Essence Of Maha Bhagavatha Purana

Description of Planets

Bhuloka is a Planet known as divided into Seven Parts, resembling a Lotus flower, each leaf with the names as above. Its lenghth and breadth is one million yojanas or eight million miles. Jambu Dweepa which is in the middle of the  spiral of the Planet has a length and  breadth of one hundred thousand  Yojanas or 800,000 miles and is subdivided into nine regions. It is surrounded by saline water.Sumeru Mountain is like the pericarp of the lotus like Bhuloka and is the axis of Jambu Dweepa; its height is as much as the breadth of Jambu Dweepa ie.100,000 yojanas or 800,000 miles.Pluksha Dweepa, named after Pluksha Tree,  is around the Jambu Dweepa and is double the size of the former.It is surrounded by an Ocean of sugar cane juice which is also of the size of the Pluksha Dweepa.Its inhabitants- Hamsas, Patangas, Urdhvayanas and Satyangas live for thousand years and pray to Sun and Lord Vishnu; they are beautiful like demigods.

Salmali Dweepa, named after Salmali Tree, is again double the size of the Pluksha Dweepa and has the Sura Sagara or the Ocean of Liquor around it, inhabiting Srutidharas, Vidyadharas, Vasundharas and Isadharas, all praying to Moon and Lord Vishnu. Among the seven Rivers of the Dweepa were Anumati, Sarasvathi, Sinevali, Raha and Kuhu and the seventh was the Home of Garuda praying to Lord Vishnu. Semi God of Moon created two fortnights, viz.Sukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha. Kusa Dweepa is again double the size of Salmali Dweepa  ie.800,000 yojanas (64,00,000 miles) and is known for Kusa Grass, used for Sacred Rituals (Homams, Yagyas and all Holy Acts) and is appropriately surrounded by an Ocean of Ghee and the form of God of Fire (in mild form). It is inhabited by Kusalas, Kovidas, Abhiyuktas and Kulakas, corresponding to Jambu Dweepa’s four castes-Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vyasyas and Sudras. Krouncha Dweepa, named after the Krouncha Mountain is surrounded by an Ocean of Milk and Butter and is the second form of Varuna or Water, again the size of Kusa Dweepa, ie. of the size of 1600,000 yojanas ( 124,80,000 miles), inhabited by Purushas, Rabhas, Vanikas and Devakas. Shaka Dweepa, named after Shaka treee providing fragrance all around, has the dual form of Vayu, or Air and is double the size of Krouncha Dweepa, inhabiting four castes-Ratavrata, Satyavrata, Danavrata and Anuvrata, all practising Pranayama and mustic Yoga. Pushkara Dweepa has 64,00,000 yojanas (51, 200,000 miles) surrounded by Sweet Water and is the Seat of Lord Brahma known as  ‘Karma Maya’. In the middle of the Dweepa is the Mountain Manasottara. Between the Mountains of Meru and Manasottara is so much distance as from Mountain Manasottara and Lokaloka Mountain. In other words, the distance between  Mountain Meru to Mountain  Lokaloka, is a quarter of the diametre of the  Universe, (125,000,000 Yojanas or one billion miles).

 Lokaloka is the border beyond which are the three other Lokas, viz.Bhurloka, Bhuvarloka, and Swarloka. On the top of Lokaloka, there are four Gajapaties controlling the planetary system on the four directions;They are Rishabha, Pushkara Chuda, Vamana and Aparajita. The distance from Lokaloka to Bhuvarloka is as much distance as from Meru to Lokaloka. That is a billion miles further.This space is named Aloka Varsha. Lord Sun is situated in Anthariksha in between Bhurlok and the Bhuvarlok. It is the Sun Planet  which reveals the entire Universe from various directions and is thus the centre. Sun is the  potent energy who is seen and felt to normal human beings and indeed the super indicator to all parts of the Universe, including the sky, the World, the higher planets and the lower planets.

