A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words
BY: MAYESVARA DASA
Jun 05, 2020 — IRELAND (SUN) — A Response to Jahnava Nitai dasa
Since the ancient Vedic Puranas describe the Earth (Bhu-mandala) as a colossal circular plane that is held by Ananta-sesha, one may wonder why modern followers of the Vedic culture have come to believe that the Earth is a small globe floating in space. In previous papers we have presented various historical reasons for this groundless transition from Earth-circle to Earth globe, and we have argued that the appearance of the Earth globe idea in Vedic cosmology is simply the unwarranted superimposition of modern cosmological assumptions onto the original Vedic teachings. In this regard I would like to thank Jahnava Nitai dasa for his article, "Lord Varaha lifting an Earth Globe?", which serves as a graphic example of how falsified evidence has been assembled to construct the erroneous idea that the Earth globe concept was part of the original Vedic cosmology.
In his article, Jahnava Nitai dasa presents the image below, which appears on dozens of online blogs and forums, and purports to show an ancient sculpture of Lord Varaha lifting a supposed Earth globe:
Varaha, of course, is one of the ten avatars of Sri Vishnu, and is famous for the pastime (lila) of lifting the Earth after it became submerged in the Garbhodaka Ocean. In the Varaha incarnation, Sri Vishnu takes the form of a boar and lifts the Earth out of the Garbhodaka Ocean with His tusks. In the above image we see Varaha manifested in personal form with the head of a boar. The uninformed author of the caption in the above image has simply assumed that the round shape near the snout of Varaha must be the round Earth globe, and working from this presumption dramatically announces that the ancient Hindus knew that the Earth was round in shape 800 years earlier than Galileo...
...As it turns out, Jahnava Nitai dasa's close-up image of the scene shows that the so-called Earth globe is actually the conch shell in one of Lord Varaha's four hands. The Earth is otherwise depicted in her personal form as Goddess Bhumi.
After five years of slogging through the seemingly endless misconceptions surrounding the nature of the Vedic Earth, it comes as a glimmer of hope, and something of a relief, to find even a single devotee like Jahnava Nitai dasa, who does not simply go along with accepted ideas regarding the 'evidence' for a so-called Earth globe in Vedic cosmology, but has actually taken the time to check the authenticity of the original source material that has been used to promote such an idea. Thank you Jahanava Nitai dasa for revealing the Emperor's new clothes.
However, let's consider the important point that if Jahnava Nitai dasa had not pointed out the blunder in the above presentation of an ancient Varaha sculpture depicting a so-called Earth globe, most people interested in the subject would simply go on believing that the sculpture of Varaha provides 'evidence' for an Earth globe concept in ancient Vedic cosmology. The same image was actually used by Radha Mohan dasa (from Bhaktivedanta Manor) as 'evidence' for the Earth globe in his propaganda video called Earth globe in Vedic Culture (see below). Unless a person comes across Jahnava Nitai's dasa's article which sets the record straight, uninformed people will continue to go on believing in, and propagating an idea about Vedic Cosmology which simply isn't true. Unfortunately, since the many blogs, forums, and videos containing the above Lord Varaha meme will remain on the Internet, the Indians and other followers of Vedic culture that come across these sites will continue to rejoice in the false triumph that their predecessors were smarter than their Western counterparts for having discovered the so-called Earth globe long before Galileo. The followers of Vedic culture have every reason to believe that the ancient rishis were more advanced in cosmology than their modern Western counterparts, but not because they believed the Earth was a globe-shaped planet floating in space; the rishis were advanced (aryans) because they taught that the Vedic Earth (Bhu-mandala) is a circular plane held up by the incarnation of Godhead called Ananta-sesha (see section below on Ananta-sesha and the Original Aryan Cosmology).
It is astonishing that such a ridiculous argument based on the above image of Sri Varaha could be so long touted on the Internet as 'proof' that the ancient Hindus taught an Earth globe concept. This one picture exemplifies the absurdity of the numerous arguments presented as 'evidence' for a Vedic Earth globe. One is reminded of the seemingly limitless blunders, frauds, and forgeries that have been used by evolutionists to create an awesome, but entirely false construct of reality in regards to the origins of life and the universe. As we have been attempting to show in our many previous articles on Sampradaya Sun, the 'evidence' in support of the Earth globe ideology in ISKCON's presentation of Vedic Cosmology is built on a similar series of fallacious arguments, with the net result that members of the Hare Krishna society are still living with an idea of Earth that has no actual existence in the Vedic universe.
Just as the creator of the above Varaha meme had looked at an ancient sculpture, and simply imposed their modern idea of the Earth onto a scene which is depicting an entirely different reality, in the same way members of ISKCON have created the impression that verses from ancient Vedic scriptures are describing an Earth globe when they are actually descriptions of an Earth circle. The difficulty in exposing what is going wrong in ISKCON's presentation of the Vedic Earth is simply the time it takes to deconstruct the various arguments. Whilst it only takes a few seconds to point out to someone that an image of an ancient Vedic sculpture purporting to show an Earth globe is in fact a carving of a conch shell, it unfortunately takes a lot more time in order to point out the specific details of how Sanskrit texts are mistranslated, interpolated, distorted, and manipulated in order to make it seem that they are describing an Earth globe, when they are in fact describing an Earth circle.
