The Sun Is Closer Than The Moon

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> If we consider like that, then the moon is beyond the sun planet. The

> estimation is there in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: 1,600,000 miles above the

> sun, the moon is situated. Now, if we take consideration of the sun planet

> situated 93,000,000 miles from earth, then add 1,600,000 miles again, it

> comes to 95,000,000 miles away from the earthly planet. And how you can

> reach there in four days, 95,000,000 miles away? If we apply our common

> sense, then it appears they have never gone to the moon planet. It is all

> bogus propaganda. It is not possible.

>

> (Srila Prabhupada - Lecture, Nov. 28, 1975)

 

Some days ago there was question raised in another conference (ex-PSSG) on

how to understand Earth-Moon distance to be 95.000.000 miles, as was several

times mentioned by Srila Prabhupada. I found out that I have no good answer

to that. I don't think it is a problem of faith in Srila Prabhupada's

words, it is just that it would be nice to have this subject confirmed also

in another ways. This "contradiction" is based on fact, that Srila

Prabhupada posited Sun closer than the Moon on several occasions, although

shastra appears to say another thing, as explained in the following:

 

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1. Srila Prabhupada mentions, that Sun is closer than the Moon, as described

in the quote above. He says that moon is 95.000.000 miles away.

 

2. Srimad Bhagavatam mentions, that Moon is closer. Namely, it says, that

Moon is higher (800.000 miles above Sun), and Earth is 800.000 miles below

Sun Also confirmed by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura). This is vertical

dimension. In addition SB explains, that Sun is 15.750.00 yojanas away from

Jambudvipa, which well corresponds to 93.000.000 miles modern distance from

Earth to Sun. And Moon, if somewhere above Jambudvipa, would be 1.600.000

miles away from earth. So, the moon is in SB much closer than the Sun.

 

3. Surya-siddhanta agrees quite well with modern astronomy, saying, that

moon is 258.000 miles from earth.

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4.(info) Modern science says, that Moon is 238.000 miles from earth, snd Sun

is 93.000.000 miles from earth.

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So, the question arises, why did Srila Prabhupada accept such a big distance

between Earth and Moon, although it is different from Srimad Bhagavatam

(also commented by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura) and Surya Siddhanta

(translated by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura).

 

Usually we learned to say in such situation, that Srila Prabhupada was just

pointing out, that it is impossible, that they went to the moon (in four

days or else). The main point is, that they cannot go to the moon. So, for

us, numbers may not be so important, important is the message.

 

Similarly Sadaputa prabhu in his book "Vedic Cosmography and Astronomy"

proposes the following explanation:

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Q: In SB 8.10.38p, Srila Prabhupada says, "The sun is supposed to be

93,000,000 miles above the surface of the earth, and from the

Srimad-Bhagavatam we understand that the moon is 1,600,000 miles above the

sun. Therefore the distance between the earth and the moon would be about

95,000,000 miles." Doesn't this plainly say that the moon is farther from

the earth than the sun?

A: In the summary at the end of Chapter 23 of the Fifth Canto Srila

Prabhupada says, "The distance from the sun to the earth is 100,000

yojanas." At 8 miles per yojana, this comes to 800,000 miles. We suggest

that when Srila Prabhupada cites the modern Western earth-sun distance of

93,000,000 miles, he is simply making the point that if you put together the

Bhagavatam and modern astronomy you get a contradictory picture. His

conclusion is that one should simply accept the Vedic version, and he was

not interested in personally delving into astronomical arguments in detail.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => VCA 8: Questions and Answers

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My question is, if this explanation by Sadaputa prabhu is the only bonafide

explanation available in ISKCON regarding Srila Prabhupada apparently

"differnig" from shastra by offering numerical data for the sun being closer

than the moon (moon 95.000.000 miles away from earth). Is this how we answer

to people when they ask us, or maybe there are some other ways to look at

this subject matter. Please if somebody has some additional understanding,

can you please kindly post it?

 

thank you

 

your servant Giri-nayaka das BVS

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And this is why we should never blindly follow any Guru...