Sukhadeva Maha Muni thus explained to King Parikshith that the entire Universe has a diameter of fifty crore yojanas or 4 billion miles. Like the grain of wheat, the lower part of the Universe topping the Earth is sliced half way of the upper part with Antariksha or the outer space as the divider. The Planet Of Sun is situated in the outer space moving forward from north to south (Dakshiyahana) and from south to north again (Uttarayana), emanating tremendous heat and light.The setting of  Dakshinayana to Uttrayana is considered to be of significane as it heralds the six monthly movement influencing the trend of fortunes.As per the movement of Sun through the ecuador, or beneath it or above and from Tropic of Capricorn (Makara) to that of Cancer (Karkataka) and back, the zodiac signs are passed through too in a systematic manner and the duration of day and night too are short, equal or different.When Sun passes through Aries (Mesha ) and Libra ( Tula), days and night are equal. As Sun passes through the five Signs headed by Taurus (Vrishabha), the duration of day increases till Cancer and thereafter decreases by half an hour a day each month till Capricorn (Karkataka) in Libra, when day and night are equal again.When Sun passes through the Five Signs beginning from Vrisckica, the duration of days decreases compared to nights until Capricon and gradually increases month after month till they are equal in Aries. As a rule, till Sun travels north the nights become longer and when Sun travels south the days become longer. Sun travels around Manasottara Mountain in a circle. On the Mountain to the east of Sumeru is the Devadhani, the residence of Indra, the King of Gods; to the South is Samyami, the Abode of Yama Raja, God of Death; the West is Nimkolani of Varuna, the God of Rains/Water; and the north is Vibhavari the abode of Moon. Thrayimaya, named as the Chariot of Sun visits all the abodes of Indra, Yama, Varuna and Moon traverses all the Residences of these Gods covering the words ‘Bhur Bhuva Swaha’at a speed of  27 million miles approx in one muhurta (30 muhurtas a day)! Interestingly, the Chariot of Sun God is 28 million miles long and seven million miles wide! Arunadeva, the Charioteer, controls the horses and  sits in front of  the Sun God, but looks backward to Sun. It is said that there might be thousands of  rays of Sun, but the important ones are only seven, representing Seven Planets, Viz.Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn.[ But, as per ‘Aditya Hridayam’ Prayer: There are many more rays which are important,viz.

Esha Brahmecha Vishnuscha Sivah Skandah Prajapathih,
Mahendro Dhanadah Kalo Yamah Somohyapampathihi,
Pitharo Vasavassadhyah-yassvinow Maruto Manuh
Vayur Vahnih Praja Prana Ritu Kartah Prabhakarah].

 Moon travels faster than Sun.The distance between Sun and Moon  is 100,000 yojanas( 800,000 miles). In two lunar fortnights, Moon passes through a period of a Samvatsara or a year. In two and quarter days, Moon passes through a month of the Sun, or in one day, it passes through a fortnight of the Sun. Hence, the divergence of Solar and Lunar calculations and Calendars.  As the Moon is waxing, it is a day for Gods and a night for Pitru Devatas.The waxing fortnight gradually diminishes the shine till the Moon-fall day (Amavasya) and the waning Moon picks up the shine day by day till Moon-rise day( Pournami). Moon is  known as ‘Jeeva’ ( life-provider), or ‘Manomaya’ (mind-alerter) or ‘Annamaya’ ( potency provider from herbs and plants), ‘Amritamaya’ ( source of life to all) and ‘ Sarvamaya’ ( all pervading). From Moon to the Group of Stars, the distance is 200,000 yojanas (16 00, 000 miles). Headed by Abhijit, there are twenty eight Stars revolving on their own axis. Above the Group of Stars is the Planet of Venus (Sukra) almost of the distance from the Moon to the Group of Stars. It is a benevelont planet, especially as a provider of good rains and prosperity and moves at the same pace as Sun God. Mercury (Budha), the son of Moon is situated  from Venus ( 16,00,000 miles) or  72,00,000 miles from Earth and this Planet too is benevolent excepting when not moving along with Sun, thus causing cyclones, excess or no rainfall and dusty storms. Equidistant from Mercury or 80,80,000 miles above Earth, is the Planet of Mars (Mangal), which is generally not considered favourable, travelling along with other planets every three fortnights and creates tensions. The Planet of Jupiter ( Guru) is away from Earth by some 10,400,000 miles-again 16,00,000 miles away from the planet of Mars- is considered generally benevolent to Brahmins and Universe, unless takes a curved path in conjunction with other planets. Saturn, which is 12 million miles above Earth  is also considered generally unhelpful. Normally, each  planet is 16,00,000 miles apart from another planet , but the distance from Saturn to the Group of ‘Sapta Rishis’ or the Seven Sages is 8,800,000 miles from Saturn ie.20,800,000 miles from Earth. Indeed, the Seven Sages are always the great well wishers of the entire Universe.The Sapta Rishis, viz.Marichi, Angirasa, Atri, Pulsastya, Pulaha, Krathu, and Vasishtha born in Lord Brahma’s thoughts to help in the act of Creation.(Reference Maha Bharatha; Shanti Parva).The Seven Sage Constellation of the Great Bear ( Ursa Major) is indeed the great well wisher of the entire Universe. The Sapta Rishis circambulate around the Pole Star, or Dhruva Tara, which is as good as the Abode of Supreme Lord Himself and is prayed to by religious mortals and Gods alike.