1. Note from the Editor

Dear Bhagavatas,
We give below excerpts from Chapter 21 of "Hinduism Rediscovered" dealing with "Evolution and Dissolution of Matter- Space -Time Triad" This issue deals with "Space"

Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy

2. Excerpts from Chapter 21 of "Hinduism Rediscovered" on "Space"

SECTION 3 : SPACE
Before discussing the subject of Space, it would be necessary to understand the unit of measurement which has also been organized from the microscopic to the immeasurably vast expanse of space. Omitting the microscopic measurements the commonest table was as follows:

 8 yavas (barley corns) =   1 Angula ( finger's breath ) -     
                          (approx. 3/4 " or. 2 c.ms)    
12 Angulas         =      1 Vitasti (span) -( approx 9"or 23 c.ms)
 2 Vitastis        =      1 Hasta or Aratni ( Cubit)-
                          (approx 18" or 47 c.ms)
 4 Hastas            =      1 Danda (rod) or Dhanus ( bow) -
                          ( approx 6' or 1.82 m.)
2000 Dhanus         =      1 Krosa ( cry) or 
			  Go rutha ( cow call )-(approx 2 1/4 mile or 3.6 Kms).
 4 Krosaa           =      1 Yojana ( stage, approx 9 miles or 14.5 Kms.)

According to Hindu belief, the Universe consists of 7 zones above the earth and 7 zones below. Hence, the popular expression of 7x2= 14 lokas. But, actually the third zone of Suvah or Suvargaloka that stands above Bhuh and Bhuvah is made up of 9 sub zones. Treating them also as independent zones , we have 13 lokas above and we are in the 14th loka while below the earth are 7 lokas. Thus, in all, we have 21 regions or zones or call what you will.. They are known only as lokas in the Hindu cosmology. Above the 14 th is the Vaikunta or Vishnupada or Paramapada, the eternal abode of Lord Narayana who is the master, director, controller and supporter of all the zones.

The 13 lokas above the earth are progressively increasing in felicity and happiness which souls ascend according to the degree of Punya Karmas each had done in previous lives. Similarly, the 7 lokas below the earth are the nether worlds bottom- most being Patala, itself having numerous sub zones called Narakas ( hells) progressively increasing in misery and suffering for the souls committed to damnation due to their past Papa Karmas.

The earth itself was conceived of as the bottom of a convex shaped sphere hovered over by a canopy of the celestial region of the heavens enclosing between them the atmospheric region WHERE THE WINDS BLEW AND THE BIRDS FLEW.

The terrestrial region is called Bhuh, the atmospheric region is called the Bhuvah and the celestial region is called Suvar or Svarga.

The atmospheric region consists of three elements viz., fire, air and water. As you know, fire has the natural tendency to an upward movement; the winds of air moves by nature across horizontally and water flows naturally downward ( unless pumped up artificially). These three together are called Vyahriti Traya ar Dyava-Prithvi'. [ A rough way to picturize this triple entity will be more or less like the one shown in the Annexure 2. ]

The elaborate scheme of the worlds comprising in the descending order are:
Paramapada, Satyaloka, Tapoloka, Janaloka, Maharloka, Suvarloka (with Druva Mandala, Sani Mandala, Brihaspati Mandala, Angaraka Mandala, Sukra Mandala, Budha Mandala, Nakshatra Mandala, Chandra Mandala, Surya Mandala), Bhuvarloka above the earth (Bhuloka) and the nether worlds below the earth viz., Atala, Vitala, Nitala, Rasatala, Mahatala, Sutala and Patala ( with its thousands of Narakas is sure to push you into a vertigo.

[ The entire scheme of the Lokas can be visualized diagrammatically as given in Annexure 3 .]

And, again, the scheme of islands (Dveepas ) like Jambudveepa, Plaksha dveepa, Salmali dveepa, Kusa dveepa, Krauncha dveepa, Saka dveepa and Pushkara dveepa with oceans of different kinds surrounding them and the multitude of precise details relating thereto in this regard is sure to land you in a wonderland of imagination .

