Sunday, July 31, 2022

Why do some marginal living entities (jiva-souls) fall down to the material world.

A small percentage of marginal living entities or jiva-souls (less than 10% according to Srila Prabhupada (jīva-souls) do fall down to the material worlds (Brahmandas) from Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana. 

The jiva-souls do not originate from the Impersonal Brahman, or the Body of Maha-Visnu, entering those conditions are also an already fallen condition.

Srila Prabhupada - "Existence in the impersonal brahman is also within the category of non-Krsna consciousness. Those who are in the brahman effulgence are also in the fallen condition, so there is no question of falling down from a fallen condition. When fall takes place, it means falling down from the non-fallen condition. The non-fallen condition is Krsna consciousness." (Letter to: Revatinandana, Los Angeles 13 June, 1970)

Devotee – “When we are in the spiritual sky and serving Krsna, we have a perfect relationship with Krsna, what causes us to fall down in the material world, because we’re already serving Krsna?"

Srila Prabhupada – "Because you desire to fall down. Here it is explained that “Don’t fall down."

Devotee – “Srila Prabhupada, I can’t understand why we should have an impure desire when we are already serving Krsna.”

Srila Prabhupada – “Because you have got little freedom. Why one is not coming here and going to the liquor shop? It is his desire."

Devotee – “In the Srimad Bhagavatam, it says that Krsna did not want us to come to this material world. If Krsna did not want us to come, why are we here?”

Srila Prabhupada – “Yes, you forced Krsna to allow you to come. Just like sometimes a child forces his father. Father says, “My dear son, do not do this. Do not go there.” But he insists, “Oh, I must go. I must go. All right, you go at your risk. That’s all. And you suffer. What can be done?” Because you are Son of God you have got independence, full independence, therefore you have acquired the quality of your father. You have got little independence. So God does not interfere with your little independence. If you persist that “I must go and enjoy independently,” so God says, “All right, you can go.” This is the position. You have to take sanction. That is a fact. But when you persist, God sanctions. And you come and enjoy." (Melb, Australia June 25, 1974)

Question - Is there a place in the spiritual world from where we can never fall down from?

Answer - No there isn't because you always  have free will. It is not based on a "place you can never fall down from" that will keep you in Vaikuntha, it does not work that way because it is based on your free will which means it is your choice to be in with Krsna or reject Him. If we are forced by Krsna to love Him, then how can there be genuine love?
 
Loving relationships are always a two-way street based on reciprocation and loving exchanges, it is never a slave domineering master relationship that only destroys one's free will and sense of individual self.
 
Remaining in Vaikuntha "eternally" is also based on the jiva-soul's choice to remain there that over an eternity many change many times, causing the jiva-souls to fall down multiple times over an eternity.
 
No two jiva-souls are the same, each has their own unique individual personality and character when engaging in voluntary loving exchanges with Krsna.
 
Srila Prabhupāda - "Unless there are "two persons," where is the question of love? Love means two persons, there is exchange. Giving something, taking something, feeding something and to eat something, and speaking everything, no secrecy, and to know everything of the other person. When these things are transacted, then there is love. I must deal with you open-hearted, you must deal with me open-hearted, then there is love. So if you want to love Kṛṣṇa, God, then these things must be there." (Evening Darsana, Aug 9, 1976, Tehran)
 
With such selfless emotions of loving devotion, the jiva-soul never loses their free will, which means they never lose their own individual ability of self expression, when choosing to voluntarily offer personal contributions that are unique to each individual jiva-soul.
 
Every jiva-soul has the eternal quality of free will which is part and parcel of their perpetual make up or constitution as an eternal marginal living entity (jiva-soul)
 
In this way, each jiva-soul has their own individual sense of self, character, personality and being a unique one of a kind individual in the spiritual sky.
 
This eternally existing spiritual social code based on free will and having an independent personality and sense of an independent self, make up the character and personality of each jiva-soul that is without any beginning or ending point.
 
These qualities are part and parcel of every marginal living entity (jiva-soul) and is their eternal constitution.
 
This allows the jiva-soul to personally always express themselves by serving Krsna voluntarily.
 
Free will means the jiva-souls have a choice on how to they want to serve Krsna, or even reject Krsna if they choose.
 
However, fortunately the majority of jiva-souls, over 90%, never make that foolish choice of rejecting Krsna and entering the temporary material creation.
 
It is also their choice of what they
want to offer and contribute to the Lord as well, which is the very best from their personal unique abilities and talents they voluntarily choose to selflessly offer to Krsna.
 
Each jiva-soul in the spiritual world knows what pleases Krsna the most is humbly serving and the servants of the servants of Krsna in Goloka-Vrindavan and Vaikuntha.
  
This "selflessness" of serving the servant of the servant of Krsna is the highest realization of love of God.
 
The jiva-souls are responsibility for their choices, and not Krsna. It is the jiva-soul's free will that allows them to choose to be with Krsna or reject Krsna.
 
Krsna never forces the jiva-souls to love Him.
 
Srila Prabhupada - "Love is reciprocal, voluntary, good exchange of feeling, then there is love. Not by force! Krsna does not want to become a lover like that, ‘You love me, otherwise I shall kill you!" (Washington DC July 8, 1976)
 
Srila Prabhupada - "Because you are Son of God you have got independence, so God does not interfere with your little independence. If you persist that “I must go and enjoy independently'', God says, “All right, you can go and enjoy." (Melb, Australia June 25, 1974)
 
Srila Prabhupada explains in "Nectar of Devotion," that just like the Sun-disc cannot be separated from the sun-rays, similarly Krsna is meaningless without the association of His loving devotees.
 
And in Krsna Book Prabhupada also further explains-
 
Srila Prabhupada - "As the sun-disc and the sunshine cannot be separated, Kṛṣṇa and His bodily rays, the brahmajyoti, cannot be separated." (Krsna Book, 89)
 
The relationship between Krsna and the jiva-tattva (soul) is never one-sided, never forced, never impersonal, it is always reciprocal, nurturing, personal and voluntary, in a mood of good exchanges and feelings, only then can there be real love.
 
Srila Prabhupada explained to us many years ago, if you love me, then I will love you. This was his example that there must always be loving cooperation, reciprocation, exchanges and responding in kindness.
 
The fact is more than 90% of all marginal living entities (jiva-souls) choose NOT to fall down from Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana because they use their free will correctly.
 
That choice is always with the jiva-souls otherwise there can be no real freedom. Unless there is the freedom to leave Krsna, the jiva-souls do not have their full freedom. 

The jiva-souls or marginal living entities have 78.125% of Krsna's quantities, this percentage means they each have 50 of Krsna's 64 qualities.

This puts the jiva-souls in the realm of having their own independence, individual identity, unique personality, and the ability to choose to accept or reject Krsna. 

In other words the jiva-souls can make their own choices without being dictated too or bullied into submission or against their will.

As said above, this means the jiva-souls can agree or not agree with Krsna if they choose.

This sense of individuality allows the jiva-soul the right to choose Krsna or choose to exist separate from Krsna's pastimes and enter the material creation.

Remember, Maya and the material energy does not exist in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana so maya is unknown to the jiva-souls there.

Having free will is permanent and is part and parcel of each jiva-soul's constitutional make in their "real home" in the spiritual worlds.  

Having individuality, independence, experiencing a unique sense of individual self, and the ability to express all these qualities, is eternally the makeup of all jiva-souls.

As said above, each jiva-soul has 78.125% of Krsna's qualities (50 qualities only) that makes them minor expansions of Krsna. 

The jiva-souls each have their own individual personality separate from Krsna's Personality.

Unlike the more direct Visnu-tattva expansions, who have 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities (93.75%) that puts them in the category of being Krsna in just another role as Himself so obviously that never come under the influence of Maya or the material energy.

If free will is taken away from the jiva-souls, then they lose the ability to give and accept love, they become no better than dead stone or mindless drones.

Srila Prabhupada - "Because you are Son of God you have got independence, full independence, therefore you have acquired the quality of your father. You have got little independence. So God does not interfere with your little independence." (Melb, Australia June 25, 1974).

For love to truly exist, the jiva-souls must have their own unique free will so they are able to contribute to the relationship with Krsna in their own special way.

This means the marginal constitutional make up of each jiva-soul always allows them to choose what to contribute in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana at all times.

As already explained, there are a small minority of jiva-souls who do choose to leave Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavan numbering less than 10%.

To say those in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana will never ever fall down is true -  but only for those who choose not to fall down.

At anytime the jiva-souls can fall down from being eternal liberated (nitya-siddha) to being eternally conditioned (nitya-baddha) 

In other words, if the jiva-souls want to leave they certainly can and not even Krsna interferes with their choice.

To make a blanket comment that "not even the leaves fall and leave Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana" seems to not take into consideration the free will of the jiva-souls.

Therefore to leave and end up in the material creation is ultimately the jiva-soul's choice, and Krsna does not interfere with that, even though Krsna has promised there is no return to the material creation once back in the spiritual worlds.

The fact is there is return if the jiva-soul wants to return Prabhupada explains here-

Acyutananda – "But in the Gita, it says, “Once coming there, he never returns. He can return?"

Srila Prabhupada – "If he likes he can return."

Guru-kripa – "How is it that one can become envious of Krsna?"

