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Beyond Aloka is Visuddha (very pure region) where only masters of Yoga can go. The Sun stands in the centre of the Egg. That is also the middle ground between Svar and Bhir. Between the Sun and the Circum- ference of the Egg is 25 Krores. The Sun is called Martanda (Mrita and anda) because in Mrita or dead matter he infused life as Vairaja. He is called Hiranya Garbha (Gold wombed) because he came out of the Golden Egg. The sun divided space into Bhir, Bhuvar and Svar. The Sun di- vides the regions of enjoyment and Moksha. He divides the Narakas and Patalas. He is the Atma of Devas, men, animals, plants and other Jivas. He is the manifester of sight. Purnendu Narayana Sinha, M. A., B. L. 139 SVAR AND BHUVAR. SKANDHA V. CHAP. 21. The localisation, measure and other details of Bhar have been given above. (By expanse 50 Krores and by height 25 Krores. Srid- hara). The measure of Svar is the same as that of Bhir—Just as one cotyledon gives the measure of the other cotyledon in a flower. Bhuvar is the connecting link of Bhtr and Svar. THE SUN. SKANDHA V. CHAP. 21-22. The Sun from the Bhuvar Loka sends forth his rays to Triloki. (Here follow astronomical details which need not be given.) When the Sun is between the Autumn and spring Equinoxes it is called Uttarayana (or going towards the north.) Then the Sun’s motion is said to be slow. When the Sun is between the spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox, it is Dakshinayana (Going towards the south.) The Sun’s motion is then said to be Quick. When the sun is at the Equinoxes it is Vishuva. The Sun’s motion is then said to be Even. When it is Dakshinayana, the days increase. When it is Ut- tarayana the nights increase. The sages teach 9 Krores and 51 lakhs of Yojanas as the Circum- ference of Manasottara. [On both sides of Meru up to ManAasottara is 3 Krores and 15 lakhs. The Measure of the above circle is obtained from this (diameter). Srid- hara.| [A full diagram of the Bhar system will now have to be given, to explain the above figures. For the sake of convenience, the Dvipa and its ocean are given as one.] 140 A Study of the Bhagavata Purana A diagram of the Bhir system. From Meru to Lokaloka on one side ... 12 5 Krores on both sides . 25 "" Loka loka on both sides ... 25 " Measure of Bhar system ... 50" Distance from Meru to Manasottora 15,750,000 On both sides ... 31,500,000 The Manasottara range is a circle of which the last figure is the diameter. The circle is obtained by multiplying the diameter by a little over The circle is thus given to be—9 Krores and 51 Lakshas. The Manasottara is the path of revolution of the sun round Meru. On the East side of Meru in the Manasottara is the seat of Indra named Devadhani. On the South side is the seat of Yama named Sanyamani. Purnendu Narayana Sinha, M. A., B. L. 141 On the West is the seat of Varuna named Nimlochani. On the North is the seat of the Moon named Vibhavari. Sunrise, midday, Sunset and night on those seats cause action and inaction in beings, according to the time with reference to the side of Meru. (For those that live to the south of Meru, their east &c. commence from the abode of Indra, of those that live to the west from the abode of Yama, of the northern people, from the abode of Varuna, of the eastern people from the abode of the Moon. Sridhara.) Those that live on the Meru have the Sun always over their heads. The Sun’s chariot makes one round along Manasottara in one year. The wheel or chakra of the chariot is therefore called Sanvat- sara. The 12 months are the 12 spokes of that wheel. The six seasons form 6 arcs. The pole of that chariot extends to the top of Meru. The other end of the pole is on the ManAasottara. (It is either to be thought that the wheel is placed more than 50,000 Yojanas over the Manasottara in the regions of air or the wheel is to be considered as high as that distance, otherwise the ManAasottara being 10,000 Yojanas high and Meru being 84 Yojanas high, 16 thousand being under ground, there will be a difference of planes in the Sun’s revolution. Sridhara.) There is another movement of the Sun round Dhruva. The ra- dius of that revolution is one fourth the distance between Meru and Manasottara. (i.e. i x 15,750,000 = 3,937,500). The movement round Dhruva is caused by the action of air. The seat within the chariot is 36 laksha of Yojanas wide. The yoke is also of the same measure. The seven horses are the seven Vedic me- tres (Gayatri, Ushnik, Anustup, Vrihati, Pankti, Tristup and Jagati). They are driven by Aruna. The thumb sized Balikhilya Rishis stand in front of the chariot and chant hymns in honor of Aditya. THE PLANETS AND STARS. SKANDHA V. CHAP. 22-23. 