The layers around the universe

The layers around the universe

There are ten layers around the universe. Each successive layer is ten times thicker than the previous one.

The first layer has the same thickness as the diameter of the universe. Its predominant element is solid matter (bhumi). The demigod of this first layer is Mahasukararupa (Krishna's Varaha-rupa). The fullness, the wealth, and the bliss in this layer are a million times greater than in Satyaloka. Thus, those who want to enjoy selfishly, like some yogis or materialistic bhaktas, are kept away from the spiritual world by the temptations of this layer. In the spiritual world, there is no place for selfishness, because everyone and everything is serving Krishna and lives in unlimited wealth and bliss.

The second layer is liquid (apo). The demigod is Matsya. Here temptations are even greater.

The third is the luminous layer (nalo). Here Surya-Narayana is worshipped.

The fourth is the gaseous layer (vayu) Here Pradyumna is worshipped.

The fifth is the ether layer (kham). Here Aniruddha is worshipped.

The next three layers are those of mind (manah), intelligence (buddhi) and false ego (ahankara) and in these, Sankarsana is worshipped.

The final two layers are manifested primeval matter (mahat-tattva) where Vasudeva is worshipped and unmanifested primeval matter (pradhana) where Mohini-murti is worshipped by the demigod of pradhana. The female demigod of pradhana is a gatekeeper, the sister of and energy (sakti) of Vishnu. This area is the most attractive part of the material world.

The Number 108

The number 108 is a special number; there are 108 most essential transcendental qualities of a devotee; there are 108 most important Upanishads and of all the gopis there are 108 who are most loved by Krishna. The number 108 occurs in several other places of the cosmos. Here are some further examples. The distance from the sun to the earth is 108 times the diameter of the sun. The distance from the moon to the earth is 108 times the diameter of the moon. The distance from the sun to the earth is 10,800 yojanas. The Satya-yuga lasts 1.728.000 years (16 x 108), the Treta-yuga 1.296.000 years (12 x 108), the Dvapara-yuga 864.000 years (8 x 108), and the Kali-yuga 432.000 years (4 x 108).

The Hellish Planets

Just above the Garbhodaka Ocean is the region of hellish (naraka) planets, with a thickness of 60,000 yojanas and a diameter of 500 million yojanas. This area begins 70,000 yojanas below the bhumandala and extends to 130,000 yojanas below the bhumandala. There are 550 million hellish planets in that region.

Above the region of hellish planets and below the bhumandala are the bila-svargas, seven cubic cellars, each side 10.000 yojanas. These are the pleasure grounds of the demons. They have wonderful houses, gardens and places for sense enjoyment that are even more luxurious than those on the demigod planets. It is because of the karma of the demons that they live on the very highest level as far as sensual pleasure, wealth and power are concerned. Most of the inhabitants of these planets, known as the Daityas, Danavas and Nagas, live in family relationships. They are all, including women, children, friends, and relatives, completely immersed in illusory, material happiness. The demon Maya Danava, a very gifted artist and architect, has built many splendid cities with many beautiful houses, walls, gates, meeting-halls, temples, temple grounds, squares and hotels to give shelter to visitors. Additionally, he has made many vimanas (UFOs or flying saucers) in which they can travel in the universe.

The leaders of these planets have houses built of very costly jewels. There are pigeons, parrots and many other types of birds. The parks and gardens in these heavens appear more beautiful than those on the heavenly planets. The trees in these gardens are covered by climbing-plants, their branches bend under the load of fruits and flowers and they look very wonderful. Such sensuous beauty charms and delights everyone. There are many lakes and ponds with clear, transparent water, jumping fishes stir the waters, which are further beautified by splendid lilies, kuvalayas, kahlaras and red and blue lotuses. Pairs of cakravakas and many other birds have their nests on the lakes. They make pleasant, sweet songs, pleasing to the ear, because they are always in an excellent mood and thus create the right mood for sense enjoyment.

The sun does not shine in these underground planets, so time is not divided into days and nights, therefore there is no fear of the passing of time. Great snakes with brilliantly shining jewels in their heads illuminate these places, so there is no darkness. The inhabitants of these planets drink and bathe in the juices and elixirs of wonderful herbs so they are free of fear and never become ill. There is no experience of the infirmities of age, grey hair, wrinkles or disability; bodies never lose their luster, perspiration does not smell unpleasant. Even when they age, the inhabitants retain their enthusiasm and energy and remain un-fatigued. They lead a happy life and are not afraid of premature death. The fixed moment of their death is the only thing that scares because then death appears before them in the form of the effulgence of the Sudarsana-cakra of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Srimad Bhagavatam 5.24.8-14)

Other Planetary Systems

The next, the eighth, planetary system of the fourteen, is the bhumandala.