The above meme which attempts to present a carving of a conch-shell as an 'Earth globe' really is a joke. But the joke is on those members of the Hare Krishna movement who perpetrate the same fake news and propaganda in the name of Vedic Cosmology. As mentioned, the above image has also been presented by Radha Mohan dasa as 'evidence' for the globe in his video named Earth globe in Vedic Culture. The following screen-shot is from the video, with commentary below:
Radha Mohan dasa:
"Lord Varaha is said to lift the Earth on his tusks. Lets have a closer look here. Yes there you have it, a circular round Earth! Incidentally it has Mount Meru on the top there, but that is for another subject".
As Jahnava Nitai dasa has clearly shown, the so-called Earth globe being lifted by Lord Varaha is not even a spherical shape, but is actually the conch-shell carried in one of Lord Varaha's four hands.
Instead of stopping to inquire how Lord Varaha could be possibly lifting an Earth globe when the Srimad Bhagavatam clearly states that Varaha lifted the entire Bhu-mandala (ca saukaram bhu-mandalenatha data dhatena te, see SB 3.13.41 below), and instead of having a close inspection of the Varaha sculpture in question, in order to clearly ascertain the nature of the round object near the snout of Varaha, Radha Mohan dasa, in his characteristic fashion, simply picks up any scrap of evidence that appears to verify his preconceived faith in an Earth globe, and then adds further speculation to the initial mistake by stating that he can also see a carving of Mount Meru on top of said Earth globe. What is actually the mouth-piece of the conch shell is, according to Radha Mohan dasa, Mount Meru on top of the Earth globe! MOUNT MERU ON TOP OF THE EARTH GLOBE! ARE YOU KIDDING? MOUNT MERU IS IN THE CENTER OF JAMBUDVIPA AND STANDS 100,000 YOJANAS (800,000 MILES) TALL. The following verse from Srimad Bhagavatam confirms that Mount Meru is in Ilavrta-varsha, which is in the center of Jambudvipa:
"Amidst these divisions, or varshas, is the varsha named Ilavrita, which is situated in the middle of the whorl of the lotus. Within Ilavrita-varsha is Sumeru Mountain, which is made of gold. Sumeru Mountain is like the pericarp of the lotuslike Bhu-mandala planetary system. The mountain's height is the same as the width of Jambudvipa—or, in other words, 100,000 yojanas [800,000 miles]. Of that, 16,000 yojanas [128,000 miles] are within the earth, and therefore the mountain's height above the earth is 84,000 yojanas [672,000 miles]. The mountain's width is 32,000 yojanas [256,000 miles] at its summit and 16,000 yojanas at its base". (SB 5.16.7)
Here it says the base alone of Mount Meru is 16,000 yojanas (128,000 miles). Meru stands 84,000 yojanas (672,000 miles) in height, and its root goes down a further 16,000 yojanas (128,000 miles) into the core of the Bhu-mandala; Mount Meru is altogether 100,000 yojana/800,000 miles in height. How could such a huge mountain fit onto a tiny Earth globe? Why would anyone even think that Mount Meru is on the so-called Earth globe when the globe in question is a mere 24,900 miles in circumference, whilst Mount Meru is altogether a massive 100,000 yojanas (800,000 miles) high.
Moreover, since the so-called Earth globe is supposed to represent the area of Bharata-varsha, why does Radha Mohan dasa think that Mount Meru is situated in Bharata-varsha when Srimad Bhagavatam clearly describes that Mount Meru is located in Ilavrta-varsha? Jambudvipa is divided into nine massive areas (varshas) of which Bharata-varsha is one. The above verse (SB 5.16.8) states that Mount Meru is within Ilavrta-varsha, which is in the center or middle of Jambudvipa (esham madhye ilavritam namabhyantara varsham). Thus Mount Meru is not in Bharata-varsha, which is located at the southern side (daksina) of Jambudvipa (see SB 5.16.9). Bharata-varsha is actually hundreds of thousands of miles south of Mount Meru. The image below shows the location of Bharata-varsha to the south of Mount Meru which is situated in the center of Jambudvipa.
Moreover since Bharata-varsha is described as a small part of the greater landmass of Jambudvipa, it certainly cannot be understood as an independent globe-shaped planet that floats in space. Why then are ISKCON's preachers refusing to preach (on the basis of Srimad Bhagavatam) that we live on a gigantic Earth plane—and not on an Earth globe?
We should mention that in a previous video called Invisible Realms in the Vedic Hindu Universe, Radha Mohan dasa includes the familiar image (below) of Jambudvipa along with the following narration:
"Of course, we are all familiar with Jambudvipa. There's Mountain Meru in the center; the golden mountain surrounded by various mountains and rivers".
