The name Bhu, however, is a specific reference to the Earth, and we should note that Srila Prabhupada has translated the name Bhu-gola as 'Earth' on other occasions. For example, when Mother Yashoda saw the universe within Krishna's mouth, she saw the Earth with its mountains and oceans sadri-dvipabdhi-bhugolam (SB 10.8.37). In the word for word translation to SB 10.8.37, Srila Prabhupada translates the name Bhu-gola as 'the surface of the Earth'. In several discussions Srila Prabhupada also equates the name Bhu-gola with the Earth (see Bhagavad-gita lecture 1.43, London, July 30, 1973, and Morning Walk Conversation, December 9, 1973, Los Angeles). In these discussions Srila Prabhupada states that the Bhu-gola is a name for the Earth, In both discussions Srila Prabhupada states that gola means round, and that the name indicates that the Earth is round. However, the measurement of Bhu-gola by Sukadeva Goswami (SB 5.20.38) at pancasat-koti yojana (4 billion miles) rules out any possibility that the Bhu-gola in question is a reference to the supposed Earth globe of 24,900 miles circumference.

The Bhu-gola is described in Srimad Bhagavatam as round, but it is the roundness of a circle, not the roundness of a globe. If Bhu-gola was the roundness of a globe, there would be no space in the rest of the universe for anything else because the entire universe is only 4 billion miles from top to bottom. The circular nature of Bhu-gola enables the great Earth to cross the center of the universe, whilst allowing enough space in the upper part of the universe for other planets, stars, etc; and enough space in the lower part of the universe for features such as the Garbhodaka Ocean. We have presented scriptural evidence for the circular shape of the Earth in this paper.

The Surya Siddhanta 12.32, also states that the bhu-gola is in the middle of the universal egg (madhye samatad andasya bhugolo), not that it is the universe itself:

madhye samantad andasya bhugolo vyomni tisthati/
bibhranah paramam saktià brahmano dharanatmakam//

"In the middle of the [universal] egg (anda), the Earth (bhugola) stands in the ether, bearing the supreme might of Brahma, which is of the nature of self-supporting force."

In Srimad Bhagavatam and all other Puranas, the Bhu-gola is consistently described as being in the middle of the universe, though it is stated that Bhu-gola is held by Ananta-sesha, not situated in the ether, as the above verse suggests. In any case, Bhu-gola is just one of the numerous Sanskrit names for the Earth-circle (Bhu-mandala) and Sukadeva Goswami describes this bhu-gola or bhu-mandala in chapters 16-26 of the fifth canto. The acharyas in their commentaries to the fifth canto take Bhu-gola to mean the Earth, not the universe which is otherwise called by names such as anda, visva, jagat, sarva, brahmanda, etc.

Despite the Vedic Earth (bhu-gola) being described as a circular disc with a diameter of 4 billion miles, through-out the translation of Srimad Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada translates Sanskrit names for the Earth-circle as Earth 'globe'. This has led to some confusion among the followers of Srila Prabhupada who on one hand hear Srila Prabhupada refer to the Earth as a globe-shaped planet that floats in space, and on the other hand read an entirely different description of Earth in the Srimad Bhagavatam. The confusion is easily dispelled if we understand that Srila Prabhupada used conventional language to refer to the Earth as a 'globe' and a 'planet', simply because a comprehensive study and understanding of Vedic cosmology—and particularly the study of Bhu-mandala—had not been completed by the time of Srila Prabhupada's departure in 1977. It was only after the publication of the fifth canto in 1975, along with the subsequent plan to build a Vedic planetarium, that questions regarding the nature of the Vedic Earth and its relation to the modern Earth globe concept even began to emerge.

We have argued previously that Srila Prabhupada used terms such as 'Earth globe' and 'Earth planet' simply because the actual nature of the Vedic Earth had yet to be unfolded. We have dealt with this issue in detail in previous papers and won't repeat the history here, though we have included a short summary towards the end of the is paper under the heading entitled, Understanding 'Srila Prabhupada's Position on the Nature of the Earth'. In any case, the reader of Srimad Bhagavatam should be aware that Lord Vamana stepped over an Earth circle, not an Earth globe; indeed, the Puranas do not describe the existence of an Earth globe that floats in space. There is only one Earth in the universe, as stated by Sri-Krishna:

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: I am pleased by Your devotion but I do not have another Earth in this universe to give you. O king what should I do to grant the boon you ask". (Garga Samhita, Canto 6, chapter 9, Sri Dvaraka gamana-karana)

sri-bhagavan uvaca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; anya—another; na—not; medini—earth; loke—in the world.

Since there is only one Earth in the universe, any reference to the Earth in Srimad Bhagavatam is a reference to the Bhu-mandala described by Sukadeva Goswami in chapters 16-26 of the fifth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. In this description of the Earth there is no conception that the Earth is a globe-shaped planet floating in space.

BHARATA-VARSHA'S LOCATION ON THE EARTH-CIRCLE

The most important detail of this whole question about the Vedic Earth—a detail which is consistently ignored—is the description in Srimad Bhagavatam of Bharata-varsha's location at the southern side of Jambudvipa. Jambudvipa is the central island (dvipa) of the greater Earth circle and is measured at 100,000 yojana (800,000 miles). Let's all read the description of Bharata-varsha together so that there will be no mistake in our comprehension of what is being described, and no room for speculation regarding the actual location of Bharata-varsha on the surface of Bhu-mandala:

"The planetary system known as Bhu-mandala resembles a lotus flower, and its seven islands resemble the whorl of that flower. The length and breadth of the island known as Jambudvipa, which is situated in the middle of the whorl, are one million yojanas [eight million miles]. Jambudvipa is round like the leaf of a lotus flower". (SB 5.16.5)

Sukadeva Goswami begins his description of the Earth by explaining that Bhu-mandala has seven islands. In other places the seven islands are referred to as sapta-dvipa (sapta means seven, and dvipa means island. The first island of these seven islands is called Jambudvipa. It is completely round like a lotus leaf. Its measurement is actually 100,000 yojana or 800,000 miles, not 8 million miles as the verse says. The measurement of 100,000 yojana (800,000 miles) is confirmed in the following verse:

"As Sumeru Mountain is surrounded by Jambudvipa, Jambudvipa is also surrounded by an ocean of salt water. The breadth of Jambudvipa is 100,000 yojanas [800,000 miles], and the breadth of the saltwater ocean is the same". (SB 5.20.2)

The other Puranas and the acharyas in their commentaries all state that Jambudvipa is 100,000 yojana (800,000 miles). In the purport to SB 5.1.33, Srila Prabhupada confirms: 'According to Viraraghava Acarya, the breadth of the first island is 100,000 yojanas. One yojana equals eight miles, and therefore the breadth of the first island is calculated to be 800,000 miles'. We shall write a paper later on the size of Jambudvipa as the correct measurement is important in determining the size of the rest of the universe.

