Sep 10, 2016 — SAINT-PETERSBURG, RUSSIA (SUN) —
Bhu Mandala – The Round Earth
In our last presentation we looked at the Vedic conception of the World, or Jagat, and its correlation with modern scientific views and discoveries. Scientific approach toward knowledge that was given to us by sages and yogis of the past will help us to have a better picture of our Solar world. When we say "Scientific approach", we mean not rejection of Vedic views, but understanding of it in the light of modern discoveries.
It is important to know what exactly Rishis of the past could see, know or describe for us. However, Vedic scriptures have some specialties of understanding. For example, the description of our Universe in the fifth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam is not a monolithic scientific treatise but a conglomerate of knowledge and views about physical and metaphysical realities. Thus, for example, Shukadeva Gosvami says that many of his descriptions are not his personal experiences, but views of different sages of past and present, which sometimes do not correlate well.
Also, it is very important to properly understand the principle of description of different places of the universe, as given in the Vedas and Srimad Bhagavatam, specially. Thus in modern times, while describing some places of the Universe, we got used to the view of astronauts looking from orbit on the planet. However Sages, while describing different planets or places of existence, describe them from the point of view of inhabitants of these places. For example, the astronaut while describing our Earth would say that this is a round planet, surrounded by air and covered by oceans of liquid. That it is rotating around a star and around its axis, etc. However the Vedic yogi, while visiting Earth in his "yogic" body, would say that Earth is flat, sky is blue, that the air is full of wonderful scents. That the Sun is rising over the horizon and after passing over, sets down. That the Earth is surrounded by oceans of salted water, etc. Thus most of these narrations are not scientific treatises but attempts of description of how inhabitants feel and see their world in those places.
Another important consideration is that rishis describe the world in its different phases of existence. Thus our world, continent or even our place as well as their descriptions could be quite different. Also it is important to understand the starting point of reference. For example, mount Meru for our planet.
Returning to the subject of discussion – BHU-MANDALA, lets correct some misunderstandings. One devotee in previous posts tried to prove that the word "mandala" always means disc. However Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 5.34 used the word "SURYA-MANDALA" – Sun globe (author there is very specific that it is a globe). Also in Bhagavatam 5.24.2 used the words "TARANER MANDALAM" - Sun globe. But while describing the Sun even well knowing that it is a round, globe-like shape we still say "Sun's disc". Otherwise what shape are Sun, Moon or stars.
So what about Bhu-mandala, Prithvi, Mahi or as we call Her –the Earth. Well, let's look at the compass. The compass always points at one place as North and always at another as South. This proves that Earth is a sphere and not a disc. If Earth would be a disc, the compass would not "work". With North in the center of Bhu-mandala, South of compass would be pointing to all different places on the boundaries of the disc. BUT, a compass "works" normally. North is in one place and South also always is in one place. It is possible only with 3D subjects. SO, our conclusion is that the Earth is a globe, round or "mandala".
Next, from Bhagavatam we understand that for us humans, the given place for living is the surface or flat part of "round Earth" (Bhu-Mandala). Thus people are living on the plane of Earth, or as Srila Prabhupada said: "wherever I go it is always flat".
So, according to the Vedas, for men in gross material bodies, the place for existence was the surface of our Planet. Originally it was one super continent surrounded by saltwater ocean. Later, by endeavor of the sons of king Sagara, from it separated eight large parts. Modern scientists came to the same conclusion and called it 'continental shift'. The central part was called JAMBU-DVIPA – Island of Water rose apples. The reason for that is not today's subject.
What is interesting for us is, that according to Srimad Bhagavatam (5.21.10), the center of all this super continent or Jambu-dvipa is mount Meru or Sumeru. Also, Meru or Sumeru is the center of all Bhu-mandala – earthly plane. For observers on Earth, the Sun circulates Meru in a circle, which length is 95,100,000 yojans (appr. 1,236,300,000 km depending on the length of yojana). Using simple calculation (r=L/2p) we see that the distance from the Sun to Meru is surprisingly close toward the distance between Sun and Earth according to modern understanding. More than that, the length of Earth's orbit around the Sun according to modern calculations is relatively close to the length of orbit of Sun around Mount Meru. Thus we can understand that it is not Sun goes round Earth, but Earth goes round Sun and rotates around its axis.
Next is very interesting. That what is Meru or center of the world for those living on Earth is the North Pole for the cosmic observer. It is the place through which passes earthly axis, round which Earth is rotating. Today the North Pole or center of Jambu-dvipa is situated in a different place. But originally, great Mount Meru was the center of the super continent. This forces us to look at Vedic information from a different perspective. Thus, in Rig Veda we find descriptions of half year days and same nights. Different climate and Earth's atmosphere are also mentioned. Sadaputa Prabhu mentions Pamir Montians as Meru placement. It seems true, as supported by Mahabharata. Thus, in a description of the retirement of the Pandavas it is mentioned that they left Dvaraka, then by a north path they crossed the Himalayas, saw the "sea of sand" (Gobi desert) and then saw "best of Mountain" – the MERU. It is would be very interesting to organize an expedition to find that place, but in any way it is somewhere there.
At the end, it could be interesting, that Bhagavatam describes that over Earth's surface, from the height where air is finished, starts a plane habituated by different bodiless living entities, spirits, etc. Next, far from Earth's surface up to 260,000 km away is a space where are situated Siddhis -those travelling among worlds, Vidyadharas –keepers of knowledge and technologies and Charanas. Also some Yakshas – keepers of gods's "treasures" are living in high mountain regions. Next comes Rahu.
And most interesting is that according to Bhagavatam (5.24.2), Rahu is situated between Earth and Sun and it is approximately 390,000 km from earth. This is the same distance of Moon from the Earth according to modern calculations! Immediately comes to memory Srila Prabhupada's phrase: "They landed not on the Moon, but on Rahu". What is interesting is that according to Bhagavatam (5.24.1), Rahu is governed by "most abominable of all asuras". Therefore we can question, how friendly towards us are those UFOs that inhabit the Moon?
And last, I would like to mention that this presentation is not for the sake of debate, but to make the reader more interested in Vedic tradition.