Note here, that Bharata-varsha is south of Mount Meru, not that Mount Meru is plonked on top of Bharata-varsha. The Puranas measure the distance between Mount Meru and Bharata-varsha at hundreds of thousands of miles. In the above video Radha Mohan dasa correctly presents Mount Meru as being in the center of Jambudvipa, whilst in the first video previously discussed, he presents Mount Meru as being on top of the Earth globe. Here we see a clear example of a member of ISKCON simply switching between Vedic and Modern ideas of the Earth, as if they are perfectly compatible ideas when they are in fact, two radically different ideas regarding the nature of the Earth we live upon. A question may be raised why Radha Mohan dasa does not stick consistently with the correct teaching that Mount Meru is in the center of Jambudvipa? I would venture to answer that the reason why Radha Mohan dasa does not stick consistently with this teaching, is because he does not actually believe it to be true. If Radha Mohan dasa, or any other devotee presenting Vedic cosmology truly accepted the Srimad Bhagavatam's teaching that Bharata-varsha is a small part of a larger landmass called Jambudvipa, why would they then make arguments for the idea that Bharata-varsha is a small globe-shaped planet floating in space? Either we are on a larger Earth plane as Srimad Bhagavatam describes, or we are not. Instead of exhibiting comprehension, acceptance, and faith in Srimad Bhagavatam's revolutionary idea that Bharata-varsha is a small part of a larger Earth plane, Radha Mohan dasa is at pains to deliberately go against this teaching by maintaining the narrative that Bharata-varsha is a globe floating in space. The result of this initial fallacy is an utter distortion and travesty of the original Vedic cosmology...
Only a few moments after presenting Mount Meru as being in the center of Jambudvipa (a 100,000 yojana/800,000 mile circular landmass), Radha Mohan causally informs us that Mount Meru can be understood as the north and south pole running through the center of the Earth globe:
Radha Mohan dasa:
How is it possible to discuss with this level of deviation and speculation? What else can I say?
I've asked the question before, do those members of ISKCON who are presenting Vedic cosmology take Srimad Bhagavatam seriously? Srimad Bhagavatam contains a description of the names, measurements, and directions of various important regions in the universe, and this description enables us to make a map of the universe so that we can easily ascertain the distance and direction of one place to another. The description of the virat-rupa (universal form) which includes the names, forms, measurements, directions, etc. of each place in the universe, allows us to easily understand that an 800,000 mile tall golden Mountain is not the North Pole. Just as the description of a cabbage enables us to understand that a cabbage is not a pomegranate, a guitar, or a yellow submarine—all of which are described differently—likewise, the description of Mount Meru (its size, shape, location, etc.) enables us to understand that Mount Meru is in Ilavrta-varsha, and is not to be misidentified as the region known as the North Pole which is in Bharata-varsha. Ilavrta-varsha is a square area of land measuring an astonishing 34,000 yojanas (272,000 miles) in length and breadth. Certainly such a huge area of land cannot be equated with any area in our own local area of the Earth.
Since all measurements in the Vedic universe are calculated from Mount Meru, it is essential that one knows the exact location of Mount Meru within the universal egg (brahmanda). Why then is Radha Mohan dasa presenting videos on Vedic cosmology to a world audience, when he doesn't even know where the axis mundi (Mount Meru) is located? Since Srila Vyasadeva describes Mount Meru as being in the center of Jambudvipa, why is Radha Mohan dasa presenting the idea that Mount Meru is on top of an Earth globe supposedly floating in space. Does Radha Mohan dasa not fear speaking an untruth? Is there no fear of presenting ideas that directly go against the teachings of Srila Vyasadeva? By circulating such ideas, Radha Mohan dasa keeps himself and others in a false construct of reality; to state it frankly, Radha Mohan dasa keeps himself and others in a state of maya.
When confronted with such glaring inconsistencies in the argument, Radha Mohan dasa simply parrots the argument presented by Sadaputa dasa that Mount Meru and other features of the Bhu-mandala are higher dimensional, and thus we can't see them. However, the real reason why we cannot see Mount Meru is not because it is in another dimension, but simply because it is hundreds of thousands of miles to the north of our particular region of the Earth circle. And since we are restricted by karma from going outside of our limited jurisdiction in Bharata-varsha, the only possible way to know about the other areas situated along the greater Earth plane is by understanding the situation as it is described by Vedic authorities. It is simply the refusal to accept Srimad Bhagavatam's description of a larger Earth plane that results in devotees such as Radha Mohan dasa continuing the false narrative that the Puranas describe Earth as a globe floating in space; and then confusing things further by saying that Mount Meru is on top of the Earth globe.
