The Seven Coverings of the Universe

BY: MAYESVARA DASA

Aug 16, 2019 — IRELAND (SUN) —

The following is a response to Dhanvantari Prabhu’s paper entitled "The First Covering".

In a previous article I had presented an argument that Srimad Bhagavatam describes the first covering of the universe to be water, not earth (as is generally supposed).

In canto three, chapter 26 of the Srimad Bhagavatam Lord Kapila describes that the elements surrounding the universe begin with water: toya-adibhih—by water and so on:

    "This universal egg, or the universe in the shape of an egg, is called the manifestation of material energy. Its layers of water, air, fire, sky, ego and mahat-tattva increase in thickness one after another. Each layer is ten times bigger than the previous one, and the final outside layer is covered by pradhana. Within this egg is the universal form of Lord Hari, of whose body the fourteen planetary systems are parts." (SB 3.26.52)

In the purport to the verse as well as in the purport to (SB 2.1.25) Srila Prabhupada states that the first covering of the universe begins with water. However, in most other lectures, and discussions, Srila Prabhupada generally states that the first covering of the universe is earth, followed by water. In his response to my paper Dhanvantari Prabhu, presented another verse from Srimad Bhagavatam to support the idea that earth is the first covering:

    "Every universe is covered by seven layers—earth, water, fire, air, sky, the total energy and false ego—each ten times greater than the previous one. There are innumerable universes besides this one, and although they are unlimitedly large, they move about like atoms in You. Therefore You are called unlimited [ananta]. " (SB 6.16.37)

Here the translation says that the first covering of the universe is a layer of earth: ksity-adibhir. I thank Dhanvantari Prabhu for pointing out the verse. This presents a conundrum: whilst one verse and several purports from Srimad Bhagavatam state that the layers of the universe begin with water (toya-adibhih), another verse and several purports states that the coverings begin with earth (ksity-adibhir). So do the coverings of the universe begin with earth or with water? I believe the question can be easily resolved by understanding SB 6.16.37 with reference to the other Puranas which unanimously agree with Lord Kapila's statement in SB 3.25.52 that the coverings of the universe begin with water. In his letter to Mr SL Dhani, Srila Prabhupada stated that the TOVP would be based on the description of the cosmos given in Srimad Bhagavatam, as well as other Puranas:

    "The plans for this very large project are being taken solely from the references found in the fifth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, and its authoritative commentaries by important acharyas along with the other Puranas and Samhitas like Brahma-samhita, etc. " (Letter to SL Dhani, November 14, 1976)

As we shall see from the list of statements provided at the end of this article, the other Puranas unanimously agree with Lord Kalpila’s statements in SB 3.26.52 that the layers of the universe begin with water (toya-adibhi). Let us look at Lord Kapila's statement again:

    "This universal egg, or the universe in the shape of an egg, is called the manifestation of material energy. Its layers of water, air, fire, sky, ego and mahat-tattva increase in thickness one after another. Each layer is ten times bigger than the previous one, and the final outside layer is covered by pradhana. Within this egg is the universal form of Lord Hari, of whose body the fourteen planetary systems are parts. " (SB 3.26.52)

Lord Kapila does not give the specific names of each element, but assumes that they are known to the hearer and simply refers to them as water, etc. In his translation and purport, Srila Prabhupada lists the seven universal coverings as (1) water (2) air (3) fire, (4) sky [ether] (5) ego (6) Maha-tattva (7) Pradhana. This list beginning with water follows exactly the order given in the other Puranas (see the compilation of verses from various Puranas at the end of this paper). It may also be helpful for someone to check the commentaries by other acharyas to this verse. The seven elements are all included here, although it should be pointed out that water is followed by fire, not by air; first is water, then fire, then air, etc. As mentioned, the above list is confirmed by the other Puranas. However, in the verse cited below by Dhanvantari Prabhu, earth is included as one of the coverings, but at the cost of excluding pradhana:

    "Every universe is covered by seven layers—earth, water, fire, air, sky, the total energy and false ego—each ten times greater than the previous one. There are innumerable universes besides this one, and although they are unlimitedly large, they move about like atoms in You. Therefore You are called unlimited [ananta]. " (SB 6.16.37)

Again, the specific Sanskrit names for each element are not included by the speaker, but are assumed to be known by the reader (ksity-adibhir-earth, etc.). In this verse and purport Srila Prabhupada enumerates the seven coverings of the universe as (1) earth, (2) water, (3) fire, (4) air, (5) sky, (6) the total material energy, (7) false ego. It should be noticed that Srila Prabhupada has presented the list of seven coverings differently from that given in SB 3.26.52 (having included earth, but excluded pradhana). I assume by 'total material energy' that Srila Prabhupada is referring to mahat.

