The Vedic Planetarium - A Journey to the Spiritual World

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The Vedic Planetarium - A Journey to the Spiritual World

 

A draft proposal for an audio-visual presentation to establish the

superiority of our Vedic model of the universe over that of modern

science (and indirectly, inspiring anyone who watches it with the

desire to go to that perfect world).

 

Primary goal: To attract scientists and ordinary people alike to a

presentation of the Vedic model of the universe, based on the Srimad

Bhagavatam (5th Canto) and Sri Brihad-bhagavatamritam, presented

through a simulated journey to the spiritual world. By establishing

the superiority of the Vedic model, we aim at making the Bhagavatm

and the Brihad-bhagavtamritam widely acceptable as standard academic

text and reference books, defeating atheistic and impersonalist

scientific theories, establishing bhakti as a scientific theistic

philosophy far superior to any other philosophy or theology, and

generally attracting scientists (and thereafter ordinary people) to

the philosophy and practice of bhakti.

 

Secondary goal: To acquire an additional piece of land (3 Acres) and

to construct a Vedic Planetarium (along with a

temple/asrama/guesthouse complex).

 

Location: The location of our asrama (Sri Ranganatha Gaudiya Math,

Bangalore) is ideally suitable for this project. This location is

becoming a tourist attraction spot, with Nritya-gram (a luxury

resort hotel) within short walking distance away, a 50 acres Safary

Zoo coming up right next door to our asrama, Eco Resort village

(another fancy resort) just opened and a Science City project (100

acres) being constructed, both within 2 kilometers of the asrama's

entrance. The Government Film Institute is nearby, and the outer

ring-road of Bangalore is planned to pass just a couple of

kilometers away. Bangalore city is considered the software capital

of the world and we can get technical support there. Since we have

been here (just over a year) we have seen the whole area rapidly

developing and transforming right before our eyes.

 

The persons behind the project: BV Dandi Maharaja spent 12 years in

college and university education, and completed his D. Sc. (which is

higher than a Ph.D) in a record time of 3 years (it usually takes

between 5 and 12 years). He has been keeping up with the latest

scientific theories and collecting evidence in favour of the Vedic

view, such as the evidence on the Ramayana bridge to Sri Lanka. He

single-handedly secured this countryside asrama and raised the

lakshmi to purcase it. Since then he has been developing the site

and has started a Gurukula here. BV Vishnu-daivata Mj. has been

working on the English translation of Sri Brihad-Bhagavatamritam and

can be consulted on this subject. Jaya Gopal dasa is an expert

computer graphics artist and has already produced one pioneering

picture-diagram of the universe (under Tridnndi Mj. guidance). Dau

Dayal dasa (BA Hons. UCL) has just finished compiling Sri

Slokamritam and can now give his full attention to this project. If

we can get Srila Gurudeva's blessings and support for this project,

we will no doubt be successful in our aspiration to render this

little service at his lotus feet.

Mission statement: One may hazard a guess that the advantageous

location of the proposed project, the background qualifications of

the devotees involved, and the conjunction of these two factors, is

not a coincidence, but is due to Guru and Krishna's arrangement.

Therefore we see it as a sign that we are meant to use this

opportunity to further the mission of Mahaprabhu, as a service to

Srila Gurudeva and under his guidance. This was also Srila

Bhaktivedanta Swami "Prabhupada's" desire. In a conversation with

George Harrison in 1976 he emphasized his desire for the

construction of a Vedic Planetarium as an important aid to re-

educating and transforming the misleading and concocted views of the

sceintists. (The word 'science' in old English means 'Knowledge of

God' and 'nescience' therefore means 'ignorance of God').

 

Funding: Although money is a secondary consideration and Krishna can

make anything happen if our desire is dovetailed with His, we can

raise money through (1) Treatment courses in Ayurveda, (2) Selling

plots to Western devotees wishing to build a home or a resort

cottage on the land, and (3) fund-raising collection in the West. BV

Dandi Mj. has the experience of raising the money and managing the

construction of a sizable temple in New York.

