A Study of the Bhagavata Purana or Esoteric Hinduism Part 28

When the Sun is between the spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox, it is Dakshinayana (Going towards the south.) The Sun's motion is then said to be Quick.

When the sun is at the Equinoxes it is Vishuva. The Sun's motion is then said to be Even.

When it is Dakshinayana, the days increase. When it is Uttarayana the nights increase.

The sages teach 9 Krores and 51 lakhs of Yojanas as the Circ.u.mference of Manasottara.

[On both sides of Meru up to Manasottara is 3 Krores and 15 lakhs. The Measure of the above circle is obtained from this (diameter).

_Sridhara_.]

[A full diagram of the Bhur system will now have to be given, to explain the above figures. For the sake of convenience, the Dvipa and its ocean are given as one.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: A diagram of the Bhur system.]

From Meru to Lokaloka on one side ... 12 1/2 Krores on both sides ... 25 "

Loka loka on both sides ... 25 "

Measure of Bhur system ... 50 "

Distance from Meru to Manasottora 15,750,000 On both sides ... 31,500,000

The Manasottara range is a circle of which the last figure is the diameter.

The circle is obtained by multiplying the diameter by a little over 3.

The circle is thus given to be - 9 Krores and 51 Lakshas.

The Manasottara is the path of revolution of the sun round Meru.

On the East side of Meru in the Manasottara is the seat of Indra named Devadhani.

On the South side is the seat of Yama named Sanyamani.

On the West is the seat of Varuna named Nimlochani.

On the North is the seat of the Moon named Vibhavari.

Sunrise, midday, Sunset and night on those seats cause action and inaction in beings, according to the time with reference to the side of Meru.

(For those that live to the south of Meru, their east &c. commence from the abode of Indra, of those that live to the west from the abode of Yama, of the northern people, from the abode of Varuna, of the eastern people from the abode of the Moon. _Sridhara_.)

Those that live on the Meru have the Sun always over their heads.

The Sun's chariot makes one round along Manasottara in one year. The wheel or chakra of the chariot is therefore called Sanvatsara.

The 12 months are the 12 spokes of that wheel. The six seasons form 6 arcs.

The pole of that chariot extends to the top of Meru. The other end of the pole is on the Manasottara. (It is either to be thought that the wheel is placed more than 50,000 Yojanas over the Manasottara in the regions of air or the wheel is to be considered as high as that distance, otherwise the Manasottara being 10,000 Yojanas high and Meru being 84 Yojanas high, 16 thousand being under ground, there will be a difference of planes in the Sun's revolution. _Sridhara_.)

There is another movement of the Sun round Dhruva. The radius of that revolution is one fourth the distance between Meru and Manasottara.

(_i.e._ 1/4 X 15,750,000 = 3,937,500).

The movement round Dhruva is caused by the action of air.

The seat within the chariot is 36 laksha of Yojanas wide. The yoke is also of the same measure. The seven horses are the seven Vedic metres (Gayatri, Ushnik, a.n.u.stup, Vrihati, Pankti, Tristup and Jagati). They are driven by Aruna.

The thumb sized Balikhilya Rishis stand in front of the chariot and chant hymns in honor of aditya.

THE PLANETS AND STARS.

*SKANDHA V. CHAP. 22-23.*

The moon is one laksha of Yojanas over the Sun. The growing Moon makes the day of the Devas and the waning Moon is the life of all Jivas, in fact he is Jiva.

He is Manomaya, Annamaya and Amritamaya. From him therefore proceed the life and advancement of Devas, Pitris, Men, Animals and Plants.

Two laksha of Yojanas over the Moon are the 27 Zodiacal constellations and also the star Abhijit ( a mysterious star between Uttarashadha and Sravana) attached to the wheel of time.

Two laksha of Yojanas over them is Sukra or Venus. His movements are like those of the Sun. He is ever favourable to men. His progression is generally accompanied by showers of rain. He also subdues those planets that counteract the rains.

Two laksha of Yojanas over Sukra is Budha or Mercury. He is much like Sukra in his movements and is generally favourable to men. But when he transgresses the Sun, there is fear of high winds, rainless clouds and drought.

Two laksha of Yojanas over Budha is Mangala or Mars. He moves round the Zodiac in three fortnights. He is generally unfavourable to men, causing miseries, unless he proceeds by retrogression.

Two laksha of Yojanas over Mars is Brihaspati or Jupiter. He moves in each sign of the Zodiac for one Parivatsara (year of Jupiter), if there is no retrogression. He is generally unfavorable to the Brahmanas.

Two laksha of Yojanas over Jupiter is Sanaischara or Saturn. He loiters in each sign of the Zodiac for thirty months. He completes his round in thirty Anuvatsaras. He is generally unfavourable to all and causes unrest.

Eleven laksha of Yojanas over Saturn are the Rishis. Their influence is for the good of all people. They revolve round the Supreme abode of Vishnu.

Thirteen laksha of Yojanas beyond the Rishis is Dhruva, which is the Supreme abode of Vishnu.

All luminous bodies attached to the wheel of time move round Dhruva being propelled by Vayu while Dhruva remains fixed.

The planets and stars remain fixed in their relative positions, under the union of Prakriti and Purusha by the future made for them by their Karma.

Some however say that the luminous bodies become fixed in their relative positions by the Yoga support of Vasudeva, being held together in the shape of Sisumara (the Gangetic porpoise). The Sisumara has its face downwards and its body is coiled.

Dhruva is at the end of its tail. Praj.a.pati, Agni, Indra and Dharma are in the lower part of the tail. Dhata and Vidhata are at the root of the tail. The seven Rishis are in the middle. On the right side are the fourteen Stars from Abhijit to Punarvasu. On the left side are the 14 stars from Pushya to Uttara Sarha. So on, all the stars and planets.

(For details refer to the original).

The Sisumara is the Universal manifestation of Maha Purusha.

[The following Geo-centric diagram is given, as ill.u.s.trative of the positions of the planets.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Positions of the planets.]