However, since all of the other Puranas include both mahat and pradhana as coverings, it appears in the above instance that pradhana has been left out. This creates a problem because obviously none of the elements can be excluded. If we accept earth as the first universal covering, then pradhana or some other element must necessarily be left out (there are a maximum number of seven elements covering the universe). To leave out pradhana or any other element would be like leaving out a limb when describing the parts of a human body, and the point is certainly necessary to discuss. Aside from that, the proper sequence of the seven universal coverings has still to be carefully ascertained. In order that verse SB 6.16.37 does not appear to contradict Lord Kapila’s statement (SB 3.26.52), may I humbly suggest another way to approach the verse. The Sanskrit verse for SB 6.16.37 says:

    ksity-adibhir esa kilavrtah
    saptabhir dasa-gunottarair anda-kosah

I am not a Sanskrit scholar, so I present the following rendition tentatively for the contemplation and correction of those more knowledgeable of the Sanskrit language and how it works. Please don’t assume that we are arrogantly trying to contradict or surpass Srila Prabhupada’s translation; our only motivation in this to serve Srila Prabhupada’s mission in presenting the cosmology of Srimad Bhagavatam to the rest of the world. To this end we have Srila Prabhupada’s own instruction:

    "You young men can tax your brains to understand the Sanskrit and English descriptions and present them." (Tamal Krishna Goswami's Diary: Prabhupada's Final Days, May 30 1977)

I only present the following proposition by way of question to those who read Sanskrit, and I stand happy to be corrected if my understanding is wrong. I do not consider myself in competition with other devotees, and wish only to work in a co-operative spirit so that the truth of the Vedic cosmos can be presented to the world:

    "The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me. " (Bhagavad-gita 10.9)

The verse (SB 6.16.37) begins ksity-adibhir. May I suggest that the name ksiti (Earth) is a reference to the Bhu-mandala itself, and not to the element earth which supposedly is one of the seven layers coverings of the universe. Ksiti-mandala is another way of saying Bhu-mandala (Earth-circle) and is used several times in the Srimad Bhagavatam to describe the Earth landscape upon which we live (see SB 1.13.9; SB 4.12.13: SB 4.29.49). Taking that Ksiti refers here to the Earth-circle (Bhu-mandala), the statement ksiti-adibhir could refer to the Earth, etc., meaning the Earth, Sun, Moon, and all of the other features of the universe that are surrounded or covered by the universal egg having seven layers (esa kilavrtah saptabhir dasa-gunottarair anda-kosah). If we take this rendering of the verse then all of the seven coverings of the universe can be included in the traditional order as they are presented in the other Puranas: (1) water, (2) fire, (3) air, (4) ether, (5) false ego, (6) mahat, and (7) pradhana. Otherwise, if we take the verse to mean that earth is the first of seven coverings of the universe, then one of the seven elements in the above list has to be left out. I doubt very much that Srila Prabhupada would wish to contradict the list of elements as they are enumerated in every other Purana (see below).

Accepting that I may be completely wrong in my understanding of the verse, and taking that the meaning of the verse is as Srila Prabhupada has rendered it (i.e. that earth is the first covering of the universe) we are still left with the problem that Lord Kapila (SB 3.26.52), along with every other Purana, unanimously state that water is actually the first universal covering, not earth. Lord Kapila is the original teacher of Sankhya philosophy, and He more than anyone knows if the universal coverings begin with water or not.

Thus I would suggest that the list given in SB 6.16.17 has to be understood in the greater context of SB 3.26.52 as well as every other Purana that enumerate the seven material elements as (1) water, (2) fire, (3) air, (4) ether, (5) false ego, (6) mahat and (7) avyakta or pradhana. The Srimad Bhagavatam doesn’t appear to have a sloka that precisely lists the names of each of the seven coverings surrounding the universe, and simply assumes that they are known to the reader by mentioning the elements as toya-adhibih (water, etc). Thus I don’t agree with Dhanvantari Prabhu statement that ‘In most references in Srimad Bhagavatam, it is said Earth is the first layer of our surrounding Brahmanda.’ Dhanvantari Prabhu has only presented one verse to that effect.