Srila Prabhupada – "You have got little independence, you can violate. Because you are part and parcel of God, God has got full independence, but you have got little independence, proportionately, because you are part and parcel, if he likes, he can return. That independence has to be accepted, little independence. We can misuse that. Krsna-bahirmukha haïä bhoga väïchä kare. That misuse is the cause of our falldown." (Conversation, Mayapur, Feb 19, 1976)

Returning home back to Godhead is not necessarily permanent Prabhupada explains here, that choice to stay or go is always the jiva-souls. 

For love to truly exist with the jiva-soul, they must have the right to choose to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana at anytime, therefore returning home is not necessarily permanent Prabhupada explains here.
 
Srila Prabhupada – "You have got little independence, you can violate. Because you are part and parcel of God, God has got full independence, but you have got little independence, proportionately, because you are part and parcel, if he likes, he can return. That independence has to be accepted, little independence. We can misuse that. Krsna-bahirmukha haïä bhoga väïchä kare. That misuse is the cause of our falldown." (Mayapur, Feb 19, 1976)
 
Syamasundara - "But can we predict that the process (returning back home back to Godhead) will be permanent? Can we predict that? Just like many prisoners leave the prison, but some come back."
 
Srila Prabhupada - "No, there is no permanent effect because we have got little independence. There is nothing permanent because you can misuse your independence at any time."
 
Syamasundara - "And some come back?"
 
Srila Prabhupada - "Yes, otherwise there is no meaning of independence. Independence means you can do this, you can do that. "All right. Whatever you like."
 
Devotee - "Then he is so many times falling down, again and again, so will he eventually permanently come back?" 
 
Srila Prabhupada - "No, there is no question of permanent because he has got independence, he can misuse his independence, he can fall down. That's why when a man is released from the prison house, that does not mean permanently because he can come back again, the general law is not to come back. but if he likes, he can come back, otherwise what is the meaning of independence? Just like one becomes free from the prison house, naturally he should not go there again." (Discussions with Syamasundara and Henri Bergson)

For those who believe "no one can ever fall down from Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana once there, have not understood the Spiritual worlds where all jiva-souls originated from anyway. 

Also there are basically two varieties of living entities in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana.

The jiva-souls or jiva-tattva are one variety, and the Visnu-tattvas are the other.  

Only the jiva-souls can choose to leave because they are given independent free will.  

The Visnu-tattva direct expansions of Krsna who play many different roles assisting Krsna, never choose to leave Krsna's side or fall down because technically they are Krsna.

Many today have not understood there are many different inhabitants of Vrindavana who never fall down by choice because they are more direct expansions of Krsna, such as some sakti-tattvas who are Krsna Himself playing another role in His pastimes, they never fall down because they are simultaneously eternal associates and Krsna experiencing Himself in unlimited extended ways.

And over 90% of jiva-souls choose to not fall down but because of free will that also can change over time as said above.

There is no such thing as permanently staying in the spiritual worlds because at anytime that can change because each jiva-soul has free-will, they may not fall down because they choose not to fall down.

Devotee - "Well, I believe you once said that once a conditioned soul becomes perfected and gets out of the material world and he goes to Krsnaloka, there’s no possibility of falling back."

Srila Prabhupada - "No! There is possibility, but he does not come. Just like after putting your hand in the fire, you never put it again if you are really intelligent. So those who are going back to Godhead, they must become intelligent. Why going back to Godhead?" (Discussions with Syamasundara Dasa).

However, there will always be some jiva-souls (not Visnu-tattva direct expansions of Krsna) who misuse their free will and choose to leave Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana.

Free will is eternal in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavan and without the choice to forget or remember Krsna, then there would be no individuality and no independent personality, and no ability to love, we would simply be mindless yes man and woman like machine drones in a factory.

The jiva-souls have to be educated to think for themselves and never indoctrinated to be told what think.

Such a dictatorship that denies personal contributions and voluntary participation in a two sided relationship, is the worse type of impersonalism.

Srila Prabhupada - "So everyone can know that independence means one can use it properly, one can misuse it. That is independence. If you make it one way only, that you cannot become fall down, that is not independence. That is force. Therefore Krsna says, yathecchasi tathä kuru. "Now you do whatever you like." (Los Angeles, June 23, 1975)

Srila Prabhupada – "You have got little independence, you can violate. Because you are part and parcel of God, God has got full independence, but you have got little independence, proportionately, because you are part and parcel, if he likes, he can return. That independence has to be accepted, little independence. We can misuse that. Krsna-bahirmukha haïä bhoga väïchä kare. That misuse is the cause of our falldown.(Mayapur, Feb 19, 1976)

More than 90% of jiva-souls also “choose” to stay in Vaikuntha and NEVER fall down, which means entering the material creation seeking selfish desires.


All jiva tattvas have only 78.125% of Krishna’s qualities (50 out of Krishna's 64 qualities) can leave if they choose.

To be in Vaikuntha does not always guarantee you will stay there forever and never enter the material world again.

Although as already explained 90% never choose to forget Krishna because that is their desire and expression of free will, sadly some jiva souls DO choose to leave or fall from Vaikuntha however, Prabhupada explains it is only a very small minority who foolishly make that choice, less than 10%.

Dr. John Mize – “Did all the souls that were in the spiritual sky fall out of the spiritual sky at once or at different times, or are there any souls that are always good, they’re not foolish, they don’t fall down?”

Srila Prabhupada – “No, there are majority, 90%, they are always good. They never fall down”. (Los Angeles, June 23, 1975)

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Krsna has many different energies (sakti). Jiva is one, matter is one, the consorts of the Lord are one, Siva is one and Visnu/Narayana expansions are one.
 
Technically we are all "sakti-tattva" living entities however, there are different categories of sakti-tattva expansions of Krsna as said above.

The jiva-tattva (jiva-souls) expansions are known as the "marginal living entities," while other sakti-tattvas are more direct expansions of Krsna Himself and are called Visnu-tattva expansions. 

They are Krsna in another role, where as the jiva-souls are more independent living entities who have their own personality, sense of self and individuality independent from Krsna's Personality.
 
Many sakti-tattvas and Visnu-tattva Personalities are the eternal inhabitants of Vrindavana who never fall down or choose to forget Krsna because they each are Krsna playing a different role in Krsna's own eternal pastimes.
 
They are direct expansions of Krsna Himself and part of His internal energies or potency that ARE direct expansions of Krsna, they are not jiva-souls.
 
For example the Pancha-tattva are a combination of sakti-tattva internal potency and Visnu-tattva Personalities, with only one being jiva-tattva (jiva-soul).
 
Srila Prabhupada - "Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, Śrī Nityānanda, Śrī Advaita, Śrī Gadādhara, and Śrīvāsādi. Śrīvāsādi means jīva-tattva. The jīva-tattva, śakti-tattva, viṣṇu-tattva, these are all tattvas. So Pañca-tattva. Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya is the supreme tattva, Kṛṣṇa. Śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya, rādhā-kṛṣṇa nahe anya. We are worshipping Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. So Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya is Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa combined." (CC Adi-lila 7.5, Mayapur, March 7, 1974)
 
Sakti-tattva is not exactly Visnu-tattva, sakti-tattva is also called Visnu-sakti-tattva who play a different roles in Krsna's pastimes than the Visnu-tattva expansions do however, both ARE Krsna playing a different role and both have 93.75% of Krsna's qualities.
 
The correct understanding is that all of Krsna’s energies are under the broad category of sakti-tattva however, there are different categories of sakti-tattva expansions of Krsna explained above, we are the jiva-souls expansions and known as the "marginal living entities," while other sakti-tattvas live Visnu-tattvas, are direct expansions of Krsna 
 
Srila Prabhupada - "There are Viṣṇu-tattva, Jīva-tattva and sakti-tattva. Viṣṇu-tattva is the Supreme Absolute Truth, jīva-tattva is part and parcel, and sakti-tattva is the energy of God." (Lecture on SB 1.5.15, New Vrindaban, June 19, 1969)
 
All personalities or living entities are sakti-tattva however, the internal sakti-tattva personalities, and NOT the jiva-tattvas expansions of sakti-tattva who only have 78.125% of Krsna's qualities, are direct expansions of Krsna with 93.75% of Krsna's qualities.
 
The Visnu-tattvas are direct expansions of Krsna, just like the Visnu-tattva expansions are, while the jiva-tattva souls (marginal living entities) are minor independent expansions of Krsna.
 
Sakti-tattva is the energy of Krsna are eternally occupied with their service to the Lord, such expansions have only the desire to please Krsna or His Visnu expansion, they can never be covered by Maya and their concept of free will and independence is only to please Krsna or Visnu as they ARE indirect and direct expansions of Godhead, they ARE Krsna playing a different role.

Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana are made up of many Sakti-"Visnu"-tattvas and Visnu-tattvas expansions such as gopis, gopas and many, many others.

There is also jiva-tattvas (marginal living entities) playing many roles too in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrndavana as well, just like the Sakti-"Visnu"-tattva are, but they are jiva-tattva.

In Goloka Vrindavana, no one knows who is who, who is jiva-tattva, who is sakti-Visnu-tattva or who is Visnu-tattva, they do not even know this little boy Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the cause of all causes, nor do they care.

As already explained, sakti-Visnu-tattva, like Visnu-tattva expansions, can never fall down because they are one of Krsna's many personalities.

Krsna is the original Form of God from whom all His Visnu and Narayana forms expand from.