In any case, Jambudvipa is first described as a vast circular island, which is 'round like a lotus leaf.' Sukadeva Goswami continues his description of Jambudvipa as follows.

"In Jambudvipa there are nine divisions of land, each with a length of 9,000 yojanas [72,000 miles]. There are eight mountains that mark the boundaries of these divisions and separate them nicely". (SB 5.16.6)

One can think here of an immense circular-shaped super-continent that is divided into nine massive areas (varshas).

"Amidst these divisions, or varshas, is the varsha named Ilavrta, which is situated in the middle of the whorl of the lotus. Within Ilavrta-varsha is Sumeru Mountain, which is made of gold…" (SB 5.16.7)

The central area or varsha of Jambudvipa is called here by the name Ilavrta-varsha. Mount Meru is situated in Ilavrta-varsha, and is described as being 100,000 yojana (800,000 miles) in height. In text 8, Sukadeva Goswami describes the mountains and varshas that are to the north of Mount Meru. Then in text 9, it describes the varshas to the south of Mount Meru—including Bharata-varsha:

"Similarly, south of Ilavrta-varsha and extending from east to west are three great mountains named (from north to south) Nisadha, Hemakuta and Himalaya. Each of them is 10,000 yojanas [80,000 miles] high. They mark the boundaries of the three varṣas named Hari-varṣa, Kimpurusha-varsha and Bharata-varsha [India]". (SB 5.16.9)

In the above verses Sukedeva Goswami describes Bharata-varsha to be at the south (daksinena) of the island called Jambudvipa. The places mentioned here such as Hari-varsha and KImpurusha-varsha are described through-out the Puranas and contain great civilizations ver different in nature from our own. They cover an area of hundreds of thousands of miles, and are separated from each other by huge mountain ranges called Nisadha, Hemakuta, etc. Thus Bharata-varsha is not described as a planet floating in space, but as part of a 800,000 mile circular land-mass. Bharata-varsha is clearly described to be on the surface of the lager Earth plane, not floating in space.

The above image shows Mount Meru in the center of Jambudvipa, and Bharata-varsha's location in the south. The image below shows an aerial map of Jambudvipa, again showing Bharata-varsha in the south and its connection to the greater landmass.

The Srimad Bhagavatam and other Puranas give details of the people and social conditions of these other lands to the north of our known part of the world. These are descriptions of real people living on a real Earth—they all belong to the Earth dimension, not to 'another dimension'. The people residing in Jambudvipa are simply further along the Earth plane. The residents of Jambudvipa are out of sight, not because they or their land is invisible, but because our karma doesn't allow us to go there. We shall come presently to descriptions of the six other much larger islands and oceans that surround Jambudvipa. The complete description informs us that we are part of a much larger Earth plane. There is no arguing with the description. I am not making this up! One can believe or not believe that Bharata-varsha is part of a larger Earth plane, but lets not argue against what the description says. All the Puranas reiterate the same description with more or less details. Those who accept the Vedic teachings are designated as Aryans. Those who cannot accept the Vedic teachings may search for a religion or ideology that provides them a more comfortable cosmology.

Sukadeva Goswami informs us that we part of a larger Earth plane, not that we live on a globe floating in space as the reader of Srimad Bhagavatam may otherwise assume from Srila Prabhupada's many references to 'Earth planet', 'Earth-globe', etc. There are those making propaganda that we are deviating from Srimad Bhagavatam and Srila Prabhupada by stating that the Earth in Srimad Bhagavatam is not a globe. For all those who have taken the time to read the above description, we have all just read that Bharata-varsha is part of an 800,000 mile super-continent called Jambudvipa, not a planet floating in space. The planets that float in space are described in chapters 21-23 of the fifth canto, and the supposed Earth-globe is not one of them. In a previous paper we have presented an explanation as to why Srila Prabhupada referred to the Earth as a globe. This explanation has yet to be refuted. See here.

Bharata-varsha itself is a massive area measuring 9,000 yojana (72,000 miles) from north to south, and 80,000 yojana (640,000 miles) from east to west). of which our known part of the Earth is only a small area. Krishna willing, we shall later present a paper with a full description of Bharata-varsha, and explanations as to why Srila Prabhupada referred to Bharata-varsha as the Earth planet. In any case, since Bharata-varsha is described as part of a much larger Earth circle, it cannot be the case that Lord Vamana stepped over a supposed Earth globe.

DID LORD VAMANA STEP OVER AN EARTH GLOBE OR AN EARTH CIRCLE?

Until one comes to understand that there is only one Earth in Vedic cosmology, and that any reference to the Earth in Srimad Bhagavatam is a reference to the Bhu-mandala described in chapters 16-26 of the fifth canto, the reader will forever experience cognitive dissonance when reading Srila Prabhupada's translations such as the following:

"Thereafter, Bali Maharaja, who was occupying the seat of King Indra, could see the lower planetary systems, such as Rasatala, on the soles of the feet of the Lord's universal form. He saw on the Lord's feet the surface of the globe, on the surface of His calves all the mountains, on His knees the various birds, and on His thighs the varieties of air." (SB 8.20.23)

Here the Sanskrit word bhuh (Earth) has been translated as 'surface of the globe'. Srila Prabhupada uses the expressions 'surface of the globe' or 'Earth globe' or 'Earth planet', through-out his translations and lectures, and in several other places connected with the pastime of Lord Vamana; for example:

bhuh—the surface of the globe (SB 8.18.31)
mahim—surface of the globe (SB 8.19.5)

Srila Prabhupada's use of the term 'surface of the globe' naturally creates an impression in the mind that Sri-Vamana stepped over a supposed Earth-globe, when in reality the Vedic Earth which goes by the names bhu, mahi, prithvi, gam, vasudha, dharani, ksiti, etc. is described as a 4 billion mile circular landscape (a flat-Earth). As we shall see later, the bhu-mandala is flat in the sense that the landscape continues along a horizontal or level plane, and does not curve around the sphere of a globe. However, popular images of Vamana show the Lord standing on top of the familiar globe-shaped planet which again creates the idea that the Puranas describe our Earth as a globe floating in dark space.