Other statements by Srila Prabhupada in which he lists earth first have to be understood in reference to (SB 3.26.52) as well as to the list of coverings as they are specifically named and enumerated in other Puranas. Below we have presented several verses from Puranas that agree with Lord Kapila’s statement that the elements begin with water, not earth. There is no point in exhausting the list because every Purana follows the same description. If Dhanvantari Prabhu would like to present an equivalent number of slokas from other Puranas that begin the list of coverings with earth, then we’ll be happy to continue the discussion further. Otherwise, since a decision has to be made on these matters, I would unhesitatingly argue that in ISKCON’s depiction of the universe, water is to be depicted as the first covering of the universe as stated by Kapila (SB 3.26.52) and as confirmed by every other Purana.

In our previous paper, we have suggested that the universe itself appears to be representative of the earth element which is then surrounded by seven layers beginning with water, and followed by successive layers of fire, air, ether, false ego, mahat and pradhana. Unless one accepts that the earth element is represented by the universe itself, then one or other of the remaining seven elements would have to be excluded or left out. To leave out any one of the universal coverings would be an obvious miscalculation and makes no sense at all. It is like leaving out a particular part of the body when discussing human anatomy. However if we accept that the earth element is represented by the universe itself, then all of the elements beginning with water can be represented. We submit that the correct order of elements can be ascertained by reference to other Puranas (see verses below) which confirm the list given in SB 3.26.52.

    "Dear Maitreya, I have narrated to you these seven lokas and also the seven nether worlds. This is the expanse of the Brahmanda. These fourteen worlds are enclosed by the shell of Brahmanda as the seeds of a kapittha fruit are enclosed by its shell. This Brahmanda is encircled by a sheet of water which is ten times thicker than the shell of the Brahmanda. This entire sheet of water is encircled by fire from outside. The fire is encircled by the wind, the wind by the sky, the sky by ahankara-tattva, and ahankara-tattva by mahat-tattva. These enclosures starting from that of water is ten times in thickness of each of the immediately enclosed. Mahat-tattva is enclosed by pradhana also called prakati. Prakati is infinite—thus there is no end to this as there is no number for the infinite. Prakati is the material cause for tens of millions of Brahmandas like this. It is the primordial cause. " (Vishnu Purana, Book 2, chapter seven, 20-26)

Here the list and order of the universal coverings are listed as follows (1) water (2) fire (3) air, (4) sky [ether] (5) ego (6) Maha-tattva (7) Pradhana. This is the list confirmed by Lord Kapila in SB 3.26.52 and in Srila Prabhupada's purport. The list is repeated verbatim in every other Purana. Perhaps one of our Sanskrit scholars can check the exact Sanskrit words and English rendering of the Puranas cited below.

    "This cosmic shell is surrounded on all sides by the kataha (shell in the same manner as the fruit of the wood apple is surrounded by rind. It is surrounded by a layer of water having ten times its volumes. That layer of water is surrounded by the layer of fire. The layer of fire is surrounded by Vayu. The layer of Vayu is surrounded by ether and Ether by the Cosmic Ego. Ahankara (Cosmic Ego) is enveloped by the principle called Mahat, and Mahat is surrounded by Prakrti (Primordial Matter). Each of these layers is tens bigger than the previous one. The seventh layer of prakrti is said to be infinite from the previous one, O son of Pritha. There are thousands and thousands, ten thousands, nay hundreds of crores and crores of such cosmic eggs like this. " (Skanda Purana I.ii. 39.40-45)

Again:

    "The cosmic egg is enveloped externally by waters ten times its size. The waters are externally surrounded by fire ten times their size. Fire is externally enveloped by air ten times its size. The air is surrounded externally by ether ten times its size. The air is enveloped by the ether. The ether is en-circled by the cosmic Ego. The Ego is surrounded by Mahat (intellect) and Mahat (intellect) is surrounded by the unmanifest. The cosmic egg is thus surrounded by the seven coverings created by Prakrti. " (Vayu Purana, chapter 4, verse 75-77)

Again:

    "In the golden egg, the excellent birth of Brahma (took place) first. The egg was covered by water, and water by light (or heat). It ( i.e. light) was covered by air; air by ether; that by the source of the elements (i.e. Ahankara); that source of elements too was covered by Mahat, and Mahat by the Invisible. " (Padma Purana 1.2.9-10)

Again:

