Billions of almost spherical universal bodies (Brahmanda's) emanate from the Body and breathing of Maha Vishnu.

Billions of almost spherical universal bodies emanate from the Body and breathing of Maha Vishnu.

These massive Universes are called Brahmandas.

Furthermore, each Brahmanda Universe surrounds and encases a smaller Universe deep inside it where Garbhodakashayi Vishnu and Lord Brahma reside.

This inner universe called Bhu-Mandala houses the 14 Planetary Systems.

Srimad Bhagavatam tells us there are billions of individual "Brahmanda Universes" however, the sizes of the each Brahmanda Universe and its small inner Universes inside it, varies in size.

For example, our inner Universe deep inside our Brahmanda called Bhu-Mandala, is one of the smallest and is "4 billion miles (500,000,000 Yojanas) in diameter"

According to Srimad Bhagavatam's 5th Canto, there are 14 Planetary Systems in our in our 4 billion mile diameter Bhu-Mandala Universe, but the amount may be different in others.

Within the stem of the lotus coming from the naval of Garbhodakashayi Vishnu, there are fourteen divisions of planetary systems created by Lord Brahma, and our earth spherical planet is situated in the middle of the stem.

Srila Prabhupada - ''We have to imagine that these universes (Brahmandas), which according to our limited knowledge are expanded unlimitedly, are so great that the gross and subtle ingredients—the five elements of the cosmic manifestation, namely

1 - Earth,
2 - Water,
3 - Fire,
4 - Air,
5 - Sky,
6 - Total material energy,
7 - False ego.

All are not only within the universe but cover the universe in seven layers, each layer ten times bigger than the previous one.

In this way, each and every universe is very securely packed, and there are numberless universes. All these universes float within the innumerable pores of the transcendental body of Mahā-Viṣṇu.

It is stated that just as the atoms and particles of dust are floating within the air along with the birds and their number cannot be calculated, so innumerable universes are floating within the pores of the transcendental body of the Lord. For this reason, the Vedas say that God is beyond the grasp of our knowledge. '' Krsna Book 87

We CANNOT see from one universe to another, this is because our individual universe is surrounded and encased by 7 thick material layers that is our outer egg shaped universe called a Brahmanda

And yes, it IS impossible to see the millions of other Brahmandas outside our inner universe (inside a massive Brahmanda) because of being surrounded by 7 thick material layers that only rare mystic yogis and advanced devotees like Arjuna can see and pass through.

So of course Krishna and Arjuna did not encounter such limitations we experience by the combination of these elements like earth, water, fire all gross elements as Bhagavad Gita explains.

Srila Prabhupada - ''The Lord is not visible to the eyes of ordinary men, those who are beyond the covering layers because of their transcendental devotional service can still see Him''. Krsna Book 87

We cannot see through our Brahmanda that surrounds and encases our small universe, Srila Prabhupada is clear on this

Srila Prabhupada - ''Lord Krishna and Arjuna crossed over the great region of darkness covering the material universes. Arjuna then saw the effulgence of light known as the brahmajyoti. The brahmajyoti is situated ''outside the covering of the material universes'', and because it cannot be seen with our present eyes, this brahmajyoti is sometimes called avyakta''. Krsna Book, 89

Srila Prabhupada - ''Each universe is covered by various layers of material elements (The 7 layers of the outer Brahmanda covering), and therefore although the universes are clustered together, we CANNOT see from one universe to another. In other words, whatever we see is within this one universe. In each universe there is one Lord Brahmā, and there are other demigods on other planets, but there is only one sun''.- Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 5 Chapter 21 Text 11, Purport

Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 6 Chapter 16 Text 37 -

''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]''.

PURPORT

This verse describes the coverings of the universe (saptabhir daśa-guṇottarair aṇḍa-kośaḥ).

The 7 layers covering and surrounding our inner Universe called a Brahmanda, is made up of

1 - Earth,
2 - Water,
3 - Fire,
4 - Air,
5 - Sky,
6 - Total material energy,
7 - False ego.

