There are 2 kalpas in Brahma's full day of 24 hours.
1 kalpa for his "12 hour" day-light hours.
1 kalpa for his "12 hour" night-time hours.
A maha-yuga, also known as a Catur-yuga and Dvipa-yuga, is a cycle of 4 yugas.
Satya- yuga,
Treta-yuga,
Dvapara-yuga,
Kali-yuga.
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Krsna come in the 28th maha-yuga in the 7th Vaivasvata Manu (current) just "once" in Brahma's 24 hour day, only during the "day-light" hours when the 1000 maha-yugas occur.
Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Caitanya come only once in a day of Brahma which is every 8 billion 640 million human years.
There appearance to this universe is extremely very, very rare.
We have already passed through 6 Manvantara's in Brahma's 12 hour "day-light" period that each have 71 maha-yugas in them.
So, presently we are in the 460th maha-yuga in Brahma's day-light period out of the 1000 maha-yugas within his day, making it around 11.40 am late morning.
The Manvantara's are created by a particular Manu who are created by Brahma.
Manuvantara is the Vedic progenitor of humanity, an astronomical period of time measurement.
Manvantara is a sanskrit word that means the duration of a Manu, or his life span.
As said above, each Manvantara is created and ruled by a specific Manu, who in turn is created by Lord Brahma, the Creator of each individual material universe that are deep inside their surrounding universal egg shaped shell called Brahmanda.
There are billions of massive Brahmanda universes coming from Maha-Visnu, each having a "secondary smaller material universe" inside of them where Garbhodakashayi Visnu and Brahma reside.
There is only one Maha-Visnu but there are billions of Garbhodakashayi Visnus and Lord Brahmas.
All Brahmanda egg shaped greater universes comes from the pores of Maha-Visnu's Body and from His breathing.
Each Brahmanda universe has a "secondary material universe" inside of them where Maha-Visnu expands as Garbhodakashayi Visnu.
Srila Prabhupāda - "The sun is the source of light for all the planets in the universe. The modern scientific theory which states that there are many suns in each universe is not supported by this verse. It is understood that in each universe there is only one sun, which supplies light to all the planets. In Bhagavad-gītā the moon is also stated to be one of the stars. There are many stars, and when we see them glittering at night we can understand that they are reflectors of light; just as moonlight is a reflection of sunlight, other planets also reflect sunlight, and there are many other planets which cannot be seen by our naked eyes." (SB, Canto 3 Ch 15 Text 2, Purport)
Srila Prabhupāda - "At a certain time, the Personality of Godhead, Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu (Maha-Visnu), lies in the Kāraṇa Ocean and produces many thousands of universes from His breathing; then He enters again into each and every universe as Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. material universe inside their Brahmanda that are all different sizes, our material universe has 14 planetary systems in it.
The billions of Brahma's in other "secondary universes" have a different number of heads, ours has four heads, others have 10 or 100 or 1000 or even 10,000 even 10 million! All depending on the size of their material universe.
Srila Prabhupada - "Caitanya Mahāprabhu cited an incident from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in which Brahmā, the lord of the universe, came to see Kṛṣṇa at Dvārakā.
When Brahmā approached Kṛṣṇa, the doorman informed Kṛṣṇa that Brahmā had arrived to see Him. Upon hearing this, Kṛṣṇa inquired as to which Brahmā had come, and the doorman returned to Brahmā and asked,
"Which Brahmā are you? Kṛṣṇa has asked."
Brahmā was struck with wonder. Why did Kṛṣṇa ask such a question? He informed the doorman,
"Please tell Him that Brahmā, who is the father of the four Kumāras and who has four heads, has come to see Him."
The doorman informed Kṛṣṇa and then asked Brahmā inside. Brahmā offered his obeisances unto the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, and after receiving him with all honor, Kṛṣṇa inquired about the purpose of his visit.
"I shall tell You of my purpose in coming here," Lord Brahmā replied, "but first I have a doubt which I ask You to kindly remove. Your doorman told me that You asked which Brahmā has come to see You. May I inquire if there are other Brahmās besides me?"
Upon hearing this, Kṛṣṇa smiled and at once called for many Brahmās from many universes.
The four-headed Brahmā then saw many other Brahmās coming to see Kṛṣṇa and to offer their respects. Some of them had ten heads, some had twenty, some had a hundred and some even had a million heads.