    "The cosmic egg is externally enveloped by water ten times its magnitude. The water is externally enveloped by fire ten times its mass. The fire is externally enveloped by air ten times its mass. The air is externally enveloped by the ether ten times its magnitude. The ether is enveloped by ego the cause of sound. The ego is enveloped by intellect and intellect is enveloped by Pradhana. They say that the coverings of the cosmic egg are seven. There within is Brahma seated on the lotus. There are crores and crores of such eggs. " (Linga Purana, chapter 3.30-33)

Again:

    "O bramhins, these seven upper worlds have been mentioned by me to you as also the seven nether worlds. This is the detailed description of the cosmic egg. This is enveloped by the cauldron of the egg (Andakatha) all around, at the sides and below like the seeds of an apple fruit. The egg is enveloped by water ten times its size. The encircling volume of water is enveloped by fire. O brahmins, the fire is enveloped by wind; and the wind is enveloped by ether. O excellent sages the ether is enveloped by mahat. These seven are such that the outer one is ten times the size of the inner one. The Pradhana stands enveloping the Mahat. It is infinite and endless. It has no reckoning since it cannot be measured by any unit, nor calculated by any figure. O brahmins it is the cause of the entire creation. It is the great Prakrti. There are thousands and thousands of such cosmic eggs. There are eggs like these, crores and hundreds of crores. " (Brahma Purana, 21.21-30)

Again:

    "Within that cosmic Egg evolved the universe consisting of Devas, Asuras and human beings, the Moon, the Sun, the constellations, the planets and the wind. The Egg is externally encircled by waters ten times in magnitude. The waters are externally wrapped up by fire ten times in magnitude. The enveloping fires themselves are externally surrounded by the Vayu (wind) ten times in magnitude. The Vayu is enveloped by Akasa (ether) and the ether is encircled by Bhutadi (Tamasic Ego). The Bhutadi (Tamasic Ego) is enveloped by the principle called Mahat, which, in turn, is surrounded by the Unmanifest (Avyakta). These are the divisions of the universe. Noble-souled persons, all conversant with the Supreme Principle, inhabit them. " (Kurma Purana, 1.4.41.45)

Again:

    "It should be known that there are thousands and crores of cosmic eggs like this, above, below and sideways. The cause of origin thereof is the unchanging Atman. Each of these is encircled by seven Dharanas (? Varanas—coverings) evolved of the Prakrti... All of them are encircled mutually and are evolved mutually. All round this Anda (Cosmic egg) is situated the Ghanodadhi—sea of solidified waters. It stands, on being held all round by Vanoda (? Mistake for Ghanada), solidified water. The circular zone of the solidified water stands on being held by Tejas (fiery matter) all round, sidways and above. This fiery matter is like a ball of iron. It has a circular shape. It stands on being held all round by solidified air. Similarly, it is the ether that holds and sustains the solidified air. The Bhutadi (the cosmic Ego) holds the ether and Mahan (the great principle) sustains (supported) by the Infinite principle, the Avyakta (the unmanifest one). It is endless and unmanifest. It is subtle in ten ways (?). It is boundless. " (Brahmanda Purana 1.2.19.158-168)

There is no point in exhausting the list as every Purana repeats the same list and order of the seven material coverings of the universe. And whilst we are here, may we humbly suggest that some of the millions of dollars collected on behalf of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium be spent on producing adequate translations of the Puranas (especially the cosmological sections) with roman transliteration, synonyms, etc.

In conclusion, the devotees have two choices in regards to depicting the seven coverings of the universe. One is to follow Lord Kapila’s statement in SB 3.26.52 (along with Srila Prabhupada’s purport) which lists water as the first covering of the universe. This statement by Lord Kapila is confirmed in every other Purana. If anyone can check the acharyas` commentaries to this verse and related verses, they will most likely reiterate the point that water is the first covering. The second option is to follow the list of universal coverings given in SB 6.16.17. This list includes earth as the first covering, but at the cost of excluding one or other of the universal coverings. Moreover, the placement of earth as the first covering of the universe appears to have no reference in any other Purana. Thus for devotees to present earth as the first covering of the universe and thereby neglecting the overwhelming evidence presented by other Puranas supporting Lord Kapila's statement in SB 3.26.52 is frankly ludicrous. The omission of pradhana or any other of the seven listed elements has no precedence in any other Purana, and would not be acceptable to Srila Prabhupada who based everything on reference to shastra. The solution is obvious and that is to accept earth as being represented by the universe itself, which is subsequently covered in seven sheaths or layers beginning with water. To quote Srila Prabhupada: “use your intelligence”.


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