Beginning with the covering of earth, each covering is ten times greater than the previous one. Thus we can only imagine how great each universe is, and there are many millions of universes.

As confirmed by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (BG 10.42):

athavā bahunaitena
kiṁ jñātena tavārjuna
viṣṭabhyāham idaṁ kṛtsnam
ekāṁśena sthito jagat

"But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe."

The entire material world manifests only one fourth of the Supreme Lord's energy. Therefore He is called ananta''.

SB 1.3.2, Purport:

The first puruṣa is the Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. From His skin holes innumerable universes have sprung up. In each and every universe, the puruṣa enters as the Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu.

He is lying within the half of the universe which is full with the water of His body. And from the navel of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu has sprung the stem of the lotus flower, the birthplace of Brahmā, who is the father of all living beings and the master of all the demigod engineers engaged in the perfect design and working of the universal order.

Within the stem of the lotus there are fourteen divisions of planetary systems, and the earthly planets are situated in the middle.

Upwards there are other, better planetary systems, and the topmost system is called Brahmaloka or Satyaloka. Downwards from the earthly planetary system there are seven lower planetary systems inhabited by the asuras and similar other materialistic living beings.

SB Canto 2

The universe is divided into fourteen planetary systems. Seven planetary systems, called Bhūr, Bhuvar, Svar, Mahar, Janas, Tapas and Satya, are upward planetary systems, one above the other.

Srila Prabhupada - "Love me or I will kill you! Is that love? No!! Krishna does not want to be lover like that"

Srila Prabhupada - "Love me or I will kill you! Is that love? No!! Krishna does not want to be lover like that, real love is reciprocal" (July 8th 1976 in Washington, D.C.

Srila Prabhupada - "In Bengali it is said, ‘If you catch one girl or boy, ‘You love me, you love me, you love me.’ ” Is it love? “You love me, otherwise I will kill you!’ Is that love? So Krishna does not want to become a lover like that. Love is reciprocal, voluntary, good exchange of feeling. Then there is love. Not by force. Krishna does not want to become a lover like that, ‘You love me, otherwise I shall kill you!"

Vipina Purandara - “Why doesn’t Krishna protect us from the desire to leave Him and try to enjoy separately?

Srila Prabhupada - “He’s protecting. He says, “You rascal, don’t desire. Surrender unto Me.” But you are rascal; you do not do this”.

Vipina Purandara - “Why doesn’t He save me from thinking like that? ”

Srila Prabhupada - “That means you lose your independence. That is force, in Bengali it is said, ‘If you catch one girl or boy, ‘You love me, you love me, you love me.’ ” Is it love? “You love me, otherwise I will kill you!’ Is that love? So Krishna does not want to become a lover like that, on the point of revolver. ‘You love me, otherwise I shall kill you!’ That is not love; that is threatening. Love is reciprocal, voluntary, good exchange of feeling. Then there is love. Not by force; that is rape. Why one is called lover, another is called rape?” (July 8, 1976 in Washington, D.C.)

Should women cover their heads with their sari?

Should women cover their heads with their sari?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: The question I have is often girls and women in India are bareheaded, they do not cover their head with their sari, why is that?

Prabhupāda: No, no. The system is when the woman is at the care of father she does not cover. But when she is under the care of husband she must cover. By dress you can understand what she is, whether she is widow, whether she has got husband, whether she is prostitute. Everything by dress you'll understand". Morning walk Mayapur january 20th 1976 

Krsna is not a different personality from Narayana. They are almost one and the same (both God) except Krsna has 64 qualities whereas Visnu/Narayana has only 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities (93.75%).

Krsna has 4 more qualities than the Visnu-tattva's have-

(1) Krsna is the performer of wonderful varieties of pastimes (especially His childhood pastimes.