Indeed, the four-headed Brahmā could not even count the Brahmās who were coming to offer their obeisances to Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa then called many other demigods from various universes, and they all came to offer their respects to the Lord.
Upon seeing this wonderful exhibition, the four-headed Brahmā became nervous and began to think of himself as no more than a mosquito in the midst of many elephants.
Since so many demigods were offering obeisances unto the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, Brahmā concluded that the unlimited potency of Kṛṣṇa could not be estimated.
All the helmets of the various demigods and Brahmās shone brightly in the great assembly, and the prayers of the demigods made a great sound.
"Dear Lord," the demigods said, "it is Your great mercy that You have called us to see You. Is there any particular order? If so, we will carry it out at once."
"There is nothing especially required of you," Lord Kṛṣṇa replied. "I only wanted to see you together at one time. I offer My blessing to you. Don't fear the demons."
"By Your mercy, everything is all right," they all replied. "There are no disturbances at present, for by Your incarnation everything inauspicious is vanquished."
As each of the Brahmās saw Kṛṣṇa, each thought that He was only within his universe. After this incident, Kṛṣṇa wished all the Brahmās farewell, and after offering respects to Him, they returned to their respective universes.
Upon seeing this, the four-headed Brahmā at once fell down at the feet of Kṛṣṇa and said, "What I thought about You at first was all nonsensical.
Everyone may say that they know You in perfection, but as far as I am concerned, I cannot begin to conceive how great You are. You are beyond my conception and understanding."
"This particular universe is only four thousand million miles broad,"
Kṛṣṇa then informed him, "but there are many millions and billions of universes which are far, far greater than this one.
Some of these are many trillions of miles broad, and all these universes require strong Brahmās, not just four-headed."
Kṛṣṇa further informed Brahmā,
"This material creation is only a quarter manifestation of My creative potency. Three quarters of My creative potency is in the spiritual kingdom."
After offering obeisances, the four-headed Brahma parted from Kṛṣṇa, and he could understand the meaning of the Lord's "three-quarters energy."
The Lord is therefore known as Tryadhīśvara, a name indicating His principal abodes—Gokula, Mathurā and Dvārakā.
These three abodes are full of opulences, and Lord Kṛṣṇa is the master of them all. Situated in His transcendental potency, Lord Kṛṣṇa is master of all transcendental energies, and He is full with six opulences.
Because He is master of all opulences, all Vedic literatures acclaim Kṛṣṇa to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Lord Caitanya then sang a nice song about the opulences of Kṛṣṇa, and Sanātana Gosvāmī listened.
"All the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa are exactly like the activities of human beings," the Lord sang.
"Therefore it is to be understood that His form is like that of a human being. Indeed, a human being is but an imitation of His form. Kṛṣṇa's dress is just like that of a cowherd boy's.
He has a flute in His hand, and He seems to be just like a newly grown youth. He is always playful, and He plays just like an ordinary boy."
Lord Caitanya then told Sanātana Gosvāmī about the beautiful aspects of Kṛṣṇa. He said that one who understands these beautiful qualities enjoys an ocean of nectar.
The yogamāyā potency of Kṛṣṇa is transcendental and beyond the material energy, but the Lord exhibits His transcendental potency even within this material world just to satisfy His confidential devotees.
Thus He appears in the material world to satisfy His devotees, and His qualities are so attractive that Kṛṣṇa Himself becomes eager to understand Himself.
When He is fully decorated and stands with His body curved in three ways—His eyebrows always moving and His eyes so attractive—the gopīs become enchanted.
His spiritual abode is at the top of the spiritual sky, and He resides there with His associates, the cowherd boys, the gopīs, and all the goddesses of fortune. It is there that He is known as Madana-mohana.
There are many different pastimes of Kṛṣṇa—such as His pastimes in the forms of Vāsudeva and Saṅkarṣaṇa—and in the material sky His pastimes are carried on as the first puruṣa incarnation, the creator of the material world.
There are also pastimes in which He incarnates as a fish or a tortoise, and there are pastimes in which He takes the forms of Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, as incarnations of the material qualities.
In His pastimes as an empowered incarnation, He takes the form of King Pṛthu, and He also carries on His pastimes as the Supersoul in everyone's heart and as the impersonal Brahman as well.