This means the only difference between Srimati Radharani and Krsna, and Lord Balarama and Krsna, is Lord Krsna is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead and original cause of all causes.
 

And that Krsna also has 4 more qualities than both Radharani (Sakti-Visnu-tattva expansion) and Balarama (Visnu-tattva expansion) explained below.


Therefore, not even Srimati Radharani, Krsna's eternal consort, or Balarama, Krsna's older brother, have 64 unique qualities like Krsna has, they have ONLY 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities which is 93.75% of Krsna's 100%.

Let's make this easy to understanding-

Lord Krsna has 64 qualities which means He has 100% of His own qualities.

Visnu-tattva has 60 qualities or 93.75%

Sakti-"Visnu"-tattva 60 qualities or 93.75%.

Siva-tattva has 55 qualities or 84.375%.

Jiva-tattva has 50 qualities or 78.125%.

Also the jiva-tattvas 78.125% of Krishna's qualities, can NEVER become Sakti-visnu-tattva or Visnu-tattvas who have 93.75% of Krishna's qualities.

And jiva-tattvas can never lose their separate individual unique sense of independence self from Krishna either, even though technically all living entities are "Sakti tattva" expansions of Krishna that are fully dependent on Krishna like the sun rays are expansions that emanate from the Sun.

Even though being parts and parcel of the Lord, the jivatma or jiva tattva souls still has "their own" sense of being an separate independent free thinking individual from Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada - "The words bṛhate namas te have been explained by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura: bṛhate śrī-kṛṣṇāya. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is Kṛṣṇa the maintainer of all and cause of all causes. We are "separate and none separate" from Krishna simultaneously. There are many tattvas, such as viṣṇu-tattva, jīva-tattva and śakti-tattva, but above everything is the viṣṇu-tattva, which is all-pervading.

This all-pervading feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is explained in Bhagavad-gītā (10.42), wherein the Lord says:

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."

Thus Kṛṣṇa says that the entire material world is maintained by His partial representation as Paramātmā. The Lord enters every universe as Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu and then expands Himself as Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu to enter the hearts of all living entities and even enter the atoms.

Aṇḍāntara-stha-paramāṇu-cayāntara-stham (Bs. 5.35). Every universe is full of atoms, and the Lord is not only within the universe but also within the atoms.

Thus within every atom the Supreme Lord exists in His Viṣṇu feature as Paramātmā, but all the viṣṇu-tattvas emanate from Kṛṣṇa.

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (10.2), aham ādir hi devānām: Kṛṣṇa is the ādi, or beginning, of the devas of this material world—Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara. Therefore He is described here as bhagavate bṛhate. (SB Canto 8 Ch 3 text 17)

The jiva-souls have 78.125% of Krsna's qualities and are called the marginally energy.

The jiva tattva soul is different from direct expansion of the Lord like the Sakti-Vishnu-tattvas and Vishnu tattvas. However, all can play the part of gopis, cowherd boys in Krishna lila.

Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana have so many expansions of Krishna that it is mind boggling.

The jiva-tattva can play the role of a gopa or gopi like a Sakti-Vishnu-tattva and Vishnu-tattva but NEVER be Sakti-Vishnu-tattva or Vishnu-tattva who are Krishna Himself expanded as multiple personalities.

The jiva-tattvas can ALWAYS choose in Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan, and play many roles including Brahma however, the marginal living entity ALWAYS remains jiva-tattva and can NEVER become God (Vishnu-tattva)

The jiva-tattvas, unlike Sakti-Vishnu-tattva and Vishnu tattvas, can 'choose' to forget Krishna if they desire and enter the mahat tattva or material creation of Maha Vishnu as nitya baddha and think they are an independent god.

Vishnu tattvas and Sakti-Vishnu-tattva do not do that because they ARE direct expansion of Krishna and only carry out the will of God.

Our eternal constitution position and eternal spiritual body is already there in Vaikuntha waiting for us to wake up from this temporary material dream and return back home back to Godhead.

Just like Jaya and Vijaya's eternal position as gatekeepers of Vaikuntha is always there waiting for their return from falling down into the material creation.

In Vaikuntha there is no concept of past and future time, only the ''individual awareness" of the "eternal presence'' of Krishna and being a dependent unique person and sense of the "self" that eternally exists there in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.

This is how we know all the universe is not ''all-one" with an all pervading consciousness that plays out different roles while contained in different material bodily vessels.

Except for Krishna and His unlimited direct Vishnu-tattva and Vishnu-Sakti-tattvas expansions, we are all individual jiva-tattva soul expansions with our own unique sense of self and personality.

Therefore we never lose our independence and sense of self as an individual identity of being a "person"

Even a blade of grass, leaf, tree, clouds, rain drops, grains of sand and dirt or chair is a Person in Goloka.

Everything there is alive!

Of course in the material world our individuality becomes covered by many different species of material bodies but underneath it all the jivatma or jiva tattva is there as an individual.

Therefore it is very important we understand we have a "sense of independence and individuality as jiva-tattva souls". And this is what "marginal" means, that makes us the unique individual "persons" we eternally are.

To say you can never leave Goloka once there is true for most but not all because we can choose to miss use our free will. Without having that choice, Prabhupada says we are no better than dead stone that would not be able to give love or receive love.

And yes, many devotees have found this subject’s true meaning in Sastra very difficult to understand and therefore call it inconceivable rather than attempting to understand it, or believe others understand it.

Like making "choices" (that allows one to increase their “unique” individual expression of love for Krishna) is always with the marginal living entity even in Vaikuntha, and to take that ability (the sense of self) away from the marginal living entity in Vaikuntha, the jiva-tattva soul loses the individual ability to “give and accept love”.

This is because without free will we lose our sense of independence as a person of having a unique separate identity from all of other individual jiva-tattva souls, Vishnu tattvas, and Krishna Himself.

These are important points to understand.

We, the jiva-tattva souls are independent thinking souls eternally but simultaneously part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna the cause of all causes meant to please the Lord as the unique “persons”.

Therefore, no one can force the jiva-soul to stay in Vaikuntha, that choice MUST be eternally yours (the jivatma)

Only Vishnu-tattvas and Vishnu-Sakti-tattvas never fall down from Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana because they ARE direct expansions of Krishna, playing different roles in Krishna's pastimes and have 93.75% of Krishna’s qualities (60 out of Krishna's 64 qualities) making them direct full expansions of Krishna Himself.

Some Visnu-Sakti-tattvas are gopis including Radharani, gopas, parents, lovers etc many, many different personalities.

Krishna’s brother Balarama is Vishnu-tattva, Srimati Radharani is Vishnu-Sakti-tattva expansion of Krishna, and many others are too, playing different parts in Krishna Lila.

Just like in Lord Caitanya’s pastimes where many are Vishnu-tattvas and Vishnu-Sakti-tattvas playing many of His devotees.

It is ONLY these residents of Vrindavana who NEVER fall down into forgetfulness.

And the fact is, more than 90% of jiva-tattva souls also “choose” to stay in Vaikuntha and NEVER fall down, which means entering the material creation seeking selfish desires.

All jiva tattvas have only 78.125% of Krishna’s qualities (50 out of Krishna's 64 qualities) can leave if they choose.

To be in Vaikuntha does not always guarantee you will stay there forever and never enter the material world again.

Although as already explained 90% never choose to forget Krishna because that is their desire and expression of free will, sadly some jiva souls DO choose to leave or fall from Vaikuntha however, Prabhupada explains it is only a very small minority who foolishly make that choice, less than 10%.

Dr. John Mize – “Did all the souls that were in the spiritual sky fall out of the spiritual sky at once or at different times, or are there any souls that are always good, they’re not foolish, they don’t fall down?”

Srila Prabhupada – “No, there are majority, 90%, they are always good. They never fall down”. (Los Angeles, June 23, 1975)

Let's clear one thing up, falling into the material world has absolutely nothing to do with maya or the material energy because maya does not and can not exist in Vaikuntha.

The jiva-souls do not even know Maya or the material energy exists, however, they do have "free will and the ability to choose" and are aware that this quality is “eternally” part and parcel of the jiva-tattva’s makeup and exists in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.

We do not lose our independence and sense of individual identity once we enter Vaikuntha, we are eternally independent living entities even in Vaikuntha.

However, we always depend of Krishna in Vaikuntha, or His many Vishnu-tattva expansions like Maha Vishnu and Garbhodakashayi Vishnu who provide all facilities in the material creation.

We can never be truly independent because everything, all that is, belongs to Krishna. In other words we are always independent living entities but always depend on Krishna for our existence, just like the Sun-rays cannot exist without the Sun.

The fact is because we CAN "choose to be with Krishna or reject Him", then there can be increasing endeavors of loving exchange and reciprocation  due to “choice”.

This is one of the reasons why the material universe was created - to give "reality" to that choice of rejecting and forgetting Krishna, just so the living entity can go to another place outside Vaikuntha and try to enjoy life without being Krishna conscious.

The marginal living entity or jiva-tattva souls MUST have that free will to choose to be with Krishna, or not be with Krishna if they want, instead of just being in Vaikuntha without having no choice or free will at all as some believe.

Such mentality that denies free will is actually impersonalism.

The point made here is the position of the jiva-tattva soul in Vaikuntha must be voluntary.



HERE HERE HERE HERE HERE




Once again to be truly free there must be the choice of Vaikuntha or its so called opposite where Krishna can be forgotten, the "material creation.