Such depictions of Vamana standing on an Earth-globe give a completely wrong understanding of the pastime of Vamana stepping over the great Earth-circle. However, the image of Vamana standing on a globe creates a samskara in the mind that is very difficult to shake off. Unfortunately due to lack of knowledge of the subject of bhu-mandala, contemporary artists do not depict Vamana stepping over the Earth as it is described in Srimad Bhagavatam. The same problem arises with images of Lord Varaha lifting the so-called Earth-globe instead of the great Earth-circle. In this regard, the reader may like to review this paper on Lord Varaha and Bhu-mandala:

Unfortunately, the artistic depiction of Sri-Krishna's various avataras upon an Earth globe results in people losing an understanding of the true mind-boggling expanse of the Vedic Earth, as well as the extraordinary nature of Sri-Krishna's pastimes upon it. Until devotee artists have the knowledge and courage to paint the Vedic Earth as it is described in the Puranas, propagation of false images depicting Sri-Krishna's pastimes on an Earth-globe will undoubtedly continue, and the true form of the Vedic Earth will remain hidden and obscured. We hope our artists in the Hare Krishna movement will learn the details of Bhu-mandala and present accurate depictions of the Earth in their paintings. Such images will create a revolution in spiritual consciousness that will awaken people out of the false conception of reality regarding the nature of the world we live upon. The following details will help explain that Vamana stepped over an Earth circle, not an Earth globe...

THE SEVEN ISLANDS AND OCEANS OF THE EARTH

As mentioned, in order to deprive king Bali of his kingdom, Lord Vamana appeared in the form of a dwarf and asked the king for three steps of land. We can get a sense here of Sri-Krishna's sense of humour—for how much land can a dwarf cover in three steps? Little did the king realize that the dwarf was the Supreme Lord in disguise, and with only three steps He could cross the universe. Vamana said to king Bali:

"O King of the Daityas, from Your Majesty, who come from such a noble family and who are able to give charity munificently, I ask only three paces of land, to the measurement of My steps.

O King, controller of the entire universe, although you are very munificent and are able to give Me as much land as I want, I do not want anything from you that is unnecessary. If a learned brahmana takes charity from others only according to his needs, he does not become entangled in sinful activities". (SB 8.19.16-17)

The king was obviously bemused and thought Vamana did not know His true interest.

"Bali Maharaja said: O son of a brahmana, Your instructions are as good as those of learned and elderly persons. Nonetheless, You are a boy, and Your intelligence is insufficient. Thus You are not very prudent in regard to Your self-interest. (SB 8.19.18

I am able to give You an entire island because I am the proprietor of the three divisions of the universe. You have come to take something from me and have pleased me by Your sweet words, but You are asking only three paces of land. Therefore You are not very intelligent". (SB 8.19.19)

In King Bali's offer of an island (dvipa) to Lord Vamana, we get a clue to the nature of the Earth that Vamana was about to reclaim from Bali. Bali said dvipa-dashusham—"I can give You an entire island". The Sanskrit word dvipa means island and in this context it specifically refers to one of the seven islands of the Earth (sapta-dvipa). These seven islands and their surrounding islands are described in chapters 16-20 of the fifth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. They measure a distance of 202,800,000 miles.

That Bali is indicating one of the seven islands (sapta-dvipa) is inferred from Vamana's reply to Bali:

"The Personality of Godhead said: O my dear King, even the entirety of whatever there may be within the three worlds to satisfy one's senses cannot satisfy a person whose senses are uncontrolled.

If I were not satisfied with three paces of land, then surely I would not be satisfied even with possessing one of the seven islands (sapta-dvipa), consisting of nine varshas. Even if I possessed one island, I would hope to get others.

We have heard that although powerful kings like Maharaja Prithu and Maharaja Gaya achieved proprietorship over the seven dvipas, they could not achieve satisfaction or find the end of their ambitions". (SB 8.19.21-23)

Here the Lord mentions the other seven islands: sapta-dvipa-vara-icchaya—by the desire to take possession of seven islands. He also mentions that previously King Prithu and King Gaya had control over the seven dvipas (sapta-dvipa-adhipatayah). Other verses in Srimad Bhagavatam confirm that King Prithu was ruler of all seven dvipas on Bhu-mandala (see SB 4.16.20 and 4.18.29). In both these verses it mentions in the Sanskrit that King Prithu was emperor of the entire Bhu-mandala, though one should note that Srila Prabhupada has translated Bhu-mandala as Earth globe. We shall see presently that the huge measurement of the seven dvipas on Bhu-mandala rules out any possibility that the name bhu-mandala is reference to the supposed Earth-globe.

Again Srimad Bhagavatam states that Prithu was ruler of the seven dvipas on Bhu-mandala:

sapta-dvipaika-danda-dhrik

"Maharaja Prithu was an unrivaled king and possessed the scepter for ruling all the seven islands on the surface of the globe." (SB 4.21.12)

Again Srila Prabhupada refers to the Earth as a globe. And in the purport Srila Prabhupada states that the sapta-dvipa (seven islands) are the continents of our known Earth:

"Sapta-dvipa 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. Prithu Maharaja 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, Maharaja Prithu." (SB 4.21.12 Purport)

Since Prthu Maharaja's sovereignty was over all of Bhu-mandala, the sapta-dvipa mentioned here are a reference to those created by Maharaja Priyavrata on the Bhu-mandala (see SB 5.1.31-33). No other sapta-dvipa is mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam. The seven islands and oceans are later described by Sukadeva Goswami to cover an area of hundreds of millions of miles. The names, measurement, and characteristics of these seven islands and oceans do not in fact match up with the seven continents of Earth. Of course, since Bharata-varsha is part of Jambudvipa, the continents of Earth are also included in the lands comprising sapta-dvipa, but as we shall see, the name sapta-dvipa specifically refers to the colossal islands that form Bhu-mandala, and not to the continents of our known Earth. Again so that no one is able to make propaganda that we are deviating from Srimad Bhagavatam and Srila Prabhupada, let us all read together the actual description of sapta-dvipa as it is found in the fifth canto...