 

The Scientific versus Vedic explanations of observable reality:

 

Scientists now conjecture that the universe is made of

innumerable galaxies. To support their "Big Bang" theory of an

expanding universe, they say that our planetary system is moving

within the Milky Way galaxy just like a flying 'frisbee' at the

speed of 330 kilometers per second through space. However, from an

ordinary observation we know that even a mundane military jet plane

exceeding the speed of sound (less than one km per second) produces

a 'G force' that greatly impairs the normal functioning ability of

the pilot. How are the scientists reconciling this? The Vedic view

is that the universe revolves at a much lower speed around the pole

star (Dhruva loka), and that the sun revolves around the 14

planetary systems of this one universe. There is only one sun per

universe, and the multitude of stars are the abodes of various sages

and saints, each having his own star. The Milky Way is not a galaxy

at all but the akasa Ganga coming down through the hole in the

covering shell of the universe pierced by Vamanadeva. What the

scientists observe as galaxies are the remnants of the celestial

Ganga entering this universe through the holes in the covering of

the universe made by Vamanadeva. Since Vamanadeva comes 1000 times

in each day of Brahma, there are innumerable such "galaxies."

 

Contrary to the expanding universe theory, we observe that

things on this planet actually shrink over time. People of previous

ages were bigger (there is a footprint of Bhima nearby which is

three times the size of an adult footprint), our forefathers had a

much longer life-span, and had better brains and higher

consciousness. The measurements given in the sastra for mountains

and for distances such as that between mainland India and Sri Lanka

are considerably bigger than those we observe today. This may be due

to the cycle of yugas or to the natural shrinking of the atoms as

part of the fact that matter is temporary and always being

destroyed. (Whether this is due to the effect of Kali yuga or to the

fact that matter as such is always decaying and shrinking, we will

have to consult Srila Gurudeva). According to Vedic astrology, the

size of the universe itself is fixed and it has a given size (CC

Madhya 21.84 pt: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, one of the

greatest astrologers of his time, gives information from the

Siddhanta-siromani that this universe measures

18,712,069,200,000,000 x 8 miles. This is the circumference of our

universe).

Srila BV Swami Prabhupada declared very strongly that man could not

have possibly gone to the moon. There is now mounting evidence that

the whole trip to the moon was a hoax, set up for political reasons.

Public opinion surveys in the US have shown that more than 50

percent of the American people now have serious doubts that moon

landing. (see the documentary "The Moon-landing Hoax.")

 

We now know that Darwin was wrong and his theory of

evolution is no longer taken seriously by the leading lights of the

academic world. We also know that Newton's theory is not so good

since there are observable things it cannot explain. Sceintists now

speak of something they label "Intelligent Design", meaning that

everything in the universe has been designed very intelligently,

nothing is due to chance. In other words they admit that there is an

intelligence behind the universe, just as there is an intelligence

behind something like a watch. Intelligence doesn't float in space,

it is a personal quality. It means there is a person behind the

creation just as there is a watch-maker behind the watch. (see the

documentary "The Origin of Life"). Moreobver, did you know that

Einstein was wrong and that he failed to really explain the

universe? In order to make his theory consistent, he denied the

existence of ether (space), one of the five basic material elements.