Without the jiva-tattva souls being able to choose Krishna or not there can never be love, Prabhupada has said to force love is called rape.

Srila Prabhupada - "So, even in the Vaikuntha, if I desire that ‘Why shall I serve Krishna? Why not become Krishna?’ I immediately fall down. That is natural. A servant is serving the master, but sometimes he may think that, “If I could become the master.” They are thinking like that; they are trying to become God. That is delusion. You cannot become God. That is not possible. But he’s wrongly thinking”.

Vipina Purandara - “Why doesn’t Krishna protect us from that desire?

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.)

It takes only free will to live separately from Krishna and this choice has nothing to do with maya or material energy as explained above - it is simple free will that allows us to be a independent person and enter the material creation too.

To do that one is given material bodies, a subtle and gross body that covers the spiritual form. In the material world, the jiva-soul or jiva-tattva has to put up with the gross material bodily vessel always being in a state of decline and decay, and then eventually being forced to take another gross material body when it ceases to function.

Also once in the material creation, you're on your own terms, you are responsible for all your actions good and bad, therefore karma begins as soon as you leave Vaikuntha.

No jiva-tattva souls originate from the dormant Brahmajyoti ot Brahman. Jiva sous often fall to impersonal Brahman or Brahmajyoti, but NEVER did the jiva-tattva souls originate from the impersonal Brahmajyoti as Srila Prabhupada tells us.

Srila Prabhupada - 'The next question, about the living entities falling down in this material world are not from the impersonal brahman. Existence in the impersonal brahman is also within the category of non-Krsna consciousness. Those who are in the brahman effulgence they are also in the fallen condition, so there is no question of falling down from a fallen condition. When fall takes place, it means falling down from the non-fallen condition. The non-fallen condition is Krsna consciousness. So long one can maintain pure Krsna consciousness he is not fallen down. As soon as he becomes out of Krsna consciousness immediately he is fallen down’’. (Letter to: Revatinandana, Los Angeles 13 June, 1970)

Srila Prabhupada - “We have also come down from Vaikuntha some millions and millions of years ago.” - (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita on August 6, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - ‘’These spirit souls and all spirit souls are coming from Vaikuntha”. (Letter to Jagadisa das, 1970)

Srila Prabhupada - “As living spiritual souls we are all originally Krsna conscious entities, but due to our association with matter from time immemorial, our consciousness has now become polluted by the material atmosphere.” (Original Hare Krsna "Happening record album" New York December 1966)

Srila Prabhupada - ” So, even in the Vaikuntha, if I desire that ‘Why shall I serve Krishna? Why not become Krishna?’ I immediately fall down.” (July 8, 1976 in Washington, D.C.)

Srila Prabhupada - ''The actual constitutional position of every living entity is nitya-siddha, because God is eternal and His part and parcels, the living entities, they are also eternal. So that is nitya-siddha. Nitya-siddha, sädhana-siddha, krpa-siddha-there are different grades. They are all described in The Nectar of Devotion. So one can become sadhana-siddha. (Caitanya-caritamrta, July 13, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada - ''By following the rules and regulations and instructions of the spiritual master, he can also become siddha. He can become AGAIN nitya-siddha. So the Krsna consciousness movement is to make the nitya-baddhas AGAIN nitya-siddha, to bring them. It is a difficult task'' - (New York lecture on Caitanya-caritamrta, July 13, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada - 'This material world is created by the dreaming of Mahā-Viṣṇu. The real, factual platform is the spiritual world, but when the spirit soul wants to imitate the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is put into this dreamland of material creation”. (SB 4.29.83 Purport)

Once, an Indian political leader, Syamasundara Chakravarti, asked Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada.

“Why has the Lord granted such freedom to the jiva soul?”

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta told him, “You are fighting for freedom. Don’t you know the value of freedom?

Devoid of freedom, the soul is only matter.”

Freedom offers us the alternative to do right or wrong. Once, Gandhi told the British authorities, ”We want freedom.”‘ They replied, “You are not fit to have self-government. When you are fit, we shall give it to you.” But finally, he told them, “We want the freedom to do wrong.” So, freedom does not guarantee only acting in the right way; freedom has its value independent of right and wrong.

Free will is only absolute with the Absolute Truth. Because we are finite our free will is infinitesimal. The possibility of committing a mistake is there. Our first choice was to dominate and so, gradually we have entered the world of domination. As a result of this first action, everything else has developed.

So, in different ranks the species have been divided from the demigods down to the trees and stones. And watery bodies, gaseous bodies, anything that we find here has evolved in that way. The activating principle in any form of embryological development is the soul, and from the soul, everything has evolved.” (End of quote)

Srila Prabhupada makes our "original position" with Krishna very clear.

And yes, maya cannot be blamed for our fall down from Vaikuntha in any way because She, in her role as the personification of material energy, does NOT exist in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, nothing material can exist there.

But free will does and always will exist in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana. Therefore "we" are responsible for our choices and actions.

Srila Prabhupada on the other hand chose to come here to serve Krishna's plan to attract the fallen souls in the material universe back home back to Godhead.

Many devotees also come here to preach Krishna Consciousness.

There are three ways the jiva-tattva souls can come here to the material creation

1 - As a devotee who preaches God Consciousness.

2 - As a devotee who plays the part as a great demon like Jai and Vijayi the gatekeepers of Vaikuntha.

3 - And those who "choose" to just forget and give up Krishna's association and do their own thing in the material creation.

Also one can never have material desires in Vaikuntha because Maya does NOT exist there.

Maya cannot be blamed for tempting us and causing our fall down from Vaikuntha in any way because She, in her role as the personification of material energy, does NOT exist in Vaikuntha.

Nothing material can exist there.

But ''free will'', ''independence'' and ''individuality'' does and always will exist in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana. 

We therefore leave because of free will and the ability to choose to accept or reject Krishna.

As an individual ''person'' endowed with independent thought and identity, we are able to make such chooses.

What does the majority of people think being a "PERSON" really means after you surrender to Krishna?

- Do they think it is becoming some "yes man or women" of Krishna in His Kingdom where one becomes a mindless none thinking denier of the "individual self" who has unique qualities that makes you an individual?

2 - Do they think surrender means we give up our individuality? Sadly, so many have no idea what real "personalism" is which is a word tied to individuality.

The idea of "don't think just do what your told" is impersonalist nonsense because it denies ''you'' to use your own abilities and talents to contribute something unique to your personality that no one else may have.

So no, "you" DO NOT give up your independent individuality and sense of self worth and esteem to be fully surrendered and "dependant" on Krishna, maintaining that giving up individuality is part of surrendering.

In fact in Goloka your individual independence and dependence on Krishna go together side by side increasing simultaneously at the same time and is always expanding in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.

It takes spiritual intelligence to understand what real surrender is, and that includes understanding ‘’you’’ are eternally an independent individual person with your own sense of "individual self" separate from all other individual jiva souls.

Although Krishna always accompanies all jiva tattva souls as a friend and witness to the jiva-souls individual choices and actions because we are eternally parts and parcels of the Lord.

Please read the above essay again, it explains we are all "unique individual persons" who are endowed with independent qualities allowing one to eternally give "THEIR OWN" best to Krishna.


HERE HERE HERE HERE

The jiva-souls are not part of an "all-one programmed none thinking impersonal collective" within God's Kingdom, no, that is a description of what hell is like.

Impersonalism means believing that in Vaikuntha we give up our free will, independence, individuality and unique personality and become part of an all-one collective consciousness.

Living an impersonal existence is to be devoid of individual thought that does not allow personal contributions that makes you, who you really are, as a person, as Krsna's eternal servant, as a unique living entity who can contribute the best of their'' individual abilities to Krsna.

On the other hand personalism means the individual jiva must be able to grow and flourish as an independent living being giving their own personal contributions of devotional service to Krsna.

To deny the jiva-souls their individuality and independent sense of identity and personality is a hell real Krsna devotees fear.

Only when the jiva-souls desires not to be with Krsna do they enter the material creation and realize Maya's existences and later, after becoming frustrated with the cycle of birth and death, do they attempt to merge into the impersonal Brahmajyoti. 

Such an attemp to extinguish one's individual identity is spiritual suicide to a Vaisnava devotee.

Paramahamsa - "But ultimately if we come to Krsna, there’s no return."

Srila Prabhupada - "There is return, that is voluntary. Return there is."

Paramahamsa - "If we want."

Srila Prabhupada - “Yes."

Paramahamsa - "So we can come to the spiritual world and return?”

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes."

Paramahamsa -"Fall down?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes, as soon as we try, "Oh, this material world is very nice, yes, Krsna says, yes, you go." Just like nobody is interested in Krsna consciousness. So, they want to enjoy this material world. 

Otherwise what is the meaning of free will? Every living entity has got a little free will. And Krsna is so kind, He gives him opportunity, "All right, you enjoy like this." 

Paramahamsa - "So our desire to enjoy, we achieve these bodies; and our desire to achieve Krsna brings us to our natural position."