Although He has innumerable pastimes, the most important is that of Kṛṣṇa in human form frolicking in Vṛndāvana, dancing with the gopīs, playing with the Pāṇḍavas on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra and playing in Mathurā and Dvārakā.
Of His important pastimes in human form, the most important are those pastimes in which He appears as a cowherd boy, a newly grown youth who plays a flute.
It is to be understood that a mere partial manifestation of His pastimes in Goloka, Mathurā and Dvārāvatī, or Dvārakā, can overflood the whole universe with love of Godhead. Every living entity can be attracted by the beautiful qualities of Kṛṣṇa.
The manifestation of His internal potency is not even exhibited in the kingdom of God or on the planets of Vaikuṇṭha, but He does exhibit that internal potency within the universe when, through His inconceivable mercy, He descends from His personal abode.
Kṛṣṇa is so wonderful and attractive that He Himself becomes attracted by His own beauty, and this is proof that He is full of all inconceivable potencies.
As far as Kṛṣṇa's ornaments are concerned, when they decorate His body it appears that they do not beautify Him, but the ornaments themselves become beautiful simply by being on His body.
When He stands in a three-curved way, He attracts all living entities, including the demigods. Indeed, He even attracts the Nārāyaṇa form which presides in each and every Vaikuṇṭha planet." (Teachings of Lord Caitanya (1975), Ch 9)
Our Brahmanda is massive, it is over 44 quadrillion, 444 trillion, 444 billion miles in diameter and our inner secondary universe is said to be 4 billion miles in diameter according the 5th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam.
Within our secondary universe inside or Brahmanda, each Manvantara lasts the lifetime of a Manu, upon whose death, Brahma creates another Manu to continue the cycle of Creation or Shristi, Krsna's expansion Lord Visnu on his part manifests a new Avatar.
Fourteen Manus and their respective Manvantaras constitute one Kalpa, Aeon, or a "Day of Brahma," according to the Vedic time cycles.
Thereafter, at the end of each Kalpa, there is a period - same as Kalpa - of dissolution or Pralaya, wherein the world (earth and all life forms, but not the entire universe itself) is destroyed and lies in a state of rest, which is called the, "Night of Brahma."
After that Brahma who creates our single universe, starts his cycle of creation all over again, in an endless cycle of creation followed by absorption (annihilation) for which Siva, the demigod of absorption and annihilation of this universe, and also renewal, is invoked towards the end of each such cycle.
Duration of a Manvantara
The actual duration of a Manvantara according to the Visnu Purana is seventy one times the number of years contained in the four Yugas, with some additional years.
Seven Rishis, certain (secondary) divinities, Indra, Manu, the king and his sons, are created and perish in one interval (called a Manvantara) equal to seventy-one times the number of years contained in the four Yugas, also with some additional years.
Fourteen times this period constitutes a Bráhma's day.
The following table illustrates the difference to our human year compared to Brahma's year.
One 24 hour day of Brahma = 8 billion 640 million human years.
71 Maya-yugas = 1 Manvantaram (1 life span of Manu)
14 Manvantaras = 1 kalpa (1 day of Brahma)
2 Kalpas = 1 day and 1 night 24 hour period + 1 Brahma ratra.
360 days of Brahma = 1 Brahma varsha.
Comparison to the Age of the material universe from modern astronomy.
Modern scientific astronomy estimates the Age of the universe as around 13 Billion years.
Conversion of 1 day-night of Brahma into human years yields 8.58816, 109 years (derived as 2 kalpas, 14 Manvantaras, 71 Maha-yugas, 12,000 Deva vatsaras, 360 human years)
According to Vedas, there are 504 000 Manus manifested during the lifetime of one Brahmā (311,040,000,000,000 human Earthly years), 5,040 Manus in one year of Brahma, and 420 Manus in one month of Brahma.
Manus of the Śveta Vārāha Kalpa
Manvantara № Name of Manu for manvantara:
Manvantara-avatara name:
1 - Svayambhuva Manu Yajna
2 - Svarocisha Manu Vibhu
3 - Uttama Manu Satyasena
4 -Tapasa Manu Hari
5 - Raivata Manu Vaikuntha
6 - Cakshusha Manu Ajita
7 - Vaivasvata Manu (current) Vamana
8 - Savarni Manu Sarvabhauma
9 - Daksha-savarni Manu Rishabha
10 - Brahma-savarni Manu Vishvaksena
11 - Dharma-savarni Manu Dharmasetu
12 - Rudra-savarni Manu Sudama
13 - Deva-savarni Manu Yogesvara
14 - Indra-savarni Manu Brihadbhanu
First Manvantara - the interval of Swayambhu Manu
Saptarshis (सप्तर्षि): Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya, and Vashishtha.