What are the seven islands of the Earth? This very question was put by Pariksit Maharaja to Sukadeva Goswami:

"My dear Lord, the rolling wheels of Maharaja Priyavrata's chariot created seven ditches, in which the seven oceans came into existence. Because of these seven oceans, Bhu-mandala 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." (SB 5.16.2)

Here Pariksit Maharaja asks about the seven islands (sapta-dvipa) and seven oceans (sapta sindhava). The question is very specific and asks for their measurement and characteristics. The description that follows by Sukadeva Goswami enables us to understand that this is not a description of continents on an Earth globe floating in space, but rather of a flat-Earth landscape that continues for hundreds of millions of miles and which contains innumerable other civilizations.

ARE THE SAPTA-DVIPA FLOATING IN SPACE?

Before coming to Sukadeva Goswami's description of the seven islands, let us go back to the verse and purport at SB 8.19.19 where King Bali offers Vamana an island (dvipa). In the purport Srila Prabhupada says:

"According to Vedic understanding, the entire universe is regarded as an ocean of space. In that ocean there are innumerable planets, and each planet is called a dvipa, or island. When approached by Lord Vamanadeva, Bali Maharaja was actually in possession of all the dvipas, or islands in space. Bali Maharaja was very pleased to see the features of Vamanadeva and was ready to give Him as much land as He could ask, but because Lord Vamanadeva asked only three paces of land, Bali Maharaja considered Him not very intelligent." (SB 8.19.19)

Here Srila Prabhupada states that the sapta-dvipa are islands in space. However, we just read previously in the purport to SB 4.21.12 that Srila Prabhupada described sapta-dvipa as the continents of our known Earth. How can the sapta-dvipa be islands floating in space, and at the same time be the continents of our known Earth? This is a point that needs to be discussed in fulfillment of Srila Prabhupada's instructions for the Temple of Vedic Planetarium:

"So now all you Ph.D.'s must 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)

Again:

"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)

Whilst planets such as the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, etc, could be regarded as islands in the ocean of space, the seven islands on the Bhu-mandala are in a different category since they are described as forming one continual landscape that crosses the entire center of the universe. The sapta-dvipa are not isolated and separated from each other by thousands and millions of miles of space. According to the description in the Puranas, the seven islands (sapta-dvipa) are not separate islands floating in space, but are all part of a contiguous landscape. The Vayu Purana states:

"Then, after lifting up the earth from within the waters, the Lord established it in its position again and made division in it. In each of its seven islands he made seven varsas (sub-continents). He leveled the uneven places and collected the mountains, with (heaps of) rocks.

…The seven islands and the (seven) oceans encircle each other. They are in contiguity with each other, surrounding each other naturally." (Vayu Purana, chapter 8, verses 1-15)

Here the verse states that the islands are in contiguity with each other, and surround each other. When we say a pond surrounds an island, we take it to mean that the island and the water are beside or adjoining each other.

Likewise the islands and oceans are beside each other, and form a continual landscape. The above verse from Vayu Purana also mentions that Lord Varaha leveled the entire landscape of Bhu-mandala, and then reformed the great mountains that had been destroyed in the previous pralaya. The leveling of the bhu-mandala is confirmed in other Puranas. The original seven islands and oceans were created by Maharaja Priyavrata, but after each day of Brahma when a partial destruction of the universe takes place, the seven islands, oceans, and great mountains appear to get put out of shape. Lord Varaha then recreates them as they were. In the Vishnu Purana, Parashara Muni explains as follows:

"Parashara said, The supreme being thus eulogised, upholding the Earth, raised it quickly, and placed it on the summit of the ocean, where it floats like a mighty vessel, and from its expansive surface does not sink beneath the waters. Then having leveled the earth, the great eternal diety divided it into portions, by mountains: He who never wills in vain, created by his irresistible power, those mountains gain upon the Earth which had been consumed at the destruction of the world. Having thus divided the Earth into seven great portions or islands as it was before, He constructed in like manner the four lower spheres, earth, sky, heaven and the sphere of the sages Maharloka." (Vishnu Purana, Book 1 chapter 4)

Again the Vayu Purana states:

"Assuming this large immeasurable form of a boar, Visnu entered the nether regions in order to lift up the Earth…Having thus assumed the form of a sacrificial Boar, the Lord entered the waters.

He, the lord of the subjects, got at the Earth covered with the waters. He approached and lifted it quickly. He diverted the waters of the oceans in the oceans and of the rivers in the rivers. The Lord, for the welfare of the worlds, lifted with his curved fangs, the Earth that had gone deep into the nether world.

Holding the Earth in his hands He brought it to its place. The supporter of the Earth at first mentally supported the Earth and then released it. Over the flood of waters, the Earth floated like an immense boat. Due to the activities of the lord, it did not sink. With a desire to set up the universe, the lord lifted up the Earth. Then, He, the lotus-eyed lord, decided to divide the Earth. He leveled the Earth and created the mountains on it.

Formerly when the creation was burnt by the Samvartaka fire, all the mountains, being consumed by that fire, lay shattered and scattered all over the Earth. In that Ekarnava (the ocean of cosmic waters) the waters (solidified by cold) and collected by wind and were placed in a scattered manner here and there (wherever they were thus deposited); they became condensed into mountains…Thus after the worlds, oceans and mountains are destroyed at the end of a Kalpa, the Maker (Creator) of the universe creates them again and again, in the beginnings of the Kalpas. He again created this Earth along with the oceans, seven islands and mountains, as well as the four worlds, viz. Bhur and others. After creating the worlds, He began the creation of the subjects." (Vayu Purana chapter 6 verses 8-34)

The point to understand here is that at the start of Brahma's new day, Lord Varaha lifts the Earth from the Garbhodaka Ocean, and then levels the entire Bhu-mandala. The seven islands, oceans, and great mountains like Manasottara, are then recreated on the surface of this level landscape. Since Varaha leveled a landscape that is 4 billion miles in diameter, we can certainly take it for granted that the entire Earth is flat. A piece of land that is level for 4 billion miles is flat by any definition! By flat we mean a landscape that continues along a horizontal or level plane—not one that curves around the sphere of a so-called globe. The mountains, valleys, etc that create unevenness on the Earth are all resting on the same horizontal landscape. Lord Vamana stepped over this great flat-Earth landscape.