A contemporary of Einstein by the name of Godel once challenged the

former to a philosopical-scientific debate. He took one of

Einstein's basic equations and worked it through to what turned out

to be an illogical, absurd conclusion. Einstein checked the sequence

of equations but couldn't find any fault with the sequence itself,

which means that his original equasion was faulty. Einstein was well-

known, well-connected and well-established while Godel was

relatively a nobody. Einstein dismissed this case by saying "Let's

just ignore this Godel with his strange conclusions." Trying as hard

as he could, he could not successfully develope a "Unified Field

Theory", that is, one theory that explains everything, both the

macro universe and the micro structure of the atoms. At the end of

his life he was a very unhappy person. Godel, however, formulated a

theory known as "The Incomplete and Inconsistent Theorem." He

claimed that any theory presented by any scientist, any explanation

of this material world and material phenomena, is bound to be

incomplete and inconsistent. This is an admittance that we (either

as sceintists or as conditioned souls) can never figure it out

completely (after all the material energy maya is called the

deluding potency of Krishna). It means that we are not the

controllers and enjoyers, that we are not at all independent. The

repercussions of Godel's theory were devastating for his

contemporaries, especially for the physicists and mathematicians,

since they assume that mathematics and physics are "closed-ended"

systems that can be comprehended and explained fully by an observer

who is completely independent of the system he observes (unlike

language which is an "open-ended" system, allowing for creative

individual input, and therefore doesn't have a final set of rules,

or grammer, that is capable of explaining everything possible within

language). The scientific community of the time was morose and

depressed since their life-work of research seemed futile and not

very meaningful in the light of Godel's Theorem. Therefore, what

they did was to dismiss and ignore Godel's theory as unscientific

and irrelevant. However, thousnds of Ph.Ds and research scientists

nowadays are in disarray. There are major problems with their

theories and basic assumptions about the nature of the universe.

There are many things that they simply cannot reconcile or explain

away. The blind leading the blind. Still they promise that soon, one

day, they will give us the full explanation (Srila BV Swami

Prabhupada called this "The blank cheque promise"). However, the

mental speculation of the empirical scientists seems to have reached

a saturation point. A new theory is being put forward every couple

of years, replacing the previous so-called theory, and making it

clear that they are just mentally concocting new theories without

actually realising the Truth or having a grasp on Reality. Therefore

they strongly believe that everything is relative and there is no

Absolute Truth. Most of the observations made by the scientists can

be adequately and consistently explained by the Vedic model. If we

can show that our "theory" can provide a stronger and more complete

expalanation of observable reality, the scientists are bound to

eventually accept it.

 

According to sastra, one who knows the truth does not change

his philosophical conclusions. According to the Srimad Bhagavtam

(2nd sloka) "The highest truth is reality distinguished from

illusion for the welfare of all" and that indeed is the knowledge

presented by the Bhagavatam. We are aspiring to present scientists

and ordinary people with the knowledge of the Bhagavatam, presenting

a model of the universe which explains everything, the totality of

both material and spiritual worlds, in a complete and perfect way.

It accounts for everything we observe, clearly distinguishing

reality from illusion. This model is the ultimate "Unified Field

Theory." It has its origin not in the mind of any scientist or any

human being and is not the result of mental speculation. It is not

man-made knowledge but is perfect knowledge that descends from the

perfect world, through perfected sages, and presented in perfect

literature, free from the mistakes and defects of mortal,

conditioned souls. We are humbly extending an invitation to all

scientists and any interested persons to take a look at a picture of

the universe (or a model of reality) which can answer all questions,

allay all doubts, and inspire any individual with a higher taste,

the desire for elevation to the spiritual world through the process

of bhakti. As it has been said, this is a journey without a

beginning to a goal that has never changed. Hare Krishna.

 

The Vedic view of the Universe:

 

The Spiritual world:

GOLOKA VRiNDAVANA - Svayam Bhagavan Vrajendra-nandana Krishna,

Lila-purushottama, and Vrishabhanu-nandini Srimati Radhika; Krishna

has the ego and attire of an dolescent cowherd boy; three pure rasas

and two mixed. Prema-rasa nishtha, Pure Madhurya (Aisvarya is

completely covered); path leading to Goloka Vrindavana: Suddha-raga

bhakti.

[in a parallel prakoshta - SVETADWIPA - Gaura lila, Sri Sacinandana

Gaurahari, Prema-purushottama]

MATHURA - Mathuresa Krishna, son of Vasudeva; ego and attire of a

Kshatriya prince; both dvibhuja and caturbhuja. Mixed Aisvarya and

Madhurya.