One may think I am being very harsh here in my criticism of what to some may seem like a harmless mistake on Radha Mohan dasa's part, however presenting misinformation about the Vedic universe—and specifically about the Earth is not a small mistake—it is a very big mistake! Since it is of utmost spiritual importance to understand not only who we are, but also where we are in the vast scheme of things—and indeed, to understand the specific manner in which Sri Krishna has designed the universe—the presentation of Vedic knowledge should be taken with due gravity and seriousness. Building a model of the Vedic cosmos based on the modern assumption that the Earth is a globe-shaped planet floating in space—rather than on the Srimad Bhagavatam's assertion that the Earth is a circular plane held by Ananta-sesha—obviously leads to a completely different understanding of the physical and spiritual reality described in Srimad Bhagavatam.
THE ORIGINAL ARYAN COSMOLOGY TEACHES FLAT EARTH
By 'flat-Earth' we do not mean a flattened version of the Earth globe supposedly floating in dark space. The idea of an Earth globe floating in space does not exist in either Vedic cosmology or astrology, so there is no question of presenting a flattened version of something that doesn't exist. By 'flat-Earth' we refer to the Vedic description of the colossal Bhu-mandala (Earth-circle) that is held by Ananta-sesha. Bhu-mandala can be considered as a 'flat-Earth' because it is described as a landscape comprising seven massive islands (sapta-dvipa) and seven massive oceans (sapta-sindhava) that continue along a horizontal plane for hundreds of millions of miles. The seven cosmic-sized islands and oceans of the Earth circle are described in chapters 16-20 of the fifth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. The great Earth-circle has massive underground realms known as bila-svarga (subterranean heavens) and naraka (hell). These underground realms go down for hundreds of thousands of miles, and are described in chapters 24 and 26 of the fifth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. The Great Earth circle is held and supported by an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead called Ananta-sesha. Ananta-sesha is described in chapter 25 of the fifth canto.
We claimed earlier that the Vedic rishis were more advanced than their modern cosmologist counterparts—not because they first taught the idea that the Earth is a globe-shaped planet floating in space—but rather because they taught that the Earth is a flat circular plane held up by the incarnation of Godhead called Ananta-sesha. One may think the idea of a circular flat-Earth being held by a thousand headed serpent is a laughable and primitive idea, and certainly not an 'advanced' scientific idea; in any case, as we shall establish below, this understanding of the Earth is part of the original Vedic cosmology that was taught and believed by the Aryans—a belief which I personally espouse, and will continue to defend. Lord Ananta-sesha is no laughing matter:
ye ananta-namera sravana-sankirtane
ye-te mate kene nahi bole ye-te jane
sesha-janmera bandha chinde sei-kshane
ataeva vaishnava na chade kabhu tane
"If we simply try to engage in the congregational chanting of the glories of Lord Anantadeva, the dirty things in our hearts, accumulated during many births, will immediately be washed away. Therefore a Vaishnava never loses an opportunity to glorify Anantadeva.
'sesha' ba-i samsarera gati nahi ara
anantera name sarva-jivera uddhara
"Lord Anantadeva is known as Sesha [the unlimited end] because He ends our passage through this material world. Simply by chanting His glories, everyone can be liberated. (Caitanya-bhagavata, Adi-khanda, 1.62-64)
Srila Prabhupada generally translated the word 'Aryan' to mean those who are 'advanced' in spiritual knowledge and culture. In a purport to Srimad Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada writes, 'Real advancement is advancement toward spiritual realization, and the community which acted toward this end was known as the Aryan civilization' (SB 3.21.52-54 purport). Again in a later purport, Srila Prabhupada says, 'Aryan means "advanced."' (SB 4,30.39-40 purport). The Sanskrit dictionary defines the word arya as 'devoted', 'excellent', 'respectable', 'dear', 'noble', 'true', 'honourable', 'polite', 'wise', 'kind', gentleman-like', 'courteous', etc.
http://spokensanskrit.org/index.php?mode=3&tran_input=arya&script=hk&anz=100&direct=se
So what do the Aryans believe about the nature of the Earth? Let us begin with two verses from Srimad Bhagavatam wherein King Citraketu declares that the Aryans worship Lord Sankarshan, and that Sankarshan in the form of Ananta-sesha holds the Bhu-mandala (Earth-circle):
"My dear Lord, one's occupational duty is instructed in Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita according to Your point of view, which never deviates from the highest goal of life. Those who follow their occupational duties under Your supervision, being equal to all living entities, moving and nonmoving, and not considering high and low, are called Aryans. Such Aryans worship You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead". (SB 6.16.43)
upasate—follow; tu—certainly; aryah—those who are advanced in civilization.