The idea that the seven islands and oceans of the Bhu-mandala form one continual landscape (and not a series of individual globe-shaped planets floating in space), is confirmed by Sukadeva Goswami's description of each island being surrounded by an ocean, and each ocean being surrounded by another island:

"As Sumeru Mountain is surrounded by Jambudvipa, Jambudvipa is also surrounded by an ocean of salt water. The breadth of Jambudvipa is 100,000 yojanas [800,000 miles], and the breadth of the saltwater ocean is the same. As a moat around a fort is sometimes surrounded by gardenlike forest, the saltwater ocean surrounding Jambudvipa is itself surrounded by Plakshadvipa. The breadth of Plakshadvipa is twice that of the saltwater ocean—in other words 200,000 yojanas [1,600,000 miles]." (SB 5.20.2)

The above image shows Mount Meru in the center of Jambudvipa surrounded by the great salt-water ocean, which is further surrounded by the other dvipas. Sukadeva Goswami's example of a castle being surrounded by a moat which is then surrounded by more land conveys the idea that the great islands and oceans of the Bhu-mandala form a continual landscape —the island, moat, and surrounding land are part of the same landscape, not separated or divided by space.

The 800,000 mile circular-shaped island of Jambudvipa is surrounded by the circular salt-water ocean which is also 800,000 miles across. The salt-water ocean is then surrounded by the next circular island called Plakshadvipa. The Srimad Bhagavatam continues the description:

"Plakshadvipa is surrounded by an ocean of sugarcane juice, equal in breadth to the island itself. Similarly, there is then another island—Salmalidvipa—twice as broad as Plakshadvipa [400,000 yojanas, or 3,200,000 miles] and surrounded by an equally broad body of water called Surasagara, the ocean that tastes like liquor. (SB 5.20.7)

Outside the ocean of liquor is another island, known as Kusadvipa, which is 800,000 yojanas [6,400,000 miles] wide, twice as wide as the ocean of liquor. As Salmalidvipa is surrounded by a liquor ocean, Kusadvipa is surrounded by an ocean of liquid ghee as broad as the island itself. (SB 5.20.13)

Outside the ocean of clarified butter is another island, known as Krauncadvipa, which has a width of 1,600,000 yojanas [12,800,000 miles], twice the width of the ocean of clarified butter. As Kusadvipa is surrounded by an ocean of clarified butter, Krauncadvipa is surrounded by an ocean of milk as broad as the island itself. (SB 5.20.18)

Outside the ocean of milk is another island, Sakadvipa, which has a width of 3,200,000 yojanas [25,600,000 miles]. As Krauncadvipa is surrounded by its own ocean of milk, Sakadvipa is surrounded by an ocean of churned yogurt as broad as the island itself. (SB 5.20.24)

Outside the ocean of yogurt is another island, known as Pushkaradvipa, which is 6,400,000 yojanas [51,200,000 miles] wide, twice as wide as the ocean of yogurt. It is surrounded by an ocean of very tasteful water as broad as the island itself." (SB 5.20.29)

In this way through chapter 20 of the fifth canto, Sukadeva Goswami describes that each island and ocean on the bhu-mandala combine to form one gigantic landscape that crosses the center of the universe.

The image above shows Mount Meru in the center of Jambudvipa which is surrounded by the salt-water ocean along with the other islands and oceans. The islands and oceans take the form of concentric circles. The seven islands and oceans cover a distance of 202,800,000 miles. All of this area is inhabited. The landscape continues into other uninhabited parts of Bhu-mandala that ends just short of the universal shell. The complete diameter is just short of 4 billion million miles (pancasat-koti-yojana). This was the great landscape that was crossed by Vamanadeva with one foot-step.

It is important that devotees become familiar with the lay-out of bhu-mandala so that confusion will not arise when hearing Srila Prabhupada speak of Jambudvipa as an island floating in space as in the following occasion:

"Each planet. Just like this planet, earthly planet, is called Jambudvipa. Why it is called dvipa? Dvipa means island. Because actually it is island of the air. Just like there are so many islands in the sea, similarly, this vast air, outer space, and all these planets, are floating like island. Therefore they are called island, dvipa, Jambudvipa. Here in this earthly planet, long, long ago, it is said in the Vedic literatures, sapta-dvipa. Sapta means seven. So this earthly planet is of seven dvipa, seven islands. These two Americas, north and south, they are islands. Africa, one island. And combined Asia and Europe, another island. The two poles, two islands. Australia, another island. You see? Sapta-dvipa. So they say they discovered America. But this discovery was long, long, many, many millions of years, it was known. Where is the discovery? Their poor fund of knowledge. Because they have no knowledge in the Vedic literature, they think, "Now I discovered." Just like a child born, he thinks, "Now I've discovered the world. Before my birth, there was no world." This kind of knowledge called poor fund of knowledge." (SB 1.16.12, January 9, 1974, Los Angeles)

Here Srila Prabhupada says Jambudvipa is an island floating in space; however, Srimad Bhagavatam describes Jambudvipa as being surrounded by the salt-water ocean; and that the salt-water ocean is surrounded by the next island called Plaksadvipa; and that Plaskadvipa is surrounded by several more islands and oceans that radiate out in the form of concentric circles forming one vast circular landscape that crosses the center of the universe. If the dvipas were isolated islands in space, they would not be described as being surrounded by other islands and oceans. Furthermore, if the seven dvipas of Bhu-mandala were individual islands in the ocean of air, there would be a description of the distance in space between them.