Svayambhuve—in the Svayambhuva-manvantara; yajna—the avatara named Yajna:
In the Svayambhuva manvantara, the Avatar is named Yajna.
The first Manu was Svayambhuva Manu. His two daughters, namely Akuti and Devahuti, gave birth to two sons, named Yajna and Kapila respectively.
Svayambhuva Manu, along with his wife, Satarupa, went into the forest to practice austerities on the bank of the River Sunanda.
At some point in time, Rakshasas and asuras attacked them, but Yajna, accompanied by his sons the Yamas and the demigods, killed them.
Then Yajna personally took the post of Indra, the King of the heavenly planets.
Second Manvantara - the interval of Swarochisha Manu
Urjastambha, Agni, Prańa, Danti, Rishabha, Nischara, and Charvarivan. In the Svarocisha-manvantara, avatara is named Vibhu.
The second Manu, whose name was Svarocisha, was the son of Agni, and His sons were headed by Dyumat, Sushena and Rochishmat.
In the age of this Manu, Rochana became Indra, the ruler of the heavenly planets, and there were many demigods, headed by Tushita.
There were also many saintly persons, such as Urjastambha. Among them was Vedasira, whose wife, Tushita, gave birth to Vibhu.
Vibhu instructed eighty-eight thousand dridha-vratas, or saintly persons, on self-control and austerity.
Third Manvantara - the interval of Uttama Manu.
Sons of Vashista: Kaukundihi, Kurundi, Dalaya, Śankha, Praváhita, Mita, and Sammita.
In the Uttama-manvantara, He (avatara) is named Satyasena.
Uttama, the son of Priyavrata, was the third Manu.
Among his sons were Pavana, Srinjaya and Yajnahotra. During the reign of this Manu, the sons of Vashista, headed by Pramada, became the seven saintly persons.
The Satyas, Devasrutas and Bhadras became the demigods, and Sushanti became Indra.
From the womb of Sunrita, the wife of Dharma, the Lord appeared as Satyasena, and He killed all the Yakshas and Rakshasas who were fighting with Satyajit.
Fourth Manvantara - the interval of Tapasa/Tamasa Manu
Jyotirdhama, Prithu, Kavya, Chaitra, Agni, Vanaka, and Pivara.
In the Tapasa-manvantara, He (Visnu) is named Hari.
He is named Tapasa because he was born during Tapassu (deep meditation)
Tapasa/Tamasa, the brother of the third Manu, was the fourth Manu, and he had ten sons, including Prithu, Khyati, Nara and Ketu.
During his reign, the Satyakas, Haris, Viras and others were demigods, the seven great saints were headed by Jyotirdhama, and Trisikha became Indra.
Harimedha begot a son named Hari by his wife Harini. Hari saved the devotee Gajendra. This incident known as gajendra-mokshana.
Fifth Manvantara - the interval of Raivata Manu
Hirannyaroma, Vedasrí, Urddhabahu, Vedabahu, Sudhaman, Parjanya, and Mahámuni.
In the Raivata-manvantara, the avatara is named Vaikuntha.
Vaikuntha came as Raivata Manu, the twin brother of Tamasa. His sons were headed by Arjuna, Bali and Vindhya.
Among the demigods were the Bhutarayas, and among the seven brahmanas who occupied the seven planets were Hiranyaroma, Vedasira and Urdhvabahu.
Sixth Manvantara - the interval of Chakshusha Manu
Sumedhas, Virajas, Havishmat, Uttama, Madhu, Abhináman, and Sahishnnu. In the Chakshusha-manvantara, avatara is named Ajita.
Ajita came as Chakshsusa Manu, the son of the demigod Chakshu. He had many sons, headed by Puru, Purusa and Sudyumna.
During the reign of Chakshusa Manu, the King of heaven was known as Mantradruma. Among the demigods were the Apyas, and among the great sages were Havisman and Viraka.