Here it says that the Aryans worship Sankarshan. King Citraketu then praises Sankarshan as Ananta, the holder of Bhu-mandala:
bhu-mandalam sarshapayati yasya murdhni
tasmai namo bhagavate 'stu sahasra-murdhne
"My dear Lord, it is after You endeavor that Lord Brahma, Indra and the other directors of the cosmic manifestation become occupied with their activities. It is after You perceive the material energy, My Lord, that the senses begin to perceive. The Supreme Personality of Godhead holds all the universes on His heads like seeds of mustard. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, that Supreme Personality, who has thousands of hoods." (SB 6.16.48)
Although in the above verse Srila Prabhupada has translated Bhu-mandala as 'universe', the name Bhu-mandala is an undisputed name for the Earth itself. The verse is specifically glorifying Ananta-sesha as the holder of the Earth-circle. In the Srimad Bhagavatam it specifically states that when the Earth sunk into the Garbhodaka Ocean, Lord Varaha raised the Bhu-mandala (Earth circle):
ca saukaram bhu-mandalenatha data dhatena te
"O Lord, as the peaks of great mountains become beautiful when decorated with clouds, Your transcendental body has become beautiful because of Your lifting the Earth on the edge of Your tusks. (SB 3.13.41)
saukaram—the boar; bhu-mandalena—by the earth planet; atha—now; data—by the tusk; dhrtena—sustained by; te—Your
Here it clearly says that Lord Varaha lifted the Earth-circle (Bhu-mandala), not an Earth-globe. What is the Bhu-mandala? In response to Pariksit Maharaja's question about the measurement (manatah) and characteristics (laksanatah) of the Bhu-mandala (See SB 5.16.1-2), Sukadeva Goswami says:
bhu-golaka-visesham nama-rupa-mana-lakshanato vyakhyasyamah
"O King, I shall nevertheless try to explain to you the principal regions, such as Bhu-goloka [Bhuloka], with their names, forms, measurements, and various symptoms." (SB 5.16.4)
Here the name Bhu-gola is used synonymously with Bhu-mandala. The one Earth is known by many names. In the Dasavatar Stotram, for example, Jayadeva Goswami uses the name Bhu-gola when describing Varaha lifting the Earth. After describing the various avatars in the first ten verses, Jayadeva Goswami summarizes the pastimes in verse 12. Here He mentions that Varaha lifted the Bhu-gola:
vedan uddharate jaganti vahate bhu-golam udbibhrate
daityam darayate balim chalayate kshatra-kshayam kurvate
paulastyam jayate halam kalayate karunyam atanvate
mlecchan murchayate dasakriti-krite krishnaya tubhyam namah
vedan uddharate–rescuing the Vedas; jaganti vahate–bearing the Mandara Mountain on Your back; bhu-golam udbibhrate–lifting the earth; daityam darayate–tearing apart the demon Hiranyakasipu; balim chalayate–tricking the demon king Bali; kshatra-kshayam kurvate–slaying all of the wicked kshatriyas; paulastyam jayate–conquering the son of Pulastya [the rakshasa king Ravana]; halam kalayate–carrying a plow; karunyam atanvate–showing compassion; mlecchan murchayate–killing the degraded low-class men; dasa-akriti krite–O You who appears in the forms of these ten incarnations!; krishnaya–O Lord Krishna!; tubhyam namah–I offer my obeisances unto You.
"O Lord Krishna, I offer my obeisances unto You, who appear in the forms of these ten incarnations. In the form of Matsya You rescue the Vedas, and as Kurma You bear the Mandara Mountain on Your back. As Varaha You lift the Earth with Your tusk, and in the form of Narasimha You tear open the chest of the daitya Hiranyakasipu..." (Sri Dasavatara-stotra verse 12, from Gita-govinda by Jayadeva Gosvami)
The various speakers of the Puranas as well as the acharyas who make commentaries on the Puranas all use the name Bhu-gola synonymously with the name Bhu-mandala. Thus if we wish to know the names (nama), shape (rupa), size (mana), and other features and characteristics (lakshanatah) of the Earth (Bhu-gola), then we only have to follow the description provided in chapters 16-26 of the fifth Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the twentieth chapter of this section (SB 5.16.38), Sukadeva Goswami states that learned Vedic scholars have measured the Earth (Bhu-gola) at 500 million yojanas (4 billion miles):
vicintitah kavibhih sa tu pancasat-koti-ganitasya bhu-golasya
vicintitah—established by scientific calculations; kavibhih—by learned scholars; sah—that; tu—but; pancasat-koti—500,000,000 yojanas; ganitasya—which is measured at; bhu-golasya—of the planetary system known as Bhugolaka.
In ten chapters of the fifth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, the Vedic massive Earth is summarily described as a circular plane which is 500 million yojanas (4 billion miles) in diameter. How then can the name Bhu-gola be a reference to a 24,900 Earth globe when the Bhu-gola is measured here at 500 million yojanas?