1st Catur-vyuha: Vasudeva - Sankarsana. path: Vaidhi-misra-raga

bhakti.

DWARAKA PURI - Dwarakadisa Krishna, son of Vasudeva, Kshatriya king.

Suhrid-rasa nishtha, Aisvarya predominant over Madhurya. 2nd Catur-

vyuha: Pradyumna-Anirudha. path: Vaidhi-misra-raga bhakti.

AYODHYA - Ramacandra, Maryada-purushottama, Sita-Rama-Lakshmana-

Hanman. Seva-rasa-visesha nishtha; path: Vaidhi-bhakti in dasya-rasa.

VAIKUNTHA - Lakshmi-Narayana. Aisvarya predominating. Bhagavan is

cutur-bhuja. Seva-rasa nishtha. path: (1) Vaidhi-bhakti in dasya-

rasa, and (2) Mukti: salokya, samipya, sarupa, sarsti.

SIVA-LOKA - at the bottom of Vaikuntha. path: worship of Lord Siva

(in the mood that he is non-different than Lord Narayana). Consort:

Parvati.

 

Borderline region between the spiritual and material worlds

(tatastha):

SIDDHA-LOKA/MUKTI-LOKA - on the shore of the Viraja river (causal

ocean) at the bottom of Siva-loka. Neither material, nor spiritual,

borderline (tatastha). path: jnana yoga, jnanis whose goal is

impersonal liberation (sayujya, nirvana) desiring to merge into the

impersonal brahman effulgence emanating from the toes of Krishna.

>From the point of view of bhakti, this amounts to spiritual suicide

since it extinguishes one's individuality and desire to serve

Krishna. (note: This destination is not higher than the Paramatma

realisation below, but parallel to it).

VIRAJA RIVER or CAUSAL OCEAN - Karanodakasayi Vishnu. The tatastha

(borderline) region between the material and spiritual worlds. path:

Ashtanga yoga, realisation of the Paramatma (Supersoul in the

heart). Again, this is neither material nor spiritual: no service,

no ananda. Karanodakasayi, or Maha-Vishnu (a five times removed

expansion of Krishna) infuses His potency into maya (Durga devi)

thus creating the material world and then impregantes the

conditioned jivas through His glance into their respective material

bodies (see separate diagram). Innumerable universes emanate from

the pores of His skin with every exhalation and are drawn back into

His body with each inhalation (Bigger than the biggest).

 

The Material world:

Composed of innumerable, egg-shaped universes of various sizes,

floating in the material sky or held on the hoods of Sesha-naga.

Just as Maha-Vishnu is the supersoul of the entire material

creation, the second purusha-avatara, Garbodakashayi Vishnu is the

supersoul of each individual universe. He lies at the bottom half of

the universe in the ocean created by His own sweat, in a state of

samadhi (yoga-nidra) and is being served by His consort, Lakshmi.

The third purusha-avatara, Kshirodakasayi Vishnu, is the supersoul

in the heart of every living being. He also resides inside each

atom, holding it together (Smaller than the smallest).

 

Each universe is completely enclosed by a thick shell of seven

layers, each layer is successively ten times thicker than the

previous one. The following is a description of the seven layers of

one universe and their predominating deities, going from the

topmost, external layer, to the bottom, inner layer.

The Seven Layers:

1. Mahat-tattva (seed form of the material elements) - Vasudeva-rupi

Vishnu

2. Ahankara (collective false ego) - Sankasana-rupi Vishnu

3. Ether (or space) - Anirudha-rupi Vishnu

4. Air - Pradyumna-rupi Vishnu

5. Fire - Surya (sun)-rupi Vishnu

6. Water - Matsya (totoise)-rupi Vishnu

7. Earth - Varaha (Boar)-rupi Vishnu

The seven upper planetary syatems:

1. Satya-loka - the abode of lord Brahma, the secondary creator of

each universe. (the universe lasts as long as Brahm's life, 100

years or ?)