For example, the size of each planet (Sun, Moon, etc.) and the vertical distance (in space) between them is stated in all the Puranas including Srimad Bhagavatam. In chapter 22 of the fifth canto, Sukadeva Goswami states that the Moon is 100,000 yojana (800,000 miles) above the Sun. Sukadeva Goswami then continues to give the height of each planet above the other. Thus the Srimad Bhagavatam measures the distance of space from one planet to another. This is not the case for the dvipas and oceans on Bhu-mandala which are described as forming one continuous horizontal plane, and not separated by space. They simply form a continual land and sea-scape across the great central plane of the universe. The description reads that after crossing Jambudwipa's 800,000 mile salt water ocean, one comes to Plakshadvipa which is 1,600,000 miles in breadth.

Then after crossing the Iksha ocean which is a further 1,600,000 miles wide, one eventually comes to Shalmalidvipa which is 3,200,000 miles wide. In this way, one after the other, the seven islands and oceans form one continual plane with no mention of space between them. For comparison, think of crossing our own continents and oceans: from America one crosses the Atlantic Ocean and comes to Europe; after crossing Europe and South East Asia, one crosses the Indian Ocean and comes to Australia. These are all on the same plane with no 'outer-space' in-between them. If we had sufficient karmic accessibility, we could theoretically continue on our known Earth plane across the Arctic and Antarctica into the other areas of the greater Earth plane.

After describing the surface and interior realms of the great circular plane in chapters 16-24, Sukadeva Goswami explains in chapter 25 that that the whole thing is held up by an incarnation of Sri-Krishna called Ananta-sesha. Thus, unlike the other planets and stars that float and move in space, the great Earth-circle is still, and is held in place by Ananta-sesha. Since the Earth does not move, she is called acala. (Sanskrit Dictionary)

ARE THE SAPTA-DVIPA THE CONTINENTS OF OUR KNOWN EARTH?

There are those who may argue that Srila Prabhupada's statement describing Jambudvipa as an individual and isolated island floating in space, should be accepted without question, and that the bhu-mandala is not a flat-Earth, but a series of globe-shaped Earth planets that float in space. However, it should be pointed out that in the above lecture (SB 1.16.12, January 9, 1974, Los Angeles), as well as in several different purports and lectures, Srila Prabhupada sometimes states that the seven dvipas are islands floating in space, whilst at other times he states that they are the seven continents of the Earth. For those who wish to defend either idea, the sapta-dvipa obviously can't be both seven islands floating in space, and at the same time be the seven continents of our known Earth. From Srimad Bhagavatam's description we can understand that they are neither islands floating in space, nor the seven continents of our known area of the Earth, but are, in fact, one gigantic landscape that spans the center of the universe.

If sapta-dvipa were the seven continents of our Earth, then Jambudvipa would have to be counted as one of the continents. However, Jambudvipa is measured at 100,000 yojana (800,000 miles). Which continent on our Earth resembles Jambudvipa? Sukadeva Goswami describes that each island and ocean is twice as large as the preceding one—again bearing no resemblance to the size of our continents and surrounding oceans. Plakshadvipa is twice the size of Jambudvipa and has a breadth of 1,600,000 miles. Its surrounding ocean is equal in breadth to the island itself. The third island is called Shamalidvipa. It is 3,200,000 miles wide, twice as wide as Plakshadvipa and is surrounded by an ocean of the same size. The fourth island is called Kushadvipa. The width of this island is 6,400,000 miles, or, in other words, twice the width of Shamalidvipa. It is surrounded by an ocean of equal breadth. The fifth island, Kraunchcadvipa, is 12,800,000 miles wide and is surrounded by an ocean of equal size. The sixth island, Shakadvipa is 25,600,000 miles wide and is surrounded by an ocean of equal size. The seventh island, Pushkaradvipa, which is twice as wide as the previous island, is 51,200,000 miles wide and is surrounded by an ocean of clear water as broad as the island itself. In this way, Srimad Bhagavatam describes the seven islands and oceans of the greater expanded Earth.

It should again be noted that the seven islands and their surrounding oceans are actually in the form of a series of concentric circles (like ripples in a pond) that stretch out on the plane of Bhu-mandala for a distance of 202,800,000 miles—again a description that bears absolutely no resemblance to the known continents of our known Earth area. Both the size and the shape rule out the possibility that the name sapta-dvipa refers to the continents of our known area of the Earth.

The description of the sapta-dwipa (seven islands) certainly does not conform to the minute size of America, Australia, etc, nor do the descriptions of the oceans surrounding these islands conform in any way to our own salt-water oceans:

"The seven oceans respectively contain salt water, sugarcane juice, liquor, clarified butter, milk, emulsified yogurt, and sweet drinking water. All the islands are completely surrounded by these oceans, and each ocean is equal in breadth to the island it surrounds." (SB 5.1.33)

We should note that although the oceans are unusually described as being made of milk, yogurt, etc, from the description of the Milk Ocean in the eight canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, it appears that the Milk Ocean still functions very much like ordinary water with the ocean containing varieties of aquatic beings. Krishna willing we shall discuss both the nature of the Milk Ocean and the location of Svetadvipa within the Milk Ocean in a later paper. Since the Milk Ocean is part of the seven islands and oceans of Bhu-mandala, Svetadvipa is actually located on the flat-Earth.

In chapter 20 of the fifth canto, Sukadeva Goswami describes the social and spiritual conditions on the seven islands. Again the people and conditions described here bear no resemblance to any place or people on the seven continents of our known area of the Earth.

UNDERSTANDING SRILA PRABHUPADA'S POSITION ON THE NATURE OF THE EARTH

Here we can raise a question: if the seven dvipas are not the continents of our Earth or islands floating in space, why did Srila Prabhupada refer to them as such? The answer is straight-forward and is to be found in Srila Prabhupada's many disclaimers regarding the details of the fifth canto cosmology:

"The subject matters of physics, chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, time and space dealt with in the above verses of Srimad-Bhagavatam are certainly very interesting to students of the particular subject, but as far as we are concerned, we cannot explain them very thoroughly in terms of technical knowledge." (SB 3.11.14)

Again:

Indian man: Beyond the sun. How would you explain about eclipse which we get?