In chapter 25 of the fifth canto of SB, the massive Bhu-mandala/Bhu-gola is described as being held up by an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead called Ananta-sesha, and thus enjoys a unique situation since it does not float in space in like the other planets described in chapter 22 of the fifth canto. Sukadeva Goswami says:
murdhany arpitam anuvat sahasra-murdhno
bhu-golam sagiri-sarit-samudra-sattvam änantyad
"Because the Lord is unlimited, no one can estimate His power. This entire universe, filled with its many great mountains, rivers, oceans, trees and living entities, is resting just like an atom on one of His many thousands of hoods." (SB 5.25.12)
Although Srila Prabhupada has translated Bhu-gola here as 'the universe', the name Bhu-gola is a specific name for the Earth, and as already mentioned, the Bhu-gola is measured at 500 million yojanas in diameter. Bhu-gola and Bhu-mandala are just different ways of naming the Earth, and Ananta-sesha is glorified as the holder of the Earth. Just as Citraketu in the above verse glorifies Ananta-sesha for holding the Earth (Bhu-gola), so the Kauravas likewise praised Lord Balarama as the incarnation of Ananta-sesha who holds the Earth (Bhu-mandala) on His head as a pastime:
Srila Prabhupada translates the above verse as follows: "O unlimited one of a thousand heads, as Your pastime You carry this earthly globe upon one of Your heads". Although Srila Prabhupada has translated the name Bhu-mandala as 'Earthly globe', the description of Bhu-mandala in chapters 16-26 of the fifth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam describes a very different reality. As already mentioned, the Bhu-mandala is described as a 500 million yojana circular plane, not a 24,900 mile globe.
Both of the above verses (SB 5.25.12 and SB 10.68.46) glorify Ananta-sesha as the holder of the Earth, though on one occasion the Earth is called Bhu-gola, and on the other occasion it is called Bhu-mandala. All of the Puranas glorify Ananta-sesha who holds the Earth on one of His thousand hoods. In the sculpture of Varaha lifting the personified Earth goddess, Ananta-sesha is also depicted in the bottom right hand side of the sculpture. Ananta-sesha is depicted in the scene because He is the eternal holder of the Bhu-mandala. The photograph below shows the scene in detail:
When Lord Varaha raised the Earth after it was stolen and hidden by Hiranyaksha, He placed the Earth again on the head of Ananta-sesha. This fact is explained in the following narration from Padma Purana:
"Having spoken like this, the two. very powerful door keepers were born from the womb of Diti, (the wife of) Kasyapa. Hiranyakasipu was the elder and Hiranyaksha the younger. Both of them were well-known in the world. Both were very powerful and haughty due to their might. That Hiranyaksha of an immeasurable body and very haughty removed, with his thousands of arms, the Earth along with mountains, oceans, islands, and all living beings. Having removed it out and put it on his head he entered the lower world. Then all the hosts of gods, afflicted by fear, cried. They sought the shelter of Narayana, Vishnu. Then knowing that wonder, He, Vishnu, the holder of a conch, a disc, and a mace, took up the Boar-form, existing everywhere and having no beginning, middle or end. The highest Lord full of everything, having hands and feet on all sides, having large fangs and arms, struck the demon with one fang. The mean son of Diti, with his huge body pounded, died. Seeing the Earth fallen (from the demon's head), He lifted it with his fang, and putting it on Sesha's head as before, took up the form of a Tortoise. Seeing great Vishnu of the form of the hog, all deities and sages, with their bodies bowed with devotion, praised him". (Padma Purana, Vl.237.11-19)
The Brahma Purana further states that Ananta-sesha is decorated with the swastika—the symbol of the Aryans:
"Daityas and Danavas are not capable of recounting his good qualities. He is honoured by Devas and celestial sages. He is spoken of as Ananta. He has a thousand hoods and He is clearly bedecked in Swastika ornaments devoid of impurities. He illuminates all quarters by thousand jewels on his hoods…The Earth is thus held on his head by the noble Naga. He holds the universe including Devas, Asuras, and human beings". (Brahma Purana, chapter 19, verses 9-20)
In the above cited verse that speaks of the Aryans glorifying Ananta-sesha (SB 6.16.43), Srila Prabhupada again translates the word arya as 'advanced'. Srila Prabhupada also mentions in one purport:
"An Aryan civilization is a civilization advanced in spiritual knowledge. Not merely by stamping oneself an Aryan does one become an Aryan. To keep oneself in the deepest darkness concerning spiritual knowledge and at the same time claim to be an Aryan is a non-Aryan position". (7.2.60 purport)
Since Srimad Bhagavatam reveals the 'spiritual knowledge' that we are located on an Earth circle that is held by Ananta-sesha, why is ISKCON still teaching that we live on an Earth globe floating in space? Where is the advancement? The Puranas unanimously and consistently declare that Ananta-sesha holds the Earth-circle. Sri Krishna Himself said to Radha, aham seshas ca kalaya svamsena tvam vasundhara:
"As a potter cannot create a pot without clay, so I cannot create the worlds without You. I expand as Lord Sesha and You expand as the Earth, the resting place of crops and jewels. Then I carry You, the Earth, on My head. O beautiful one, You are beauty, peace, form, gracefulness, saintliness" (Brahma-vivarta Purana, Krishna Janma Khanda, Chapter 67, Verses 76-77)
Followers of Sri Krishna accept that Srimad Bhagavatam establishes what is real and true, and exposes what is false or illusory:
"Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhagavata Purana propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are fully pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all. Such truth uproots the threefold miseries." (SB 1.1.2)
As explained with reference to the above verses from Srimad Bhagavatam, the Aryans believe and teach that the Earth is a circular plane held by Ananta-sesha. The Earth globe idea is a product of non-Aryan speculations, illusions, untruths, and deceptions. The Earth globe paradigm will be scientifically deconstructed in due course of time, and a new Earth paradigm will emerge. The scientific deconstruction of globe ideology is already underway, and will be perfected when the devotees of Sri Krishna become conscious of the true nature of the Earth as it is originally described in the Srimad Bhagavatam. The change in paradigm is part of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's desire to inundate the universe with love of Godhead. When properly presented, the revelation of the Earth's true shape and size at The Temple of Vedic Planetarium will create a revolutionary change in consciousness that will enable the people in Bharata-varsha to connect spiritually (via sankirtan) with the rest of the universal family.
