fifth Canto do not reference such books to support the purported idea that Bharata-varsha is a globe. In any case, it is impossible that the authorized Vedic sages quoted in texts other than Srimad Bhagavatam could be describing something different from the Srimad Bhagavatam itself which is the essence of all the Vedic scriptures.
RESPONSE: Simply more and more lies, the acharyas have definitely referenced such books like Surya-siddhanta and are experts in cosmology. Obviously Mayesvara is out of touch with reality
and talks like one who has never read the works of the previous acharyas.
MAYESVARA: The horizontal plane on which Earth rests continues to the next varsha of Jambudwipa; indeed it stretches in all directions to the shell of the universe. This means that our world continues for much, much further than people are being told, and the information that there is more land mass all around us is being denied them. It is the duty of the TOVP to inform people of this reality. But whose version of the Earth do the TOVP believe in more - Sukadeva Goswami, or NASA?
RESPONSE: My suggestion to everyone is to accept the version presented by the Vaishnava parampara- Shrila Prabhupada and the previous acharyas, who are far more qualified than Mayesvara or the TOVP cosmologists to comment on the 5th canto of Sukadeva Goswami's Shrimad Bhaghavatam.
MAYESVARA: If the proposed presentation of Bharata-varsha as a globe goes ahead and is introduced into the TOVP exhibitions, it must only be to appease modern science to some degree. My feeling is the management of the TOVP don't want to rock the boat by having to present to the rest of the world that the Earth of Srimad Bhagavatam is part of a massive horizontal plane, and thus coming into a huge contention with the world's governments, education systems, military/space agencies, etc. - well basically the rest of the world! The TOVP management are perhaps afraid of rejecting the globe concept for fear of looking foolish in the eyes of the world. The idea of the TOVP thus engaging in a Varahadeva-style epic battle with Nasasura (NASA) to expose their globe hoax is unfortunately not likely to happen any-time soon; sadly, the present TOVP cosmologists are themselves victims of NASA's propaganda.
RESPONSE: Mayesvara is totally obsessed with the 'NASA hoax syndrome'. Does Mayesvara think that the previous acharyas, who have promoted the globular earth concept, were themselves victims of NASA's propaganda?
MAYESVARA: Due to either lack of faith or realization there is a reluctance to defend the Srimad Bhagavatam's model and all that entails. Instead, the policy is to take the safe option of defending the existing globe model which is nothing but a product of the speculations of Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton. Some simply research will reveal that none of the so-called science supporting the globe rotating in space can actually be supported. Like Darwin's theory of evolution, the whole idea of the globe is one huge speculation that is propped up and maintained by propaganda alone.
RESPONSE: Mayesvara is obviously out of touch with reality – forget 'Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton'. The Vedic scriptures have presented the round globular earth conception since time immemorial…… "Therefore their knowledge is also imperfect because they do not refer to the Vedic literatures. It is already there. Bhü-gola. Bhü means the earth; gola means round. It is already there. And the geography's called, according to Sanskrit, it is called Bhü-gola. Long, long ago, before Galileo." (Morning Walk. December 9, 1973, Los Angeles)
MAYESVARA: Certainly, from many of the available conversations and purports, Srila Prabhupada spoke as if he naturally assumed that Earth was a globe. Rajasekhara dasa wants to take certain quotations from Srila Prabhupada as infallible proof that the Earth is indeed a globe in space, and any idea to the contrary is offensive to Srila Prabhupada, heretical, and anathema.
RESPONSE: Now we are not only presenting Shrila Prabhupada's "proof that the earth is indeed a globe in space", but are also presenting the opinions of the previous acharyas that support Shrila Prabhupada's conception that earth is definitely a globe - and my contention still stands that "any idea to the contrary is offensive to Srila Prabhupada, heretical and anathema". Especially when it is based on pure speculation.
MAYESVARA: But if we are to the take the Srimad-Bhagavatam literally, and not simply as some 'story-book,' then the description clearly points to a flat-Earth or horizontal plane concept with the rest of Jambudvipa somewhere to the north of our known oceans and continents. This means having to accept that the image of the globe-Earth as it has been presented to us is false, and that there are actually greater areas of land in the vicinity of Earth's oceans that expand for millions of miles along the horizontal plane of Bhu-mandala.
RESPONSE: For Mayesvara and other 'flat earth' believers, the Bhagavatam is just a 'story-book,'
because they have not taken shelter of the Vaishnava acharyas and are simply concocting their own 'fairy-tale land' - "somewhere to the north of our known oceans and continents".
The basic problem with Mayesvara das is everything he says is his own mental concoction – it is his own personal 'take' on the 5th canto – which he foolishly proclaims is the real 'as it is' version and anything else is 'modern blasphemy'. Mayesvara's version is not supported by any acharya in Vedic history – so please be warned!
As I said in a previous article – 'milk touched by the lips of a serpent simply becomes poisonous'. Those who hear the outrageous speculations of Mayesvara can become contaminated, very similar to those who read the mayavadi commentaries. Such persons may lose faith in Shrila Prabhupada and the previous Acharyas and that is the most harmful effect of listening to gross speculators like Mayesvara and other 'flat earth protagonists
My advice is simply take shelter of Shrila Prabhupada and the previous acharyas and be safe from offensive speculations on the subjects like the Shrimad Bhagavatam, which are far beyond the conception of ordinary human beings like Mayesvara das and other 'flat earth' believers.
It is also my contention that all those who promote the 'Flat Earth' doctrine are diametrically opposed to the teachings of Shrila Prabhupada and the previous Acharyas and are thus committing the most serious offense by promoting publicly their false doctrine, for which there is no redemption in this lifetime. To contradict the Acharya in a public forum, simply based on one's own pea-sized brain and completely limited sense perception, is definitely suicidal.
As the revered Acharya Srivamsidhara has said with regard to the 5th canto, "These are things which we should not try to understand by logic. The anirvachaniya theory is to be accepted which vouches for the inexplicability of things or whatever dimensions have been stated in Puranas." (Commentary by Srivamsidhara on SB.5.20.38 Cp445)
ALL GLORIES TO SHRILA PRABHUPADA AND THE PREVIOUS ACHARYAS, TO WHOM WE ARE ALL GREATLY INDEBTED, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH.
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