142 A Study of the Bhagavata Purana The moon is one laksha of Yojanas over the Sun. The growing Moon makes the day of the Devas and the waning Moon is the life of all Jivas, in fact he is Jiva. He is Manomaya, Annamaya and Amritamaya. From him there- fore proceed the life and advancement of Devas, Pitris, Men, Animals and Plants. Two laksha of Yojanas over the Moon are the 27 Zodiacal con- stellations and also the star Abhijit (a mysterious star between Ut- tarashadha and Sravana) attached to the wheel of time. Two laksha of Yojanas over them is Sukra or Venus. His move- ments are like those of the Sun. He is ever favourable to men. His progression is generally accompanied by showers of rain. He also subdues those planets that counteract the rains. Two laksha of Yojanas over Sukra is Budha or Mercury. He is much like Sukra in his movements and is generally favourable to men. But when he transgresses the Sun, there is fear of high winds, rainless clouds and drought. Two laksha of Yojanas over Budha is Mangala or Mars. He moves round the Zodiac in three fortnights. He is generally unfavourable to men, causing miseries, unless he proceeds by retrogression. Two laksha of Yojanas over Mars is Brihaspati or Jupiter. He moves in each sign of the Zodiac for one Parivatsara (year of Jupiter), if there is no retrogression. He is generally unfavorable to the Brah- manas. Two laksha of Yojanas over Jupiter is Sanaischara or Saturn. He loiters in each sign of the Zodiac for thirty months. He completes his round in thirty Anuvatsaras. He is generally unfavourable to all and causes unrest. Eleven laksha of Yojanas over Saturn are the Rishis. Their influ- ence is for the good of all people. They revolve round the Supreme abode of Vishnu. Thirteen laksha of Yojanas beyond the Rishis is Dhruva, which is the Supreme abode of Vishnu. All luminous bodies attached to the wheel of time move round Dhruva being propelled by Vayu while Dhruva remains fixed. The planets and stars remain fixed in their relative positions, un- der the union of Prakriti and Purusha by the future made for them by Purnendu Narayana Sinha, M. A., B. L. 143 their Karma. Some however say that the luminous bodies become fixed in their relative positions by the Yoga support of Vasudeva, being held together in the shape of Sisumara (the Gangetic porpoise). The Sisumara has its face downwards and its body is coiled. Dhruva is at the end of its tail. Prajapati, Agni, Indra and Dharma are in the lower part of the tail. Dhata and Vidhata are at the root of the tail. The seven Rishis are in the middle. On the right side are the fourteen Stars from Abhijit to Punarvasu. On the left side are the 14 stars from Pushya to Uttara Sarha. So on, all the stars and planets. (For details refer to the original). The Sisumara is the Universal manifestation of Maha Purusha. [The following Geo-centric diagram is given, as illustrative of the positions of the planets. ] 144 A Study of the Bhagavata Purana Positions of the planets. THE PATALAS SKANDHA V. CHAP. 24. Ten thousand Yojanas below the Sun is Rahu, son of Sinhika. Though an Asura, by favour of Bhagavan he became a planet and immortal too like the Devas. Ten thousand Yojanas below Rahu is the abode of the Siddhas, Charanas and Vaidyadharas. Below that is the abode of the Yakshas, Rakshasas, Pisachas, Pre- tas, and Bhittas. This abode extends down to the regions of air and clouds. One hundred Yojanas below that is the Earth. The details of the Purnendu Narayana Sinha, M. A., B. L. 145 Earth’s surface have been given above. Underneath the Earth are the seven Patalas:—Atala, Vitala, Su- tala, Talatala, Mahatala, Rasatala and Patala. They are ten thousand Yojanas apart from each other. In these nether Svargas, Daityas, Danavas and Nagas dwell. Their enjoyments, power, joys and luxuries are even greater than those of the Devas of Svarga. Their houses, gardens and playgrounds are very rich. They are always joyous. They are attached to their wives, sons, friends and attendants. By the grace of Isvara, their desires are always gratified. Maya, the Danava Magician, has built wonderful houses, gardens &c. in these regions with precious stones. There are no divisions of time, as the Sun’s rays do not enter those regions and no disturbances from such divisions. All darkness is re- moved by the light of the precious stones on the head of the serpent king. The people of Patala use divine herbs and medicines, and conse- quently they have no infirmities, diseases, old age, languor and of- fensive secretions. They have no death except by the Chakra of Bhagavan (i.e. final extinction). Atala:—Bala, the son of Maya resides in Atala (Maya is a mas- culine form of Maya the root Prakriti). He created here 96 forms of Maya. The Mayavins (those who practice Magic) still have recourse to those forms. When he yawns, three classes of women spring into existence viz: 1. Svairini (self willed loose women), 2. Kamini (passionate women) and 3. Punschali (unchaste women).