REALIZED KNOWLEDGE (VIJNANA)
Just as a curious Jahnava Nitai dasa took a closer look at the sculpture of Lord Varaha and discovered that the shape touted as an Earth globe was actually a conch-shell, we encourage members of ISKCON to take a closer look at those Sanskrit verses which are similarly touted as descriptions of an Earth globe—on closer inspection the verses describing Bhu-gola actually turn out to be descriptions of an Earth-circle, not an Earth globe.
In his Earth Globe in Vedic Culture video, the above mentioned Radha Mohan dasa continues to present cherry-picked statements from Srila Prabhupada in order to argue that the Bhu-gola described in Srimad Bhagavatam is a 24,900 mile globe floating in space. Despite being personally informed on multiple occasions that the Srimad Bhagavatam measures the Bhu-gola at 500 million yojanas in diameter, Radha Mohan dasa included the following quotation from Srila Prabhupada in his video presentation:
What Radha Mohan dasa fails to discuss is that Srila Prabhupada never cited any specific verse from Srimad Bhagavatam which describes the Bhu-gola as a 24,900 mile globe floating in space. When we actually follow Srila Prabhupada instructions to "carefully study the details of the Fifth Canto and make a working model of the universe" (Letter from Srila Prabhupada to Svarupa Damodara dasa, April 27, 1976) we find that the Bhu-gola is described in Srimad Bhagavatam as a 500 million yojana circular plane that is held by Ananta-sesha, not a 24,900 mile globe that floats in space. Srila Prabhupada gave full authority to study the original Sanskrit descriptions so that an accurate depiction of the Vedic cosmos can be displayed at the Temple of Vedic Planetarium:
"Srila Prabhupada then expressed his concern: "We must exactly follow the description of Bhagavatam. As we are going to spend many crores of rupees, and there will be those who will try to find fault in our presentation, 'Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.' I have explained whatever I could already in my books. Now my brain is no longer able to work properly. You young men can tax your brains to understand the Sanskrit and English descriptions and present them." (Tamal Krishna Goswami's Diary: Prabhupada's Final Days, May 30 1977)
Following Srila Prabhupada's instruction, we have provided the shastric evidence for the true shape and size of the Earth in the papers: "A Reply to Danavir Goswami's "Flat-Earth or Globular Earth?", Part One and Part Two.
When Radha Mohan dasa cites Srila Prabhupada saying that Bhu-gola means round Earth, he actually uses statements from Srila Prabhupada out of context of the specific description of Bhu-gola given in Srimad Bhagavatam, and in a way that goes against Srila Prabhupada's important instruction to carefully study the fifth canto and make a working model of the universe. Since we are instructed to make a model of the universe according o the fifth canto, the Bhu-gola is obviously to be depicted as a 500 million yojana circular plane that is held by Ananta-sesha, not as a 24,900 mile globe floating in space. There is only one Earth in the Vedic cosmology, and it's not a globe floating in space. Radha Mohan dasa actually uses Srila Prabhupada's references to the Bhu-gola in a manner that goes against the Srimad Bhagavatam description of the Bhu-gola in question. How could that ever be pleasing to Srila Prabhupada? Srila Prabhupada warned about the cheating mentality:
"Illusion means two plus two equal to four; I have written "five," but I am seeing it is all right. I'm seeing it is all right: "two." Therefore one should not correct himself. Another person should take the editorial correction work, because the man who has written he sees that it is right. This is called illusion. So to commit mistake, to get into illusion, overpowered by illusion, and cheating. Cheating means you have made mistake, "two plus two equal to five." "Yes," you're persisting, "Yes, it is right." That is cheating." (SB 1.15.31, LA, December 9, 1973)
Despite personally pointing out to Radha Mohan dasa that the Bhu-gola is 500 million yojanas in diameter, he unfortunately persists in perpetrating a misconstrued idea of the Bhu-gola: "Cheating means you have made mistake, "two plus two equal to five." "Yes," you're persisting, "Yes, it is right." That is cheating". As per Srila Prabhupada's instruction, the depiction of the Bhu-gola and other features of the Vedic Universe within the Temple of Vedic Planetarium must exactly follow the description given in Srimad Bhagavatam:
Prabhupada: Now you all together make this Vedic planetarium very nice, so that people will come and see. From the description of the Srimad Bhagavatam, you prepare this Vedic planetarium. (Room Conversation, June 15, 1976 Detroit)
As Jahnava Nitai dasa's article so clearly highlights, the propagation of false information about the nature of the Vedic Earth will continue until someone exposes the nature of each particular fraud by careful examination of the original Vedic artifacts and texts. Unfortunately, even though various mistakes may be exposed, unless people come across the exposure, they will continue believing in whatever fake news is first presented to them. In our own case, even when the different arguments for the globe presented by Danavir Goswami, Radha Mohan dasa, and others have been thoroughly refuted, the devotees in question never publicly retract their mistakes so that others can become aware of the mistakes that have been made. Moreover, until a member of ISKCON comes across and understands the various points that have been already refuted, an uninformed devotee will just go on accepting whatever their perceived authority presents as the facts of the matter regarding the true shape and size of the Vedic Earth.