Prabhupada: That you ask some astronomer. I am not astronomer. But I understand from Vedic scripture that moon is beyond the sun.
(Morning Walk, October 25, 1975, Mauritius)

Again:

"Prabhupada answered a few more of Paramahamsa's questions about the current work on Srimad Bhagavatam, Fifth Canto, and then fell silent. "Actually," he added, after a few minutes, "I am not giving any more information -- simply what is there." Prabhupada was frank. "I am not an astronomer, so I may not understand all the details. Those details are given in another part of the Vedas. Sukadeva Gosvami is giving some basic summary ideas of the universal operation. The stress," Prabhupada concluded, "is on devotion, not geography." (The Great Transcendental Adventure, Ten Days in Perth, 1975, by Kurma das)

We have Srila Prabhupada's own words regarding his translation of the Fifth Canto:

Prabhupada: And it was not possible for me to digest. (laughs) Somebody else helped me to... I am a layman. I do not know.
Tamala Krishna: How did you write it?
Prabhupada: That somebody, Krishna, helped me. That He manufactured...When I was writing, I was praying Krishna that "I do not actually accommodate all this knowledge. Please help me." Yes. That's all right.
(Room Conversation, June 18, 1977, Vrindavana)

Even Srila Prabhupada's attempts to locate a qualified brahmana that could explain the Vedic cosmology proved futile as the knowledge had been practically lost, as we see here.

There are many such statements as those cited above by Srila Prabhupada. Why does everyone expect that Srila Prabhupada should know all the details of Vedic cosmology, especially since it was a particular topic that had been largely ignored in Gaudiya-Vaishnava discourse—what to speak of it being a branch of knowledge that was practically lost among the brahmana community? Do we expect that Srila Prabhupada should be able to perfectly read an astrology chart? Then why would do we expect that Srila Prabhupada should know all aspects of astronomy or cosmology? I have never read anywhere that Srila Prabhupada could drive a car, so assuming that Srila Prabhupada didn't know how to drive a car, it probably explains why (apart from service to Sri-guru) his disciples drove him here and there. Imagine if Srila Prabhupada requested a disciple to drive him somewhere, and that starry-eyed disciple was aghast that a pure devotee of the Lord didn't know how to drive. The scenario is ridiculous; but it is no less ridiculous than those disciples and followers who think that Srila Prabhupada must know all details of Vedic cosmology (when he himself states that this is not the case).

Just as Srila Prabhupada requested disciples to drive him from A to B, so Srila Prabhupada requested his disciples and followers to study the details of the fifth canto and make a working model of the universe. Our own small part in this endeavor is simply to point out that Bharata-varsha is located on the surface of the Bhu-mandala (not floating in space), and that there is otherwise no description of supposed Earth globe floating in space. Srila Prabhupada stressed that the TOVP would require many people working together, and our own small contribution to this end is simply to inform devotees that the society is presently working from the wrong idea of the Earth. Otherwise, we do not consider our-self as some kind of expert in Vedic science, and we certainly do not wish to create the impression of knowing more than Srila Prabhupada. We are all part of a combined force to assist Srila Prabhupada in his mission. In a letter to DL Dhani stated that the completion of the TOVP would require the expertise of many people:

"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." (Letter to SL Dhani, 14 November, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada considered the revival of Vedic cosmology to be an unfolding project:

"That is our plan, to make a very big temple and to show all the planetary system within that from Srimad Bhagavatam. It will not be an ordinary temple, so that people from the whole world, they'll come. This is our contemplation…There are many lokas, Caranaloka, other. They are all described. So if there is chance, we shall present these lokas, how they are situated, where they are situated, how they are moving, how the sun is moving around them. The sun is not fixed up; sun is moving. So all these things, we have got such dream to show. If there is opportunity, we shall do…there are so many things to be known still from Vedic literature, it is not yet unfolded, but we are trying." (SB 7.9.8, Mayapur, February 15, 1976)

Since Prabhupada considered Vedic cosmology an unfolding project, why are devotees surprised that relevant information and discussion about the shape and size of the Vedic Earth has come to light? It may boggle the mind to consider that knowledge of a greater Earth could have been lost in time, and that we are presently living in a false construct of reality regarding the shape and size of the Earth we live upon. I can only attribute this to the covering power of Sri-Krishna's maya potency, which the Lord now wishes to dispel via the revelation of Bhu-mandala in Srimad Bhagavatam and its exhibition within the Temple of Vedic Planetarium. Srila Prabhupada was instrumental in this unfolding plan, though at the time, many of the details of the Vedic Cosmos were unfamiliar to him.

It is no fault on Srila Prabhupada's part that he wasn't personally aware of all the details of Vedic cosmology, and the discussions on the nature of Bhu-mandala in the summer of 1977 seemed as much a surprise, enigma, and wonder to Srila Prabhupada as to his own disciples who had been researching for the Temple of Vedic Planetarium project. It is to Srila Prabhupada's glory that despite the strange description of the Earth, he had such firm faith in the Srimad Bhagavatam's description that he insisted again and again that the thing should be presented 'exactly' as it is described. The present management of the TOVP will do a great disservice to Srila Prabhupada if they do not present the cosmology 'exactly according to Bhagavatam' and as Srila Prabhupada instructed. When we look at the details of the fifth canto it is evident that a description of an Earth globe floating in space is conspicuous by it absence, and that Bharata-varsha is otherwise described as part of Jambudvipa.

We must remember that when Srila Prabhupada was translating Srimad Bhagavatam, he has no map, model or depiction of any kind that indicated the various locations in the Vedic Universe. Thus, when we look at the context of Srila Prabhupada's conflation of the sapta-dvipa with the continents of our Earth, it seems that in an absence of the overall lay-out of Bhu-mandala, Srila Prabhupada's intention was simply to stress that the ancient Vedic culture was world-wide and that they indeed knew about the various continents of our known Earth. This in itself is a revolutionary idea about the ancient history of our Earth! However, the Srimad Bhagavatam goes a step further than that—the Srimad Bhagavatam informs us that there is more Earth, and that the greater Earth was ruled by King Yudhisthira just 5,000 years ago! The problem is that contact and knowledge of the greater Earth was lost due to the progression of Kali-Yuga. Srila Prabhupada's desire was to revive that knowledge, and present the truth of the matter via the TOVP.