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes." (May 13, 1973, Los Angeles)


Therefore "we" are responsible for our choices and actions and in the material creation free will almost does not exist because one is binded by their own reactions to their pious and impious deeds (karma)

Srila Prabhupada - "In the broader sense everyone comes from Krishna Loka. When one forgets Krishna he is conditioned, when one remembers Krishna he is liberated." (Letter to Mukunda, June 10, 1969)
 
Srila Prabhupada - "We cannot say therefore that we are not with Krsna. As soon as we try to become Lord, immediately Maya covers us. Formerly we were with Krsna in His lila or sport. But this covering of Maya may be of very, very, very, very long duration; therefore many creations are coming and going." (Letter to Madhudvisa Swami June 1972 Australia)
 
Srila Prabhupada – ''Regarding your questions about how and from where did the conditioned souls fall, your first question if someone has a relationship with Lord Krsna on Krsnaloka, does he ever fall down? The souls are endowed with minute independence as part of their nature and this minute independence may be utilized rightly or wrongly at anytime, so there is always a chance of falling down by misuse of one’s independence''. (Letter to Jagadisa, 4/25/1970)
 
Srila Prabhupada – Regarding your several questions: Where are the spirit souls coming from? These spirit souls and all spirit souls are coming from Vaikuntha, but in these material worlds they are taking various grades of bodies according to their material activities. There is no new soul. New and old are due to this material body, but the soul is never born and never dies, so if there is no birth, so how there can be new soul?" (Letter to Jagadisa, 7/9/1970)
 
Acyutananda - "So what made the soul take birth in the first place?"
 
Srila Prabhupada - "In the first place?"
 
Acyutananda - "What is the first birth? What is the cause of the first birth."
 
Srila Prabhupada - "Yes, that is stated in the Prema-vivarta:
 
krsna-bahirmukha hana bhoga vancha kare
nikata-stha maya tare japatiya dhare
 
We are eternal servant of Krsna. As soon as we want to become master, that is the beginning of our first birth in the material world. We have got independence. Krsna says, mamaivamso jiva bhutah—we are part and parcel of Krsna—so Krsna has got full independence, but we are minute; therefore we have got minute independence. Our business is to serve Krsna, but as soon as we give up this idea, we want to become master. That is the beginning of our material birth." (SB Canto 5 Ch 5 text 2, Hyderabad, April 11, 1975)
 
Acyutananda - "But in the Bhagavad Gita it says, "Once returning from the material worlds, he never returns."
 
Srila Prabhupada - "But if he likes, he can return."
 
Acyutananda - "He can return?"
 
Srila Prabhupada - "That independence has to be accepted, little independence. We can misuse that. Krsna-bahirmukha hana bhoga vancha kare. That misuse is the cause of our falldown." (Feb 19, 1976, Mayapura)
 
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura - ''When the marginal living entity has contact with matter, the imprisoned soul loses the memory of his original spiritual form in Vaikuntha., material rasas (tastes and desires) are perverted reflections of the jiva-soul's original spiritual rasas." (Prema-pradipa, p. 83)
 
Devotee - "Srila Prabhupada why did Krishna give us free will if He knew we could fall down in the material world?"
 
Srila Prabhupada - "If you have no free will, then you are a stone. The stone has no free will. You want to be stone? Then you must have free will. But don't misuse your free will. But don't try to become stone either. That is not life." (Aug 5, 1976, New Mayapur France)
 
Loving relationships and expressions of love are always a two way street based on reciprocation and loving exchanges, it is never a slave domineering master relationship that only destroys one's free will and sense of individual self.

Srila Prabhupada - "Love means you take and you give also. Suppose if you love somebody and you simply take from him, but you don't give. Oh, do you think it is very good? No. It is not good. That is not love. That is exploitation. If I go on simply taking from you, and if I don't offer you anything, that is simply exploitation." (BG, Ch 9 text 2-5, NY City, Nov 23, 1966)

Srila Prabhupada - "We have got the propensity to love. Love means somebody else. Love cannot be done or love cannot be executed only one, personally. There must be another one. I love somebody; somebody loves me, there must be lover, there must be beloved, and the transaction, then love." (SB Canto 1 Ch 2 text 6, Delhi, Nov 12, 1973)

Love means two.

Srila Prabhupada - "Their (impersonalist) philosophy is oneness. So how there can be love, one? Is it possible? Have you got any such experience? Love means one? No. Love means two. There must be two, the lover and the beloved. Kṛṣṇa is already lover. He's so lover of you that He's trying to get you back. That is Kṛṣṇa's attempt. "Please, My dear boy, or My dear friend, My dear servant." (SB Canto 2 Ch 1 text 3, Paris, June 12, 1974)

The jiva-souls in both Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, never lose their free will, which means their own individual ability of self expression when choosing to voluntarily offer their own personal contributions that are unique to each individual jiva-soul.

Each jiva-soul as their full natural ''svarupa'' form in the spiritual worlds of Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, have the eternal marginal quality of free will as part and parcel of their perpetual constitutional makeup.

In this way, each jiva-soul has their own individual sense of self, character and personality separate from Krsna's Personality, who are one of kind in the Spiritual Sky. 

No two jiva-souls are the same, each has their own unique individual personality and character.

This eternally existing makeup of each jiva-soul, is without any beginning or ending point, and is part and parcel of every marginal living entities (jiva-souls).

This allows the jiva-soul to "personally" always be aware of their own individuality and independent nature while serving Krsna that is different from all other living entities in the Spiritual Sky.

This is a very important point to understand as we progress and mature in our Krsna Consciousness.

The relationship between Krsna and the jiva-soul is never one-sided, never forced, never impersonal, it is always reciprocal, nurturing, personal and voluntary, in a mood of good exchanges and feelings, only then can there be real love.
 
Srila Prabhupada - "So, unless there is a possibility of misusing our free will, there is no question of freedom.” (Dialectical Spiritualism, Critique of Descartes) 

So the conclusion is Srimad Bhagavatam explains the fall down of the jiva-soul from Vaikuntha to the material  creation found in the 4th Canto Chapter 28 text 53 of Srimad Bhagavatam where the Supreme Lord is disguised as a brahmana-

The brāhmaṇa continued - "My dear friend, even though you cannot immediately recognize Me, can't you remember that in the past you had a very intimate friend? Unfortunately, you gave up My company and accepted a position as enjoyer of this material world." (SB 4th Canto Ch 28 text 53)

From Matchless Wondergifts.










All the massive material universes (Brahmandas) are all coming from Maha-Visnu's breathing and from the pours of His skin. Also, inside each Brahmanda material universe exists a smaller secondary universe where Garbhodakashayi Visnu, Lord Brahma and many planetary systems exist.

These "secondary universes" within each Brahmanda universe, are created by Maha-Visnu's expansion, Garbhodakashayi Visnu, and managed by Lord Brahma and the many demi-gods or administrators.

There are a unlimited number of Garbhodakashayi Visnus and Lord Brahmas and demi-gods, but only one Maha-Visnu.

All the massive Brahmanda material universes encase a "secondary material universe" which exists deep inside the Brahmanda universe as painting below shows.

Our secondary material universe within our Brahmanda has 14 planetary systems in it according to Srimad Bhagavatam's 5th Canto, and is 4 billion miles (500 million yojanas) in diameter.

One yojana equals 8 miles.

The surrounding Brahmanda universe covering the inner secondary universe is 44 quadrillion, 444 trillion, 444 billion miles in diameter, or twice that size if measured from the outer edge of the secondary universe inside the Brahmanda. 

Sadaputa dasa ACBSP (Richard L. Thompson) ISKCON's authority  on Vedic Cosmology, earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from Cornell University, New York USA. He is the author of several books on Vedic Cosmology and explains what Bhu-Mandala really is-

"In the Bhagavatam, Bhu Mandala is the earth mandala (not to be confused with our small earth global sphere), and is a disk looking accumulation of planets systems (14 in our secondary material universe) in outer space that is 500 million yojanas (4 billion miles) in diameter."

Our small earth planet (global round sphere) is only 24,901 miles in circumference and 7,917.5 miles in diameter therefore, it is clear our small earth globe is NOT flat as ignorant fools believe, nor is our earth planet Bhu-Mandala which is described in Srimad Bhagavatam as 500 million yojanas in diameter (4 billion miles in diameter or 12.6 billion miles in circumference).

However, the size of Bhu-Mandala does describe the size of our secondary material universe with all its 14 planetary systems.

A yojana is a unit of distance about 8 miles long, so the diameter of Bhu-Mandala is about 4 billion miles which is the size of our secondary universe inside our Brahmanda as explained above.

Bhu-Mandala is marked by circular features designated as islands, keep in mind "Dvipas" can also mean planets in the ocean of outer space and not just islands surrounded by sea.

Srila Prabhupada - "The planets are called dvīpas. Outer space is like an ocean of air. Just as there are islands in the watery ocean, these planets in the ocean of space are called dvīpas, or islands in outer space." (CC Madhya 20.218, Purport)

So, obviously Bhu-Mandala is way too big to be our small earth global sphere Sadaputa has explained.

Our "secondary universe" and its 14 planetary systems are encased inside the Brahmanda universe.

Our secondary material universe would fit in the circumference that describes the size of Bhu-Mandala, which is almost 4 billion miles in diameter or 500 million yojanas in diameter.

Bhu-Mandala innermost island, Jambudvipa, contains Bharata-varsha which Srila Prabhupada has identified where our earth globe is situated. 

So, what makes up the surrounding Brahmanda universe that encases our secondary material universe made of?

