Feb 21, 2018 —DUBLIN, IRELAND (SUN) —
An Introduction
For decades, ISKCON scientists, Sanskrit scholars and devotees in general have been puzzled by the remarkable and almost unbelievable descriptions of the Bhu-mandala earth disc described in the Fifth Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, and its incredible dimensions, features, shapes, oceans, mountains, etc. None were able to resolve the obvious differences when compared to conventional modern Cosmology and how our known earth fits in. Many theories were put forth to explain this such as, multi-layered meanings by Sukadeva Goswami, other dimensional landmasses beyond our vision, the miniature duplicate Bharat-varsha idea, etc. But nothing seemed 100% certain and clear and the entire concept has remained an ongoing mystery.
Fast-forward to 2015: a small number of like-minded Vaishnavas formed a group seeking a clearer understanding of the Vedic Cosmology presented in the Fifth Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, with a special interest and focus on the shape of our known earth – is it round or flat? We call ourselves the Bhu-mandala Tattva Group, for obvious reasons. Fascinated and fueled by the international flood of popular interest regarding the 'flat earth' by truth seekers on YouTube, and the sound evidence offered by them, we started looking seriously at the Fifth Canto for more answers. After all, the earth is described there as a flat plane, 4 billion miles in diameter. So, how does our tiny 'globe earth' fit into that? Well, as a matter of fact, it doesn't. There is no such description whatsoever in any Vedic literature of our regional earth area being a globe floating in empty space.
Despite the expected differences between the concepts of conventional flat-earthers and the Vedic version, there is an indisputable and increasing amount of empirical evidence to establish that the very earth we live on is not a globe at all, but a flat plane. The Vedic concept completes the picture by adding the remaining features, locations, measurements, etc. of other parts of the whole earth plane lacking in the flat earther's concept.
Many people, including devotees, will experience some serious challenges when facing this issue. It contradicts everything we've been taught, everything modern science and cosmology say, and everything about our beautiful earth we have come to accept during our lives. This is a paradigm shift of huge proportions with incredible world and life-changing implications. What we have to come to terms with is that we have, in fact, been misled and given incorrect knowledge by imperfect and questionable authorities with limited sense perceptions and the frailties of the conditioned mind and intellect, engaged in the most horrendous sinful activities, and deemed outrightly by Srila Prabhupada as 'rascals'.
As Srila Prabhupada's followers and sisyas, it is our duty to accept, with deep conviction and faith, the authority of Vedic guru, sadhu and shastra as above all imperfections and free from mistakes. Vedic truth and wisdom are the basis of all our knowledge, material and spiritual, and it must be accepted in toto if we are see the world as it is through the eyes of authority – shastra caksus – in order to progress spiritually. As often quoted by Srila Prabhupada from the Svetasvara Upanisad (6.23): "Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of the Vedic knowledge automatically revealed."
We do not claim to have the answers to many conundrums still existing in the descriptions of the Fifth Canto when comparing them to our sensually perceived universe. Some things might need to be considered the inconceivable nature of the Lord's wonderful energy (achintya shakti) which are beyond our understanding or imagination. Indeed, Jiva Goswami informs us that without accepting the inconceivable nature of His creation God cannot be all-powerful. Attempts by scientists to bring God's creation under their own understanding were strongly criticized by Srila Prabhupada as frogs in a well trying to comprehend the length and breadth of the ocean.
We invite you to take a hard and open look at the facts and decide for yourself: Is our Earth a globe or a plane? You may be very surprised at what you find out.
The Purposes of the Bhu-mandala Group are as follows:
To present the complete earth disc according to Srimad Bhagavatam as a continual landscape 4 billion miles in diameter composed of a central island (Jambudvipa) surrounded by seven concentric landmasses and seven concentric oceans.
To present the regional area of the total earth disc on which we live (Bharat-varsha) as a flat landmass on the Southern tip of the central island of Jambudvipa, and also consisting of nine separate islands.
To expose the imperfect conclusions of modern science on the subject of cosmology as speculative, incomplete and inconclusive, especially to the followers of Srila Prabhupada.
To establish the Vedic authority of guru, sadhu and shastra as the standard of knowledge of Vedic Cosmology coming through our preceptors and acharyas from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna.
Based on the above, to insure that the model of Bhu-mandala being presented in the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium correctly and accurately depicts the earth described in Srimad Bhagavatam, as desired and instructed by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Below are links to the many articles and essays of Sriman Mayesvara Prabhu, written specifically to address questions regarding the cosmology of the Fifth Canto, and the importance of accepting Vedic knowledge as it is from the speaker of the Bhagavatam, Srila Sukadeva Goswami. Many also address a highly important question regarding the presentation of Vedic Cosmology in the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) which, at present, plans to include our known earth region as a globe. All these topics and much more are painstakingly, minutely and logically covered in the articles from a shastric perspective along with the authority of guru and sadhu (acharyas).
The reader should note that the articles are quite lengthy as they present the subject from every possible angle. There is also considerable repetition in the articles as each was written with the assumption that the reader was new to the subject. And with the discovery of new facts and information there may be occasional errors in some details of the presentations which have not yet been corrected. Eventually these will be compiled into a more concise presentation in a single publication. They are introductory essays meant to stimulate further interest, research and discussion in the subject at hand.
A website is being developed to explain the same subjects in even more detail and those who are interested can send us their email address to include on our database so we may keep you informed about our research and progress. We also welcome any relevant information that may be helpful in our research. We are also seeking experienced video animators to help with video production for the website. Please contact us at our email address: bhumandalagroup@gmail.com.
We suggest you read in the order presented to get the best overall effect in the presentation. Each article also has links to others where subjects are inter-related.
Bhu-mandala Tattva Group Books/Articles