(2) Krsna is surrounded by devotees endowed with wonderful love of Godhead.

(3) Krsna can attract all living entities all over the universes by playing on His flute.

(4) Krsna has a wonderful excellence of beauty which cannot be rivaled anywhere in the creation.

These four qualities above out of Krsna's 64 qualities is important to understand because as said, not even Visnu/Narayana forms of God, including Balarama, have them in full, although sometimes exhibited partially.

Krsna is the original Personality of Godhead, His first expansion is Balarama, who expands the original catur vyuha or quadruple expansions,

1 - Vasudeva 

2 - Sankarsana 

3 - Pradyumna 

4 - Aniruddha

These original catur vyuha expansions reside in Mathura and Dvaraka.

From them twenty four forms of Visnu expand. They are named differently according to the arrangement of the conch, disc, lotus and club in Their hands. 

All of these twenty four forms reside in each Vaikuntha planet with the predominating Deity of that planet. 

From the original catur vyuha the second catur vyuha expands. In this second catur vyuha, the form of Sankarsana is also called Maha Sankarsana. 

It is from Maha Sankarsana that Maha-Visnu becomes manifested who creates the material worlds (unlimited Brahmanda universes)

Lord Visnu/Narayana refers to a category of living entities known as Visnu-tattva, or expansions of God (Krsna).

There are billions of different names of Visnu, but the basic is “He who has entered everywhere”, as God’s omnipresence known Kshirodakashayi Visnu or paramatma.

Within the category of Visnu-tattva are included all of the unlimited incarnations and expansions of God that all have 93.75% of Lord Krsna's qualities.

There are some expansions that also bear the particular name “Visnu”, three of which are -

Karanadakashayi Visnu (Maha-Visnu).
Garbhodakashayi Visnu, (Hiraņyagarbha) 
Kshirodakashayi Visnu, (Paramatma or Supersoul)

The Karanodakashayi Visnu (Maha-Visnu) is the first Purusha avatar who is lying on the causal ocean (karana-udaka).

From him the innumerable universes (Brahmanda's) manifest as he exhales. And into Him the universes are destroyed as He inhales.

He expands deep inside of each Brahmanda universe as Garbhodakashayi Visnu. 

This Visnu is lying on the universal waters that originate from His perspiration, and which fill the universe halfway.

In his navel is a lake, and from that lake grows a lotus stem. Lord Brahma is born within that lotus. Inside the stem of the lotus are the fourteen planetary systems.

Garbhodakashayi Visnu (Hiraņyagarbha) expands as Kshirodakashayi Visnu (Paramatma) who resides in Sveta Dvipa on the milk ocean and in the hearts of all living entities in all material universe.

Sveta Dvipa is a Vaikuntha planet that the Lord manifests within the material universe.

In reality it is more like a window through the material covering, which allows one to see a portion of the spiritual realm. 

It is an eternal abode, and it continues to exist even after the destruction of the material universe.

The system of the Lord’s incarnations is that all incarnations come through the form of Kshirodakashayi Visnu in Sveta Dvipa.

Lord Brahma along with the material administrators or demigods stand on the shore of the milk ocean and pray to the Lord to incarnate. They are not able to see the Lord, but Lord Brahma receives confirmation from within his heart.

Factually there is no difference between one Visnu form and another, as they all belong to the same category of Vishnu-tattva (93.75% of Krsna's 64 qualities) but still known as the Supreme Person.

Krsna is not a different personality from Rama, and Rama is not a different personality from Visnu/Narayana. 

They are almost one and the same except Krsna has 64 qualities, whereas Narayana/Visnu has 60 qualities.

Krsna therefore has 4 extra qualities than Visnu/Narayana form

The category of Visnu-tattva takes millions of different Forms according to the mood of the devotees approaching the Lord.

There is no higher and lower capacity among the Visnu-tattva expansions and forms of Lord Krsna.