Srimad Bhagavatam - "The first covering of our Brahmanda that encases our inner single universe, is the element earth." (SB, Canto 6 Ch 16 Text 37)

In most references in Srimad Bhagavatam it is said the earth covering is the first layer of our inner universe's surrounding Brahmanda although it also says water is the first layer in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 26 text 52. There are many contradictory comments in Srimad Bhagavatam like this that needs further research and understanding, such as many texts that says there are 7 layers covering our inner material universe, while in other places it says 8.

The same with Brahma's day/night where it says it is 8 billion 640 million human years long while other places it says 8 billion 600 million human years long. 

There are billions of Brahmanda universes, each with a smaller "secondary universe" inside them, each with their own Garbhodakashayi Visnu, Lord Brahma and number of planetary systems. 

In our material universe inside our Brahmanda, there are 14 planetary systems however, other universes inside their Brahmanda have many, many more planetary systems.

This is based on the amount of heads each Lord Brahma has, our Brahma has 4 heads while other Brahmas have 10, 20, 100, 500, 1000, 10,000 even over 10,000,000.

For our small minds, this understanding is inconceivable.

As said above, all Brahmanda universes originate from the Body of Maha-Visnu as seen in photo below. Also, most references say that the seven layers of material qualities or conditions begins with 

earth, 

water, 

fire, 

air,

sky, 

mahat-tattva,

false ego.

Srimad Bhagavatam - "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]." (SB, Canto 6 Ch 16 Text 37)

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

First is earth,

Second is water,

Third is fire,

Fourth is air,

Fifth is sky

Sixth is the total material energy or mahat-tattva.

Seventh is the 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 Brahmanda shell is, of which there are many millions of (Brahmanda) universes." (SB, Canto 6 Ch 16 Text 37)

Srila Prabhupada - "The mahat-tattva, the total material energy, is called avyakta. Then, when it is agitated by the glance of the Supreme Lord, the three modes of material nature acts. And by interaction of these three modes of material nature, the whole cosmic manifestation comes into being." (Lecture SB, Canto 1 Ch 2 text 33, Vrndavana, Nov 12, 1972)

Srila Prabhupada - "So actually, there are twenty-six different elements which is conducting this material world. Etat kṣetraṁ samāsena sa-vikāram udāhṛtam. Kṣetra means this body. Either you take this body or this material world, they are interaction of these twenty-four elements.

Either you take the gigantic body of this universe or you take the body of this planet or you take this your body, my body, or a cat's body, dog's body, all these bodies, they are formed of these twenty-four elements, sa-vikāram, by action and reaction. Just like chemically, if you mix one chemical with another chemical, a third element is produced, similarly, originally the reservation of all these elements is called mahat-tattva. It is called pradhāna, upadhāna.

So gradually they manifest, they divide by three guṇas. Three guṇas means in the mahat-tattva, in the total material reservoir, three guṇas, three modes of nature, first of all appear and they act with one another, and then gradually, one after another, the twenty-four elements become manifested. Etat kṣetraṁ samāsena sa-vikāram udāhṛtam." (Lecture BG, Ch 13 text 6-7 Montreal, Oct 25, 1968)

Srila Prabhupada - "There are the five elements, namely, earth, water, fire, air, and sense objects and senses and also the spirit soul. That is the explanation of our Vedic creation. Ṣoḍaśa-kalam." (Lecture SB, Canto 1 Ch 3 text 1 Vrndavana, Nov, 14, 1972)

Srila Prabhupada - "The total energy of material creation is called mahat-tattva or pradhāna. Then, when the mahat-tattva is agitated by the three guṇas, then they become divided into twenty-four elements." (Lecture SB, Canto 3 Ch 26 text 11-14 Bombay, Dec 23, 1974)

Srila Prabhupada - "That mahat-tattva is above this universe (we are in), above the sky. Above the sky there are seven layers (meaning at the beginning of the surrounding Brahmanda massive universe) Each layer is ten times more than the other layer. In this way, that is called mahat-tattva. 

Total material elements, they are stocked there. And then these varieties take place. And above that mahat-tattva (the billions of Brahmanda universes), there is spiritual world." (Lecture SB, Canto 3 Ch 26 text 10 Bombay, Dec 22, 1974)

As confirmed by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā Chapter 10 text 42- 

"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 creation is only one fourth of the Supreme Lord's energy. Therefore He is called ananta." (BG, Ch 10.42)

Srila Prabhupada - "The extent of the cosmic phenomenon or our individual universe is calculated to be diametrically four billion miles in size. Then the outer covering known as the "Brahmanda shell" begins. 

The first covering of earth is calculated to extend forty billion miles, (10 times the size of the inner universe) and the subsequent coverings of the universe are respectively of earth, water, fire, air, sky, total material energy (mahat-tattva), false ego. 

One after another, each extending ten times further than the previous. The fearless devotee of the Lord penetrates each one of them and ultimately reaches the absolute atmosphere where everything is of one and the same spiritual identity. 

Then the devotee enters one of the Vaikuṇṭha planets, where he assumes exactly the same form as the Lord and engages in the loving transcendental service of the Lord. That is the highest perfection of devotional life. Beyond this there is nothing to be desired or achieved by the perfect yogī." (SB, Canto 2 Ch 2 Text 28 Purport)

Srila Prabhupada  - "The first layer is of "earth," and it is ten times greater in size than the space within the universe; the second layer is "water," and that is ten times greater than the earthly layer; the third covering is "fire," which is ten times greater than the water covering. In this way each layer is ten times greater than the previous one." (SB, Canto 3 Ch 29 Text 43)

Srimad Bhagavatam explains there are millions of individual Brahmanda material  universes coming from Maha-Visnu making up the entire material creation which is 1/4 of the spiritual sky.

As said above, all secondary material  universes inside their Brahmanda universe, are of all different sizes, some, like ours is very small being only 4 billion miles in diameter.

Our 4 billion miles diameter universe (500 million yojanas) with its 14 planetary systems, is one of the smallest universes in Mahā-Viṣṇu's material creation.

Srila Prabhupada - "We have to imagine that these individual 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 earth, water, fire, air and sky, along with the total material energy and false ego—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 (Brahmandas). 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 material universe to another, this is because our individual secondary material universe is surrounded by, and encased in 7 thick material layers explained above that are the elements that make up our outer "Brahmanda" material universe.

We cannot see other material universes around us from inside our secondary material universe inside our Brahmanda, ALL that we see is inside our small material universe. 

So, it is impossible to see the millions of other Brahmanda universes outside our inner universe (inside a massive Brahmanda) because of those 7 thick material layers that only rare mystic yogis and advanced devotees like Arjuna can see and pass through.

So, of course Krsna and Arjuna did not encounter such limitations that we experience with 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 Krsna 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 make up the outer Brahmanda covering beginning with Earth, then water, then fire, then air, then sky, then total material energy or mahat tattva, then false ego), 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 also only one sun." (SB, Canto 5 Ch 21 Text 11, Purport)

Srimad Bhagavatam - "Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī confirms that a part of the material nature, after being initiated by the Lord, is known as the mahat-tattva. A fractional portion of the mahat-tattva is called the false ego. A portion of the ego is the vibration of sound, and a portion of sound is atmospheric air. A portion of the airy atmosphere is turned into forms, and the forms constitute the power of electricity or heat. 

Heat produces the smell of the aroma of the earth, and the gross earth is produced by such aroma. And all these combined together constitute the cosmic phenomenon. The extent of the cosmic phenomenon or our individual universe is calculated to be diametrically four billion miles in size. Then the outer covering, known as the Brahmanda shell begins. 

The first covering of earth is calculated to extend forty billion miles, (10 times the size of the inner universe) and the subsequent coverings of the universe are respectively of water, fire, air, sky, total material energy, false ego one after another, each extending ten times further than the previous.

The fearless devotee of the Lord penetrates each one of them and ultimately reaches the absolute atmosphere where everything is of one and the same spiritual identity. Then the devotee enters one of the Vaikuṇṭha planets, where he assumes exactly the same form as the Lord and engages in the loving transcendental service of the Lord. That is the highest perfection of devotional life. Beyond this there is nothing to be desired or achieved by the perfect yogī." (SB, Canto 2 Ch 2 Text 28)

Srimad Bhagavatam - "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]. (SB, Canto 6 Ch 16 text 37) 

Srila Prabhupada - "The Brahma-saṁhitā (5.48) says:

yasyaika-niśvasita-kālam athāvalambya-jīvanti loma-vilajā jagad-aṇḍa-nāthāḥ viṣṇur mahān sa iha yasya kalā-viśeṣo - govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi.

The origin of the material creation is Mahā-Viṣṇu, who lies in the Causal Ocean. While He sleeps in that ocean, millions of universes are generated as He exhales, and they are all annihilated when He inhales. This Mahā-Viṣṇu is a plenary portion of a portion of Viṣṇu, Govinda (yasya kalā-viśeṣaḥ). The word kalā refers to a plenary portion of a plenary portion.

1 - From Kṛṣṇa, or Govinda, comes Balarāma.

2 - From Balarāma comes Saṅkarṣaṇa.

3 - From Saṅkarṣaṇa comes Nārāyaṇa. 

4 - From Nārāyaṇa comes the second Saṅkarṣaṇa.

5 - From the second Saṅkarṣaṇa comes Mahā-Viṣṇu.

6 - From Mahā-Viṣṇu comes Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu.

7 - From Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu comes Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. 