Beyond this, there are the planets of the upadevas (bhurloka, the ninth planetary system) and that of the devas (svarloka, the tenth planetary system) (Srimad Bhagavatam 8.15.12-22).

SB 8.15.12: King Indra's city was full of pleasing orchards and gardens, such as the Nandana garden. Because of the weight of the flowers, leaves and fruit, the branches of the eternally existing trees were bending down. The gardens were visited by pairs of chirping birds and singing bees. The entire atmosphere was celestial.

SB 8.15.13: Beautiful women protected by the demigods sported in the gardens, which had lotus ponds full of swans, cranes, cakravakas and ducks.

SB 8.15.14: The city was surrounded by trenches full of Ganges water, known as Akasa-ganga, and by a high wall, which was the color of fire. Upon this wall were parapets for fighting.

SB 8.15.15: The doors were made of solid gold plates, and the gates were of excellent marble. These were linked by various public roads. The entire city had been constructed by Visvakarma.

SB 8.15.16: The city was full of courtyards, wide roads, assembly houses, and not less than one hundred million airplanes. The crossroads were made of pearl, and there were sitting places made of diamond and coral.

SB 8.15.17: Everlastingly beautiful and youthful women, who were dressed with clean garments, glittered in the city like fires with flames. They all possessed the quality of syama.

SB 8.15.18: The breezes blowing in the streets of the city bore the fragrance of the flowers falling from the hair of the women of the demigods.

SB 8.15.19: Apsaras passed on the streets, which were covered with the white, fragrant smoke of aguru incense emanating from windows with golden filigree.

SB 8.15.20: The city was shaded by canopies decorated with pearls, and the domes of the palaces had flags of pearl and gold. The city always resounded with the vibrations of peacocks, pigeons and bees, and above the city flew airplanes full of beautiful women who constantly chanted auspicious songs that were very pleasing to the ear.

SB 8.15.21: The city was filled with the sounds of mridangas, conchshells, kettledrums, flutes and well-tuned stringed instruments all playing in concert. There was constant dancing and the Gandharvas sang. The combined beauty of Indrapuri defeated beauty personified.

SB 8.15.22: No one who was sinful, envious, violent toward other living entities, cunning, falsely proud, lusty or greedy could enter that city. The people who lived there were all devoid of these faults.

In the eleventh planetary system, Maharloka, thousands of sages perform huge fire sacrifices to Yajnesvara or Krishna. Yajnesvara, shining with the light of millions of suns, appears from the fire and accepts the offerings with His transcendental hands, giving it back as prasadam. These sages are the prajapatis, the sons of Brahma: Bhrgu Muni, Pulaka, Angira, Marici, Pulastya, etc. The glory and perfections are millions of times better than in the divya-svarga (svarloka), where the demigods live. No rivalry is experienced here unlike in all other planets below. The planetary systems below Maharloka are for those who indulge in illicit sexuality.

In Janaloka and Tapaloka are naisthiki brahmacaris (lifelong celibates) and vanaprasthas (renunciants who retired from family life but who, in their married life, have followed the rules of the Holy Scriptures). They live as yogis in a solitary place and meditate on Lord Narayana in their heart. The bliss and the qualities of matter are millions of times bigger than on Maharloka. As one goes to the higher levels in the universe, above the Bhumandala (each higher level is, like all other planetary systems parallel to the orbit of the sun), the sattvaguna quality of the material energy becomes stronger and more intense. The smells, colors, and the other sense objects are of an increasingly better, higher quality. They are also different in that they are not accessible to the gross senses, but only to the subtle senses.

These higher dimensions are not imaginary but can be experienced, just like dreams and dream bodies really exist in the mind. These dimensions are also a part of this cosmos. One can perceive these dimensions by developing siddhis, mystical abilities, or attain this place on giving up the gross body after death.

Above Tapaloka is Brahmaloka. Lord Brahma shines with golden light because everything there is made of buddhi (intelligence). Nearby there is a Vaikuntha-planet where Brahma worships Narayana. Brahma touches His hands and glorifies Him. Narada Muni sings and dances. Sometimes Brahma goes to his own planet, Brahmaloka, to fulfill his duties in managing the universe.