Although Lord Siva is in a category of His own and is neither jiva-tattva (jiva-soul) [78.125%] or Visnu-tattva [93.75%]

Siva's qualities are 85.938% of Lord Krsna's 64 qualities whic means he has 55 of a

Some Visnu-tattva's (God) choose to withhold certain aspects of their opulences to play a certain part within the material universe, for example, if a suitable jiva-tattva (jiva-soul) is not found in the material creation to become the next Lord Brahma, then Lord Visnu/Narayana descends and takes on that role of Lord Brahma.

Many gopis (Vrindavana village girls and women) and gopas (Cow herd boys) are both jiva-tattva (78.125% having 50 of Krsna's 64 qualities) and Visnu-tattva (93.75% having 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities) who play a simple role in Krsna lila.*^

How our small material universe exists deep inside a larger universe called a Brahmanda.

The Vedic explanation of "other universes"

The multiple Brahmanda universes emanating from Maha Vishnu, that our smaller universe is deep within, all each exist within their own time zone.

And as painting shows, there are billions of Brahmanda's emanating from Maha Vishnu, each with a secondary universe deep inside it.

Often this "different time zone concept", is refered to as being in their own dimension of space-time.

This may make it appear there are parallel universes but in reality they are not, they all exist together in the mahat tattva material creation.

However, not being able to detect other Brahmanda universes or the many planetary Systems within them (there are 14 Planetary Systems in our small universe that is deep inside our Brahmanda), is due to the many different movements of "space-time", that puts each Brahmanda universe existing within their own movement of space-time.

It is therefore NOT really a dimensional concept in the modern sense of the word but rather a "space-time" difference which makes our Brahmanda invisible to others and others invisible to ours.

Remember, our smaller Bhu-Mandala universe exists deep inside our massive Brahmanda within the lotus stem coming from Garbhodakashayi Vishnu that Lord Brahma sits on top of.

Our Brahmanda is just one of billions coming from Maha Vishnu.

The words "Lord Vishnu" actually refers to a category known as Vishnu-tattva, or expansions of God (Lord Krishna).

There are billions of different names of Vishnu, but the basic is “He who has entered everywhere”, as God’s omnipresence known Kshirodakashayi Vishnu or paramatma.

Within the category of Vishnu-tattva are included all of the unlimited incarnations and expansions of God that all have 93% of Lord Krishna's qualities.

There are some expansions that also bear the particular name “Vishnu”, three of which are -

Karanadakashayi Vishnu (Maha Vishnu).
Garbhodakashayi Vishnu,
Kshirodakashayi Vishnu, (Paramatma)

The Karanodakashayi Vishnu (Maha Vishnu) is the first Purusha avatar who is lying on the causal ocean (karana-udaka).

From him the innumerable universes (Brahmanda's) manifest as he exhales. And into Him the universes are destroyed as He inhales.

He expands deep inside of each Brahmanda Universe as Garbhodakashayi Vishnu. This Vishnu is lying on the universal waters that originate from His perspiration, and which fill the universe halfway.

In his navel is a lake, and from that lake grows a lotus stem. Lord Brahma is born within that lotus. Inside the stem of the lotus are the fourteen planetary systems also.

Garbhodakashayi  Vishnu expands as Kshirodakashayi Vishnu (Paramatma) who resides in Shveta Dvipa on the milk ocean and in the hearts of all living entities in all material universe.

Shveta Dvipa is a Vaikuntha planet that the Lord manifests within the material universe.

In reality it is more like a window through the material covering, which allows one to see a portion of the spiritual realm. It is an eternal abode, and it continues to exist even after the destruction of the material universe.

The system of the Lord’s incarnations is that all incarnations come through the form of Kshirodakashayi Vishnu in Shveta Dvipa.

Lord Brahma along with the material administrators or demigods stand on the shore of the milk ocean and pray to the Lord to incarnate. They are not able to see the Lord, but Lord Brahma receives confirmation from within his heart.