8 - Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu controls every universe.

This gives an idea of the meaning of ananta, unlimited. What is to be said of the unlimited potency and existence of the Lord? This verse describes the coverings of the universe (saptabhir daśa-guṇottarair aṇḍa-kośaḥ).

The first covering is earth, the second is water, the third is fire, the fourth is air, the fifth is sky, the sixth is the total material energy, and the seventh is the 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- 

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is - "But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe." Ch 10 text 42 BG, As It Is)

Srila Prabhupada - "The entire material world manifests only one fourth of the Supreme Lord’s energy. Therefore He is called ananta." (BG, Ch 10 text 42 Purport)

As said at the beginning, there are some passages in Bhagavatam that says the first layer is earth and other places it says the first layer is water. Srila Prabhupada says there are 7 layers that make up our outer Brahmanda shell that surrounds our inner universe within the Brahmanda, 8 including our 4 billion miles diameter universe within the massive Brahmanda. The circumference of our single universe inside our outer Brahmanda is 12.6 billion miles. And within that area in our secondary material universe are the 14 planetary systems.

Srila Prabhupada - "The extent of the cosmic phenomenon or our individual universe is calculated to be diametrically four billion miles in size. Then the outer covering known as the Brahmanda shell begins. The first covering of earth is calculated to extend forty billion miles, (10 times the size of the inner universe) and the subsequent coverings of the universe are respectively of water, fire, air, sky, total material energy, false ego, one after another, each extending ten times further than the previous." (SB, Canto 2 Ch 2 text 28 Purport)

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura refers to the circumference of our Brahmanda universe that our secondary universe is within in following text-

Caitanya Caritamrita - "Kṛṣṇa said (to Brahma), "Your particular universe has a diameter of four billion miles; therefore it is the smallest of all the universes. Consequently you have only four heads." (CC Madhya 21.84)

Srila Prabhupada - Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, one of the greatest astrologers of his time, gives information from the Siddhānta-śiromaṇi that this universe measures 18,712,069,200,000,000 × 8 miles (That's 18 quadrillion, 712 trillion, 69 billion, 200 million yojanas × 8)  So, multiply that figure by 8 to get miles which is 149 quadrillion 696 trillion 553 billion 600 million miles in circumference. This is the circumference of this universe, but according to some this is only half the circumference." (CC Madhya 21.84 Purport)

This circumference of our massive Brahmanda universe includes our small 4 billion mile diameter universe that is inside the Brahmanda. There are 7 layers surrounding our small 4 billion mile diameter material universe that houses the 14 planetary systems in it.

Each material layer or element our small universe is surrounded by, is 10 times thicker than the previous layer. Starting with the small 4 billion mile diameter universe within the Brahmanda. So, just multiply each layer by 10, for example, the 4 billion miles diameter universe = 40 billion.

Then you multiply 40 billion by 10.

Like this for all 7 layers of material elements that adds up too 44 quadrillion 444 trillion 444 billion miles in diameter. The first covering of the universe is earth, and it is ten times thicker than the universe itself. If this material universe is four billion miles in diameter, then the size of the earthly covering of this universe is four billion times ten.

Srimad Bhagavatam  - "This phenomenal material world is expanded to a diameter of four billion miles, as a combination of eight material elements transformed into sixteen further categories, within and without, as follows." (ŚB, Canto 3 Ch 11 text 40)

Srila Prabhupada - "As explained before, the entire material world is a display of sixteen diversities and eight material elements. The analytical studies of the material world are the subject matter of Sāńkhya philosophy. The first sixteen diversities are the eleven senses and five sense objects, and the eight elements are the gross and subtle matter, namely earth, water, fire, air, sky, mind, intelligence and ego. All these combined together are distributed throughout the entire universe, which extends diametrically to four billion miles. Besides this universe of our experience, there are innumerable other universes. Some of them are bigger than the present one, and all of them are clustered together under similar material elements as described below." (SB, Canto 3 Ch 11 text 40 Purport)

Srimad Bhagavatam - "The layers or elements covering the universes are each ten times thicker than the one before, and all the universes clustered together appear like atoms in a huge combination." (SB, Canto 3 Ch 11 text 41)

Srila Prabhupada - "The coverings of the universes are also constituted of the elements of earth, water, fire, air and ether, and each is ten times thicker than the one before. The first covering of the universe is earth, and it is ten times thicker than the universe itself. If the universe is four billion miles in size, then the size of the earthly covering of the universe is four billion times ten. The covering of water is ten times greater than the earthly covering, the covering of fire is ten times greater than the watery covering, the covering of air is ten times greater than that of the fire, the covering of ether is ten times greater still than that of air, and so on. The universe within the coverings of matter appears to be like an atom in comparison to the coverings, and the number of universes is unknown even to those who can estimate the coverings of the universes." (SB Canto 3 Ch 11 text 41 Purport)

Srimad Bhagavatam - "The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is therefore said to be the original cause of all causes. Thus the spiritual abode of Viṣṇu is eternal without a doubt, and it is also the abode of Mahā-Viṣṇu, the origin of all manifestations." (SB,Canto 3 Ch 11 text 42)

Srila Prabhupada - "Mahā-Viṣṇu, who is resting in yoga-nidrā on the Causal Ocean and creating innumerable universes by His breathing process, only temporarily appears in the mahat-tattva for the temporary manifestation of the material worlds. He is a plenary portion of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and thus although He is nondifferent from Lord Kṛṣṇa, His formal appearance in the material world as an incarnation is temporary. The original form of the Personality of Godhead is actually the svarūpa, or real form, and He eternally resides in the Vaikuṇṭha world (Viṣṇuloka). The word mahātmanaḥ is used here to indicate Mahā-Viṣṇu, and His real manifestation is Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is called parama, as confirmed in the Brahma-saḿhitā:

īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ

sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ

anādir ādir govindaḥ

sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam

[Bs. 5.1]

"The Supreme Lord is Kṛṣṇa, the original Personality of Godhead known as Govinda. His form is eternal, full of bliss and knowledge, and He is the original cause of all causes."

Do the maths yourself based on Srimad-Bhagavatam and work out the massive size of our Brahmanda egg shaped universe." (SB,Canto 3 Ch 11 text 42 Purport)

Srimad Bhagavatam - "This universal egg, or the universe in the shape of an egg, is called the manifestation of material energy. Its layers of water, air, fire, sky, ego and mahat-tattva increase in thickness one after another. Each layer is ten times bigger than the previous one, and the final outside layer is covered by pradhāna. Within this egg is the universal form of Lord Hari, of whose body the fourteen planetary systems are parts." (SB, Canto 3 Ch 26 text 52)  

Srila Prabhupada - "There are seven coverings, each one ten times greater than the one preceding it. The layer of water is ten times greater than the diameter of the universe, and the layer of fire is ten times greater than that of water. Similarly, the layer of air is ten times greater than that of fire. These dimensions are all inconceivable to the tiny brain of a human being. It is also stated that this description is of only one egg shaped universe (Brahmanda). 

There are innumerable universes besides this one, and some of them are many, many times greater. It is considered, in fact, that this universe is the smallest; therefore the predominating superintendent, or Brahmā, has only four heads for management. In other universes, which are far greater than this one, Brahmā has more heads. In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta it is stated that all these Brahmās were called one day by Lord Kṛṣṇa on the inquiry of the small Brahmā, who, after seeing all the larger Brahmās." (SB Canto 3 Ch 26 text 52 Purport)

There is some confusion in Bhagavatam as in one place it says the first layer is earth and in another place it says the first layer is water Also in many cases only 7 or 8 layers are mentioned and the names change too, for example "ether" is not mentioned in other listings of material qualities  making up the layers in the Brahmanda shell.

Srila Prabhupada says there are 7 layers, 8 if you include the original 4 billion miles in diameter that has 14 planetary systems in it. One can do their own maths, start with the size of our material universe. There are 7 layers of material qualities, do the maths and see what you get. Each layer is 10 times greater than the previous layer as Srimad Bhagavatam tells us.

1 - 4 billion miles × by 10 = 40 billion miles (earth)

2 - 40 billion miles × by 10 = 400 billion miles (water)

3 - 400 billion miles × by 10 = 4 trillion miles (fire)

4 - 4 trillion miles × by 10 = 40 trillion miles (air)

5 - 40 trillion miles × by 10 = 400 trillion miles (sky or ether)

6 - 400 trillion miles × by 10 = 4 quadrillion miles (total material energy or mahat-tattva)

7 - 4 quadrillion miles × by 10 = 40 quadrillion (ego)

Now add this up and see the maths for yourself. Eight material layers including the inner four billion miles diameter or 12.6 billion miles in circumference that houses our 14 planetary systems secondary material universe that is deep inside the Brahmanda universe that surrounds it.

Our individual secondary material universe with its 14 planetary systems, is found deep inside the larger massive Brahmanda material universe that surrounds and encases our small inner secondary material  universe.

There are unlimited Brahmanda universes in the material creation (25% of the Spiritual Sky)

Our Brahmanda universe is a spherical covering that houses and encases our small secondary material universe deep within it,  known as Bhu-Mandala.

The makeup of the entire material universe is difficult to comprehend, our Brahmanda, like all others coming from Maha-Visnu, is massive in size whereas our entire inner Bhu-Mandala universe is but an insignificant spec in relation to its size.