But, nevertheless, they are said to exist as vouched by research scholars.

Let us look at a few observations

KLOSTERMIER observes
"The Hindus certainly had a quite accurate knowledge of those parts of India in which they lived, and at certain times, they also ventured forth across the seas. Not content with their experiences, they constructed a complete world model in which everything found its exact place"16

And, he continues:
"Behind the colorful and seemingly naive stories in which the traditional Hindu view is often described, there are profound ideas and structural insights that could well be expressed in modern abstract mathematical terms, as has been done"17

DVEEPAS.( ISLANDS)
While the Mahabharata gives an older version of the world model with just four dveepas arranged around Mount Meru, a fully developed model which is much more complex is also seen depicted in the Puranas. They mention seven dveepas surrounded by seven concentric oceans with Mount Meru standing at the center in what is known as Jambudveepa surrounded by an ocean of salt water which itself is surrounded alternately by circles of land and other oceans.

[ The scheme of the Dveepas can be visualized diagrammatically as given in Annexure 4 ]

This Mount Meru, or the Golden mountain is described as 84,000 yojanas in height, 16,000 yojanas in depth below the surface of the earth, with a diameter of 32,000 yojanas and a base of 16,000 yojanas.

The Jambudveepa itself is divided into 9 parts, with Bharata varsha at the center . The other 8 parts are described as 'places of perfect enjoyment' ( Bhoga Bhumi) , where happiness is spontaneous and uninterrupted, without vicissitude, without age and death, without distinction of virtue or vice, without any change brought about by the cyle of ages . Bharatavarsha is subject to the deterioration brought about by the succession of the four yugas; it knows suffering and death. But, it is the land of works ( Karma Bhumi) which enables people to gain heaven or even final emancipation"18

The Sankalpa which every Hindu makes while initiating any religious practice, invariably refers to the exact locale where the rite is performed with reference to the Hindu Cosmology.

( e.g.) In India, the locale part of the Sankalpa would be as follows :

Jambudveepe                          In the isle of the rose apple
Bharata Varshe                       In the region called Bharata Varsha
Bharatah Khande                    In the continent of Bharata etc.

Ramanaka Varshe                    In the  region called Ramanaka Varsha
Aindra Khande                            In the continent called Aindra
Rocky - mickelny Parvatayor Madhye  : Between the mountains of
                         Rockey and Mickelny

NARAKAS (HELLS)
[ A description of the Patala loka with its narakas is given in Annexure 5]

BUT. PLEASE DON'T BE PUT OFF BY THE HORRORS ANDTORTURES ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. TAKE HEART THAT WESTILL HAVE TIME TO MEND OUR WAYS RIGHT HERE ONEARTH AND RIGHT NOW , IF WE HAVE NOT ALREADY DONETHIS, TO ESCAPE GOING THROUGH THEM.

See what HAUGHT has to say with reference to the earth we live in - "At most, it was a stage upon which the human drama could be played out, not a place that could itself be transformed into ' Utopia'. It was the context for the soul's proving itself worthy to live eventually in heaven. In other words, it was a 'Soul School' in which people were expected to work out their salvation.... The soul's true abode is heaven and this material world is merely a 'Temporary way station' for the human pilgrimage"19
" The interim punishment or pleasure does not, as one might suppose, liquidate the debt. Heaven and hell, are mere interludes, a reminder, as it were, of what awaits them after their next birth. Having met his just deserts, in the next world, man's account is not balanced yet. For , the heavens or hells provide no permanent means of reparation or absolution. It is only on earth that improper acts can be wiped out. Earth is therefore known as 'Karma Bhumi'- Karma place. Only here, in man's material condition, are actions generated; only here are evils expiated; only here is righteousness rewarded " - 20

To continue with Section 4 on Time