Factually there is no difference between one Vishnu form and another, as they all belong to the same category of Vishnu-tattva (93% of Krishna's qualities)but still known as the Supreme Person.

Krishna is not a different personality from Rama, and Rama is not a different personality from Narayana. They are almost one and the same except Krishna has 64 qualities whereas Narayana or Vishnu has 60 qualities.

The category of Vishnu-tattva takes millions of different Forms according to the mood of the devotees approaching the Lord.

There is no higher and lower capacity among the Vishnu-tattva expansions and forms of Lord Krishna.

Although Lord Shiva is in a category of His own and is neither Jiva-tattva (78%) or Vishnu-tattva (93%)

His qualities are 84% of Lord Krishna's qualities.

Many Vishnu-tattva's choose to withhold certain aspects of their opulences to play a certain part within the material universe for example, if a suitable jiva tattva is not found in the material creation to become the next Lord Brahma, then Lord Vishnu descends and takes on that role of Lord Brahma.

Many gopis (Vrindavana village girls and women) and gopas (Cow herd boys) are also Vishnu-shakti-tattvas (93%) who play a simple role in Krishna lila.

Krishna with all His wonderful friends.

Krishna with all His wonderful friends.

Did you know none of these boys or girls or any of the inhabitants of Vrindavan knew Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes and non of them really cared.

To them, Krishna was just their amazing wonderful best friend who had amazing talents and abilities and great strength and would do anything for them all.

The boys were fascinated when young girls and even their own Mothers would would see Krishna and run to embrace Him while crying due to ecstatic happyness from seeing this beautiful wonderful amazing boy as seen in painting.

Even one Mother was annoyed when their eyes blinked while watching Krishna as hey did not even want to blink because it took away their blissful view of Krishna.

All the boys, girls Mothers, Father, Villagers, Cows Calves and all the animals, plants and trees in Vrindavan felt very safe knowing Krishna was always present.

And even when He would disappear from their sight, often in play, the intense separation would only increase their eternal love for Him many fold

Each young boy and girl could never stop talking about His wonderful activities and pastimes even in their dreams while they slept.

All glories to wonderful Krishna!

What is a real miracle?

Do Miracles happen when Krishna (God) or His pure devotees personally intervene?

What is a real miracle?

True miracles, when they happen, are the Lord's causesless mercy performed to help bring back the fallen souls trapped in this material creation in a material bodily container, back home back to Godhead.

Therefore a REAL miracle is a "spiritual act" beyond the temporary material bodily decaying vessel one is in.

The fact is, the nature of the material body is birth, youth, disease, old age and death. Such material bodies are always in a state of decline and decay and always in need of maintenance.

God's miracles are not really meant for repairing such decaying bodies but the "people" who pray for a cure and the survival of their sick child would differer.

We see it in these people, of limited religious faith like Christians, who use the word miracle in this way.

But is it?

The health and type of body one gets is based on Karma, although if one comes across a mystic yogi, his ability to cure (manipulate material energy) based on the Vedic text known as the "Book of Danvantari", appears like a miracle to the ignorant and uneducated but in reality it is Vedic science.

These interventions called miracles (faith based cures) rarely work in society, every now and again you will hear of a child's miraculous cure from leukemia but sadly for the parents, many pass away.

All the more reason to understand that the word miracle is in relation to the soul not the material vessel because the soul is eternal and NOT the material body which is temporary and not the identity of the eternal soul within.

Recently a girl claimed she was cured by cancer drinking Cows Urine however, it was suggested her "strong faith of positive thinking" had also a great role in curing her cancer.

The mind is a powerful instrument that CAN cure.

All the doctors told her it was her beliefs because others had drank Cows urine and were not cured.

They told her there is no strong medical basis or proof that Cows urine cures cancer.

In fact, people have even become seemingly cured on a pla-cebo because of the "psychological strong belief of their mind" in their faith that allows other healing factors within the immune system take effect.