Also our individual universe, with its 14 planetary systems, found deep inside the massive Brahmanda, is further found within the lotus steam coming from Garbhodakashayi Visnu who resides in the center of our Brahmanda.

The vast number of "Brahmanda Universes" each surrounds and encases a smaller universe where Garbhodakashayi Visnu and Lord Brahma resides.

Our small secondary material universe inside our Brahmanda, is said to be just a mere 4 billion miles in diameter (500 million yojanas). 

Modern science and astronomers see the Srimad Bhagavatam's figures as ridiculous and totally wrong, they make the point that just our solar system is 22 billion miles in diameter and further adds that a recent space craft from NASA went to Pluto on July q4th 2015 travelling 5.4 billion miles to get there.

So,  it seems no way our material secondary universe inside our Brahmanda is 4 billion miles in diameter. It is obvious that more work needs to be done with the Srimad Bhagavatam that could havce deeper meanings beyond our present understanding of time and space.

However,  this knowledge does need advanced consciousness to understand it, for example the 14 planetary systems in this universe are in the stem coming from the Body of Garbhodakashayi Visnu, something the modern mundane materialist science will never understand.

Srimad Bhagavatam - "Within the stem of the lotus there are fourteen divisions of planetary systems, and the earthly planets are situated in the middle." (SB, Canto 1 Ch 3 Text 2)

Srila Prabhupada - "All these planetary systems are scattered over the complete universe, which occupies an area of "two billion times two billion square miles." (SB Canto 2 Ch 5 text 40-41, Purport)

Question - "I have heard that all of the planets are in the stem of the lotus from which Brahma took birth. How are we to understand this?"

Sadaputa dasa PhD - "This is stated in SB 1.3.2p. Since the planetary systems are distributed throughout the universal globe, it must be that the stem encompasses everything within this globe. We should note that the standard pictures we see of Brahma sitting on the lotus flower are three-dimensional representations of a scene that cannot be seen using our ordinary senses. Although the pictures show the lotus stem emerging from the navel of Garbhodakashayi Visnu, Brahma himself was unable to locate the origin of the stem. Thus, part of the scene was beyond the senses of Brahma, and so it is certainly beyond the reach of our senses. We also note that the planetary systems were created by Brahma from the lotus (SB 3.10.7-8). This suggests that these systems were produced by transforming the substance of the lotus." (End of Sadaputa dasa quote)

Srila Prabhupada  - "From Karanodakasayi Visnu (Maha Visnu) skin holes innumerable universes have sprung up. In each and every universe, the purusa enters as the Garbhodakasayi Visnu. He is lying within the half of the universe which is full with the water of His body. And from the navel of Garbhodakasayi Visnu has sprung the stem of the lotus flower, the birthplace of Brahma, 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. From Garbhodakasayi Visnu there is expansion of the Ksirodakasayi Visnu, who is the collective Paramatma of all living beings. He is called Hari, and from Him all incarnations within the universe are expanded. Therefore, the conclusion is that the purusa-avatara is manifested in three features-

1 - Karanodakasayi (Maha-Visnu) who creates aggregate material ingredients in the mahat-tattva,

2 - Garbhodakasayi Visnu who enters in each and every universe,

3 - Ksirodakasayi Visnu who is the Paramatma of every material object, organic or inorganic.

One who knows these plenary features of the Personality of Godhead knows Godhead properly, and thus the knower becomes freed from the material conditions of birth, death, old age and disease, as it is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Maha-Visnu lies down in some part of the spiritual sky by His own free will. Thus He lies on the ocean of karana, from where He glances over His material nature, and the mahat-tattva is at once created. Thus electrified by the power of the Lord, the material nature at once creates innumerable universes, just as in due course a tree decorates itself with innumerable grown fruits. 

The seed of the tree is sown by the cultivator, and the tree or creeper in due course becomes manifested with so many fruits. Nothing can take place without a cause. The Karana Ocean is therefore called the Causal Ocean. Karana means "causal." We should not foolishly accept the atheistic theory of creation. The description of the atheists is given in the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. The atheist does not believe in the creator, but cannot give any good theory to explain the creation. Material nature has no power to create therefore we should not expect any creative power from the material ingredients; we must believe in the power of the purusa, who impregnates prakrti, or nature. 

Because the Lord wished to lie down in meditation, the material energy created innumerable universes at once, in each of them the Lord lay down, and thus all the planets and the different paraphernalia were created at once by the will of the Lord. The Lord has unlimited potencies, and thus He can act as He likes by perfect planning, although personally He has nothing to do. No one is greater than or equal to Him. That is the verdict of the Vedas." (SB Canto 1 Ch 3 Text 2 Purport)

Our small inner secondary universe's 14 planetary systems are situated inside the lotus stem coming from Garbhodakashayi Visnu belly button. Garbhodakashayi Visnu, Lord Brahma and the 14 planetary systems are surrounded and encased by the larger Brahmanda universe. This massive Brahmanda universe or covering, is made up of 7 material layers as already explained, earth, water, fire, air, sky, total material energy or mahat tattva, false ego. 

In Srimad Bhagavatam's 5th Canto it explains there are millions of individual Brahmanda universes coming from Maha-Visnu that make up the material creation (1/4 of the Spiritual Sky) that also houses their own inner universe. As said at the beginning of this essay, a secondary material universe exists inside each Brahmanda and are of different sizes. Also the space within the Brahmanda univere is where our secondary material universe cannot be measured by any human scientist or anyone else because space and time is different all over the material universe.

The modern scientists in 2024 have yet to discover the different divisions of space-time in Maha-Visnu's creation of unlimited Brahmanda universes.  

This could explain the many comments by Prabhupada like what he says in the 8th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam that our Moon is further away from earth than the Sun is.

However, to the modern scientists and all those countries travelling to the Moon, such a comment by Prabhupada is ridiculous and nonsense.

But in all fairness to Srila Prabhupada, the full understanding of the material universe's space/time is still not properly fully understood.

This also suggests that something unexpected must happen to space (as well as time) as one approaches the outer universal Brahmanda shell, for it hardly seems impossible to measure a distance of 2 billion miles in ordinary space.

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 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)

As said above, we cannot see from one material universe to another according to Srimad Bhagavatam. This is because our "secondary material universe" is surrounded by the 7 material layers that make up the outer Brahmanda universe, so it is impossible to see the millions of other Brahmanda universes outside our inner secondary material universe because it is covered by the Brahmanda universe.

Although there are rare mystic yogis and advanced devotees like Arjuna who can see and pass through the thick material layers of our surrounding Brahmanda universe when they leave our inner secondary material universe, with its 14 planetary systems known as Bhu-Mandala.

Krsna and Arjuna did not encounter any limitations from the elements of earth, water, fire etc, and all other gross and subtle material elements that make up the Brahmanda.

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

Srila Prabhupada - "Lord Krsna 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 material 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 Brahmanda material universe that encase our smaller secondary material universe), 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." (SB Canto 5 Ch 21 Text 11, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "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]. 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." (SB Canto 6 Ch 16 Text 37)

Bhagavad Gita As It Is "But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe." (BG, Ch 10 text 42)

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

Srila Prabhupada - "Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī confirms that a part of the material nature, after being initiated by the Lord, is known as the mahat-tattva. A fractional portion of the mahat-tattva is called the false ego. A portion of the ego is the vibration of sound, and a portion of sound is atmospheric air. A portion of the airy atmosphere is turned into forms, and the forms constitute the power of electricity or heat. Heat produces the smell of the aroma of the earth, and the gross earth is produced by such aroma. And all these combined together constitute the cosmic phenomenon.

The extent of the cosmic phenomenon or our individual universe is calculated to be diametrically four billion miles in size. Then the outer covering known as the Brahmanda shell begins. The first covering of earth is calculated to extend forty billion miles, (10 times the size of the inner universe) and the subsequent coverings of the universe are respectively of water, fire, air, sky, total material energy, false ego one after another, each extending ten times further than the previous. The fearless devotee of the Lord penetrates each one of them and ultimately reaches the absolute atmosphere where everything is of one and the same spiritual identity. Then the devotee enters one of the Vaikuṇṭha planets, where he assumes exactly the same form as the Lord and engages in the loving transcendental service of the Lord. That is the highest perfection of devotional life. Beyond this there is nothing to be desired or achieved by the perfect yogī." (SB, Canto 2 Ch 2 Text 28 Purport)

Srimad Bhagavatam - "The dimensions of the universe (Brahmanda) are estimated here. The outer covering is made of layers of water, air, fire, sky, ego and mahat-tattva, and each layer is ten times greater than the one previous. The space within the hollow of the (Brahmanda) universe cannot be measured by any human scientist or anyone else, and beyond the hollow there are seven coverings, each one ten times greater than the one preceding it. The layer of water is ten times greater than the diameter of the universe, and the layer of fire is ten times greater than that of water. Similarly, the layer of air is ten times greater than that of fire. These dimensions are all inconceivable to the tiny brain of a human being." (SB, Canto 3 Ch 26 Text 52)

Srila Prabhupada  - "It is understood from this verse that all the planets in outer space are floating, and they all hold living entities. The word svasatam means "those who breathe," or the living entities. In order to accommodate them, there are innumerable planets. Every planet is a residence for innumerable living entities, and the necessary space is provided in the sky by the supreme order of the Lord." (SB, Canto 3 Ch 29 Text 43)