Despite speaking of the sapta-dvipa as islands floating in space or of the Earth as a 'globe' floating in space, Srila Prabhupada gave explicit instructions that the Temple of Vedic Planetarium depict the universe 'exactly according to Bhagavatam.' Confusion has arisen among followers of Srila Prabhupada as to whether the Earth should be depicted and explained 'exactly' as Srimad Bhagavatam describes it, or whether the modern globe idea has to be incorporated into the ancient Vedic cosmology; or again whether statements such as Jambudvipa being an island in space should be incorporated into the models displayed. The issue can be easily resolved by following Srila Prabhupada's explicit instruction to depict the thing exactly as it is described by Sukadeva Goswami. If we are to depict the thing exactly according to Srimad Bhagavatam we would have to present Bhu-mandala as one continuous landscape, not as a series of isolated islands floating in space. We would also have to depict Bharata-varsha as part of Jambudvipa and not an isolated gobe floating in space. Like it or not, according to Sukadeva Goswami, we are part of a larger flat-Earth.

It beggars belief that those within ISKCON who are focused on the conception that the Earth is a globe floating in space, simply ignore the fact that Srimad Bhagavatam describes Bharata-varsha as part of Jambudvipa which is part of a greater Earth-circle. Since Srimad Bhagavatam describes that our local area of the Earth is part of a greater Earth-circle, surely the emphasis should be on the revelation that we are part of an Earth-circle, and that there is more Earth all around us. Devotees writing on this subject seem to be missing the point of emphasis.

It is more than strange that Danavir Goswami, for example, admits the existence of a larger flat-Earth, yet doesn't think to make that knowledge his point of emphasis, or even discussion:

Krishna Devotee – "Danavir Maharaj. Could you speak a little about the flat earth theory, is our earth planet a flat plane?"
HH Danavir Swami: Which flat earth theory?
Krishna Devotee – "I heard there is a Vedic version or that the earth is flat, something like that. I am not sure".
HH Danavir Swami: Well first you have to find out what your theory is then I will know what you are asking.
Krishna Devotee – "I heard that somewhere in sastra it is said that the earth is flat in some way".
HH Danavir Swami – "Bhu-mandala is flat. So that is a flat earth theory. We accept that. Not as far as our earth globe – according to Mahabharat and Srimad-Bhagavatam and other sastras "it is a globe. It is round" Our little earth is just a little spec on the Bhu-mandala, which is the greater earth. (Not to be confused with our small earth global sphere)."

Danavir Goswami admits: "Bhu-mandala is flat. So that is a flat Earth theory. We accept that". If Danavir Goswami really accepts that Bhu-mandala is flat, then why doesn't he expound and preach on the point that Bharata-varsha is part of the Bhu-mandala (the flat-Earth), and that there is more of this massive flat-Earth all around us? Where does Danavir Goswami think the rest of the flat-Earth is located? According to the measurements given in Srimad Bhagavatam, we are only a few thousand miles away from the rest of Jambudvipa. In Danavir Goswami's presentation of Bharata-khanda as a globe floating in dark space, the other varshas of Jambudvipa simply disappear as if Sukadeva Goswami's description of the rest of the Earth is immaterial and irrelevant.

If some-one suddenly discovered more continents of the Earth, would that not make the news? The purpose of the Temple Of Vedic Planetarium is to inform the people of the world of the startling news that has been kept hidden from them for millennia, namely that our known area of the Earth is just a small part of a great big Earth-circle! The lack of faith in Bhu-mandala is exhibited in the fact that despite Bharata-varsha being described as a small part of the larger island of Jambudvipa, the society continues to present Earth as an isolated globe floating in dark space. However, the result of presenting Earth as a small globe floating in space is that the rest of Bhu-mandala gets removed from the picture, i.e. 'impersonalized', and sent into 'another dimension.' The description of life and civilizations on the other islands of the Earth is completely lost.

Sadaputa dasa, Danavir Goswami, and the host of second generation devotees who argue that the so-called Earth globe is part of 'Vedic cosmology', have not been loyal to Srimad Bhagavatam's clear description that Bharata-varsha is a small part of the massive island of Jambudvipa and not an isolated globe floating in space. The truth according to Srimad Bhagavatam is that we are on a flat-Earth, and that the rest of the flat-Earth is all around us. This is the message of Srimad Bhagavatam. Srila Prabhupada wanted the Bhu-mandala to be exhibited at the TOVP. In a letter to S.L. Dhani, Srila Prabhupada stated that the Bhu-mandala (Earth-circle) would be exhibited in 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)

Thus, suspended from the ceiling of the Mayapur Planetarium will be a depiction of the true shape, size, and nature of the Earth as described above by Srila Prabhupada: 'the Earthly system (bhu-mandala) with Sumeru in center, seven islands (saptadvipa), seven oceans (sapta-samudra), Manosattara Parvata, Lokaloka Parvata, Alokavarsa". Is anyone in the society prepared to put their faith in the Srimad Bhagavatam's description of the Earth that we live upon? As mentioned at the start of this paper, when the TOVP is eventually completed, devotees will enter the temple and see a huge flat-Earth disc suspended from the ceiling of the main dome; and despite seeing the Vedic flat-Earth in front of their eyes, and despite offering obeisances and lip-service to the depiction of Bhu-mandala, there will be those that continue to argue that the Vedic Earth is not a flat-Earth. Meanwhile, Mayesvara dasa will continue to be harangued for his bogus flat-Earth ideas. Such is the upside-down nature of life in the realm of maya!

Despite the propaganda made against our presentation of the Vedic flat-Earth, we have accurately pointed out that Bharata-varsha is described in Srimad Bhagavatam as part of a larger Earth-circle (and not as a globe-shaped planet floating in space). We have also presented Srila Prabhupada's instruction to present the cosmology 'exactly according to Bhagavatam'. Thus we are not at fault in our attempt to bring to light the Srimad Bhagavatam's description of the great Earth-circle, nor is there fault in out attempt to ensure that Srila Prabhupada's instruction is respected by his followers—and particularly those in charge of the exhibitions and preaching at the Temple of Vedic Planetarium.

In Part Three of this paper we shall discuss how King Bali was sent to Sutala after being dispossessed by Lord Vamana. We shall discuss whether Sutala is 'a planet', or if it is an underground realm within the vast depths of the Bhu-mandala itself.

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