JahnavaNitai dasa's close-up image of the Varaha sculpture showing that the so-called Earth globe is in fact the Lord Varaha's conch-shell, exemplifies the unfortunate ignorance of those writing on the subject of the Vedic Earth, the ensuing foolhardiness of those engaged in propagating such untruths to the rest of the uninformed populace, and of course, shows how an entirely false construct of cosmic reality can be engineered by a series of fallacious arguments.
ANCIENT ART DEPICTING LORD VARAHA LIFTING THE FLAT-EARTH
There has also been an unfortunate proliferation of modern paintings by followers of Vedic culture which erroneously depict Lord Varaha lifting an Earth globe from the waters of the Garbhodaka Ocean.
The depiction of the Earth as a globe balancing on the tusks of Lord Varaha, does not help followers of sanatana-dharma to understand that their worshipful Lord Sri Krishna, created the Earth in the form of a colossal circular plane, not a small globe. The image of Varaha lifting an Earth globe creates a samskara that is difficult to shift. Although Srila Prabhupada had himself instructed an artist disciple to depict Varaha holding an Earth globe, the issue was later settled when it became apparent that Varaha had lifted the entire Bhu-mandala—not an earth globe! We have discussed the issue in a paper called, "Did Lord Varaha Lift an Earth globe?".
Unfortunately we have yet to see any of ISKCON's artists depict Lord Varaha lifting the Bhu-mandala as it is described in Srimad Bhagavatam; instead ISKCON's artists continue to depict the Earth as a small globe—an idea that has no basis in the cosmology of Srimad Bhagavatam. Whilst members of ISKCON are focused on finding evidence for the so-called Earth globe in ancient Vedic culture, they overlook all the evidence for a flat-Earth which is right in front of their eyes. Below are some ancient paintings of Varaha lifting the Earth which is depicted as a flat circular plane, not a round globe. If the ancient Hindus truly believed the Earth was globular, they would have depicted as such. Instead they clearly depicted the Earth as it is described in all of the Puranas—a flat circular plane!
The following images show Varaha lifting the flat-Earth from the Garbhodaka Ocean. The Earth is clearly depicted as flat and circular, not because the people were primitive and lacked spaceships and satellites—the Vedic Puranas are replete with stories of flying craft (vimanas) that can travel from one place in the universe to another, so visualization of the Earth from space is not the issue— the Earth is rather depicted as a circular plane because that is how Sri Krishna created it, and that is how He revealed it via disciplic succession. This knowledge of Bhu-mandala was prevalent in India until the modern age when it gradually became covered over due to the foreign influences; it was Srila Prabhupada's desire to revive knowledge of the Bhu-mandala and other features of the Vedic cosmos via the Temple of Vedic Planetarium:
"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… The model will depict…The earthly system (bhu-mandala with Sumeru in center, seven islands (saptadvipa), seven oceans (sapta-samudra), Manosattara Parvata, Lokaloka Parvata, Alokavarsa." (Letter to S.L. Dhani, 14 November 1976)
Varaha, The Boar Incarnation of Vishnu lifting the Bhu-mandala from the Garbhodaka Ocean
Folio from the Tehri Garhwal series of the Gita Govinda, c. 1775–1780
Lord Varaha – Patna, 1800's
Varaha Rescues the World from the Waters
The Impey Avatara Bengal, c. 1775 (Chester Beatty Gallery, Dublin)
Varaha vanquishing the demon and lifting the Earth from the Grabhodaka ocean
North India, Pahari region, c. 1800
Vishnu as Varaha rescuing the Earth – Kangra 1820-40
Varaha Killing Hiranyaksha and Lifting the Earth – Pahari, Chamba, c. 1730-40
Varaha lifting the Earth and Fighting Hiranyaksha