2. Tapa-loka - the abode of the four Kumaras: Sanaka, Sanatana,

Sanandana and Sanata-Kumara.

3. Jana-loka - the abode of the Nava-Yogendra, the nine anceint

sages (re. King Nemi, 11th Canto of SB).

4. Mahar-loka - the abode of Bhrigu Muni and other sages.

5. Svarga-loka - the abode of the Demigods, headed by Indra, the

king of Heaven.

6. Bhuva-loka - the abode of the Pitri-purusha, the forefathers

(Manvantaras?)

7. Bhu-loka - Planet earth and the seven Dwipas (not visible to

material vision) - the abode of human beings and other living

entities.

 

The seven lower planetary systems:

8. Atal-loka - abode of Bala demon

9. Vital-loka - abode of Hatkesvara Siva

10. Sutal-loka - abode of Bali Maharaja (guarded by Vamana avatara)

11. Talatal-loka - abode of Maya demon (protected by Siva)

12. Mahatal-loka - Kaliya serpent and demoniac sons of Diti

13. Rasatal-loka - Demons

14. Patal-loka - Vasuki serpent

 

Thus there are 14 planetary systems altogether, each comprising a

group of planets or stars.

 

Below these 14 is Naraka-loka, Hell, the abode of the Yamadutas,

Yamaraja's agents whose job is to punish and prepare sinful jivas

for their next life.

 

The Process of Creation (and the sequence of the appearance of

material elements):

Karanodakasayi (Maha) Vishnu lies in the Causal Ocean (also called

the Viraja River). He infuses Maya (Durga) devi with His potency and

this gives rise to the (1) Mahat-tattva (the seed form of the

material elements). This gives rise to to the (2) Ahankara

(collective form of false ego). Three kinds of Ahankara result from

this, according to the three modes of nature: Sattvik, Rajasik and

Tamasik. From Sattvik ahankara comes the Mind. From Rajasik ahankara

come the (3-7) Jnanendriya (5 organs of perception) and (8-12)

Karmendriya (5 organs of action). From Tamasik ahankara come the (13-

17) Panca-bhuta, the 5 material elements: space, air, fire, water

and earth, and their corresponding (18-22) Tanmatra, the 5 sense

enjoyment objects: sound, touch, sight, taste and smell. The 23rd

element is the Mind (mana), 24th is Intelligence (buddhi), 25th is

the individual false ego (Ahankara) thinking that the self (the

sense of "I") is independent of God, that "I am the doer and things

related to this body are mine"). 26th is Citta (heart) or

consciousness, the symptom of the soul, which is not a material

element although it may be covered by the subtle material elements

of ego, intelligence and mind and results in material consciousness.

The 27th element is the Paramatma, the supersoul who sits in the

heart of the jiva as witness and permitter, and also as the caittya-

guru (the guru in the heart who manifests externally as the Guru

when the jiva becomes eligible for bhakti). Therefore the process of

bhakti is to spiritualize one's consciousness, under the guidance of

a bona fide Guru, and transform it back to its original spiritual

nature, Krishna consciousness, the awareness that one is a loving

servant of Krishna and that one's real happiness lies in rendering

loving devotional service to one's eternal object of love, Sri

Krishna. Hare Krishna. Nitai-Gaura Hari bol.

 

Sources: Srimad Bhagavatam, 5th Canto; Sri Brihad-bhagavatamritam;

Sri Caitanya-Caritamrita, Madhya chapters 20-21; Sri Brahma-samhita;

Jaiva Dharma.

 

Dr. Swami B.V. Dandi Maharaja

B.Sc. (Hons) B.E. (IISC, Bangalore) M.S. (IIT Chennai) D.Sc.

(Washington University), P.E. (USA), CISSP

bvdandi

 

Swami BV Vishnu Daivata Maharaja

B.E. (VJTI Mumbai), M.Tech. (IIT Kharagpur)

vishnudaivata

 

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