To the out back Aborigines who never saw men fly, they believed the men in the planes were performing miracles by flying.

But an "educated person" knows there really is no such thing as miracles when flying a plane or performing a heart transplant.

The concept of them being miracles is based on ignorance and lack of higher education and knowledge.

The most powerful scientific cure that modern scientists are just now discovering, is sound vibration.

They believe the quality of sound vibrations DO help cure the biological material body of diseases.

On the other hand, devotees of Krishna chant Hare Krishna to purify the soul to get out of this material creation and is not suppose to chant for material gain, even to help cure the material body of diseases.

But tell that to a devotee when their child is sick!

No, of  course the parents will pray to Prabhupada and Krishna for their sick child and miracles cures can happen there too. With Krishna there are no set rules, He can do what He wants and override all karma, after all, this material world is His creation

But from a scholarly point of view, one of the 10 offences while chanting Hare Krishna is chanting for material gain which includes healing a "material bodily vessel" that is perpetually in a state of decay leading to death anyway.

Pray for a miracle to get out of the material world and NOT how to be comfortable here which is NEVER possible anyway.

Even the parting of water in the painting below, is NOT a miracle, such abilities that advanced souls have, are known as mystic yogis who have developed, over many life times, the power of mind control, mind over matter.

An advanced yogi who controls his mind has many powers including being in 8 different places at once and can live without food or water and just on the air (prana).

Such mystic yogis are very rare and live in the Himalayas only on this planet at this time in Kali-yuga.

It is important to never see such mystical acts as spiritual, they are NOT spiritual, they are more advanced acts of materialism that the present mundane material scientists in 3 or 4 hundred years may begin to discover (the power of mind control over matter)

A devotee sees Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's Sankirtan Movement as the Lord's greatest "miracle" (which means "Spiritual" in the full potential of the word) that has come to this age of Kali-yuga.

The goal of this rare human form of life is to be trained up from a very young age to always conscious of Lord Krishna.

Every child should be introduced into Sankirtan (street chanting of Hare Krishna) at a very young age.

The goal of this rare human form of life is to be trained up by "genuine" pure devotees of Krishna from a very young age.

From the age of these children in the photo below.

And this Kali-yuga is also very rare as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu only comes to "one" Kali-yuga out of every 1000 which is "once" every 8 billion 640 million human years. (Lord Caitanya appears just once in a day of Brahma)

The purpose of this very rare human form of life is to get out of this mundane cruel nasty material world and NOT foolishly try and build the kingdom of God without God as modern Politicians of attempting to do.

This temporary material world is NOT our real home, everything here is in an endless state of decay, decline and death! We should not try and make ourselves comfortable in these perishable troublesome material bodily vessels!

Srila Prabhupada - ''When the superior energy is in contact with inferior energy, it becomes an incompatible situation. But when the supreme marginal potency is in contact with the spiritual potency, Harā, it becomes the happy, normal condition of the living entity''. (The "Happening Album Cover" Recorded in New York City December 1966)

Our only desire should be to go "back home back to Godhead" and NOT desire to go to other higher planets in this material universe or build comfortable Cities and Sky Scrappers or take your next birth in rich pious aristocratic families in this decaying material universe in a fruitless search for satisfaction and happiness.

We should all learn we are the individual jiva soul trapped within these temporary outer material bodily containers and should be with Krishna in His Kingdom.

All material endevours for happyness will not solve the problems of birth, disease, old age and death.

Our only business here should be doing everything possible that sends us back home back to Godhead.

In this age of Kali-yuga that process is Sankirtan or the congregational chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.

The photos of mostly women and children the Russian and Ukrainian devotees use in their Sankirtan photos.

This is because they are out the front of all Sankirtan Parties and look very attractive in public.

Most Russian devotee put their children and families on Sankirtan sites because they are beautiful photos that attract others to the Sankirtan Movement.

Intelligent devotees see this purity.