The planetary systems
Svargaloka, Bhuvarloka, Bhūrloka, etc., are not single planets but planetary systems that include millions of planets each.
« Making Sense of the Vedic Universe, a Higher-Dimensional Reality
The planetary systems
Svargaloka, Bhuvarloka, Bhūrloka, etc., are not single planets but planetary systems that include millions of planets each. The earth, for example, is part of a planetary system that includes all the different structures that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam describes as part of Bhū-mandala. Although for the demigods these structures are seen as described in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, for us, they appear as different planets.
The inhabitants of these different planetary systems have different levels of consciousness and, as a result, different sets of senses. As part of the population of Kali-yuga, our consciousness is very gross, and thus we have senses that can experience only gross matter, while demigods, demons, and other beings have more subtle senses that are able to perceive different varieties of refined matter that are not visible to us. It’s interesting to note in this connection that modern theories predict that up to 95% of the universe is composed of dark matter and dark energy, forms of matter we can’t detect with our senses or instruments. Higher beings with subtler senses are capable of observing subtle forms of matter, and thus they perceive the universe differently from us.
We like to call our perception of the universe “reality”, but the way we see things is just the way our mind interprets the electrical signals that our eyes, hands, etc., transmit to the brain. Other species throughout the universe have different sets of senses, and thus, “reality” for them is something entirely different.
From these fourteen planetary systems, ten are destroyed at the end of each day of Brahmā, up to Svargaloka. This happens because the ultimate goal of the creation of the universe is to offer an opportunity for the souls to realize their eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa. As time passes and most of the souls in these different planetary systems do not engage in devotional service as seriously as they should, Lord Ananta becomes angry and eventually destroys all these different planetary systems with the assistance of Lord Śiva. After destruction, all their inhabitants have to wait inside the body of Lord Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣnu for 4.32 billion years until the next creation.
Only the four highest planetary systems, Satyaloka, Tapoloka, Janaloka, and Maharloka, are spared from the destruction. Prabhupāda explains the reason in SB 3.10.9: “This is because of the causeless devotional service rendered unto the Lord by their inhabitants, whose existence continues up to the end of dvi-parardha time, when they are generally liberated from the chain of birth and death in the material world.”
At the beginning of the next day of Brahmā, when the lower planets are created again, these great sages go down to populate the universe, becoming the prajāpatis, the progenitors of the next generations of living beings. This process is described in the Vāyu Purāṇa (1.7.7):
pratyāhate pūrvakalpe pratisaṃdhiṃ ca tatra vai
anyaḥ pravarttate kalpo janāllokāt punaḥ punaḥ“First, the kalpa ends and, subsequently, the pratisaṃdhi ends. Then, the next kalpa begins with life imported from Janaloka. This process occurs again and again”.
In other words, Brahmā performs the complete creation of the universe, as described in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, two times: at the beginning of his life and then on the first day of the second half. On other days, prajāpatis coming down from Janaloka take charge of repopulating the universe.
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« Making Sense of the Vedic Universe, a Higher-Dimensional Reality
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Hare Krishna 🙏
It's a wonderful article with a very good clarification of our creation.
I have a question regarding the comparison between traditional Vedic cosmology and modern scientific estimates of time.
As I understand it from your article, , Brahma performs the creation of 14 planetary systems, two times in his life time.
One at the beginning of Brahma's life.
Second, at the midpoint of his lifespan (after 50% of his life). We are currently in the first day (kalpa) after this half life (50 years) of Brahma.
Within this framework, it is said that we are presently in the 28th Chaturyuga of the 7th Manvantara, meaning that the current cycle of creation happened before 6 Manvantaras and 28 Chaturyugas.
Based on this calculation, the time since this “new creation” is approximately 1.844 billion years.
However, when compared with modern scientific findings, the age of the Solar System formation (including the Sun) is estimated to be about 4.5 to 4.6 billion years.
This creates a noticeable difference between the two timelines.
I am unsure whether I have correctly understood or compared these frameworks, or whether there is an error in my interpretation of the Vedic chronology.
Could you kindly help clarify how these two perspectives can be understood in relation to each other, and whether this apparent discrepancy is due to differences in definitions of “creation” or cosmic cycles?
Hare Krishna 🙏
Your servant
Hare Krishna
After destruction, all their inhabitants have to wait inside the body of Lord Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣnu for 4.32 billion years until the next creation.
There is this life also and the maha, jana, tapa, satya lok inhabitants also help in creation as prajapatis.
I am a little confused here.
I like all your posts and learning from them.
Thank you for the continued good work.
Hare Krishna