The present, seventh Manvantara - the interval of Vaivasvata Manu
Kashyapa, Atri, Vashista, Vishvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, Bharadvaja.[9] In the Vaivasvata manvantara, He (Avatara) is named Vamana
The seventh Manu, who is the son of Vivasvan, is known as Sraddhadeva
He has ten sons, named Iksvaku, Nabhaga, Dhrsta, Saryati, Narisyanta, Dista, Tarusa, Prsadhra and Vasuman.
In this manvantara, or reign of Manu, among the demigods are the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Visvedevas, Maruts, Asvini-kumaras and Rbhus.
The king of heaven, Indra, is known as Purandara, and the seven sages are known as Kashyap, Atri, Vashista, Vishwamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni and Bharadwaj.
During this period of Manu, Vishnu appears from the womb of Aditi in his incarnation as the son of Kashyap.
Eighth (Future) - Savarni Manu
Diptimat, Galava, Parasurama, Kripa, Drauni or Ashwatthama, Vyasa, and Rishyasringa.
In the Savarnya manvantara, He (avatara) is named Sarvabhauma.
In the period of the eighth Manu, the Manu is Surya Savarnika Manu. His sons are headed by Nirmoka, and among the demigods are the Sutapas.
Bali, the son of Virochana, is Indra, and Galava and Parasurama are among the seven sages.
In this age of Manu, the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears as Sarvabhauma, the son of Devaguhya and Sarasvati.
Nineth - Daksa Savarni Manu
Savana, Dyutimat, Bhavya, Vasu, Medhatithi, Jyotishmán, and Satya. In the Daksha savarnya manvantara, He (avatara) is named Rishabha.
In the period of the ninth Manu, the Manu is Daksha-savarni. His sons are headed by Bhutaketu, and among the demigods are the Maricigarbhas.
Adbhuta is Indra, and among the seven sages is Dyutiman. In this period of Manu, the incarnation Rishabha is born of Ayushman and Ambudhara.
Tenth - Brahma Savarni Manu
Havishmán, Sukriti, Satya, Apámmúrtti, Nábhága, Apratimaujas, and Satyaket.
In the Brahma savarnya manvantara, the avatara is named Vishvaksena.
In the period of the tenth Manu, the Manu is Brahma-savarni.
Among his sons is Bhurishena, and the seven sages are Havishman and others.
Among the demigods are the Suvasanas, and Sambhu is Indra.
The incarnation in this period of Manu is Vishvaksena, who is a friend of Sambhu and who is born from the womb of Vishuci in the house of a brahmana named Visvasrashta.
Eleventh - Dharma Savarni Manu
Niśchara, Agnitejas, Vapushmán, Vishńu, Áruni, Havishmán, and Anagha. In the Dharma-savarnya, He (avatara) is named Dharmasetu.
In the period of the eleventh Manu, the Manu is Dharma-savarni, who has ten sons, headed by Satyadharma.
Among the demigods are the Vihangamas, Indra is known as Vaidhrita, and the seven sages are Aruna and others.
In this manvantara, the incarnation is Dharmasetu, who is born of Vaidhrita and Aryaka.
Twelfth - Rudra Savarni Manu
Tapaswí, Sutapas, Tapomúrtti, Taporati, Tapodhriti, Tapodyuti, and Tapodhan.
In the Rudra-savarnya He (avatara) is named Sudhama.
In the period of the twelfth Manu, the Manu is Rudra-savarni, whose sons are headed by Devavan.
The demigods are the Haritas and others, Indra is Ritadhama, and the seven sages are Tapomurti and others.
The incarnation in this manvantara is Sudhama, or Svadhama, who is born from the womb of Sunrita. His father's name is Satyasaha.
Thirteenth - Raucya or Deva Savarni Manu.
Nirmoha, Tatwadersín, Nishprakampa, Nirutsuka, Dhritimat, Avyaya, and Sutapas.
In the Deva-savarnya, He (avatara) is named Yogesvara.
In the period of the thirteenth Manu, the Manu is Deva-savarni. Among his sons is Chitrasena, the demigods are the Sukarmas and others, Indra is Divaspati, and Nirmoka is among the sages.
The manvantara-avatara is Yogeshwara, who is born of Devahotra and Brihati.
Fourteenth - Indra Savarni Manu
Agnibáhu, Śuchi, Śhukra, Magadhá, Gridhra, Yukta, and Ajita.
In the Indra savarnya manvantara, the avatara is named Brihadbhanu.
In the period of the fourteenth Manu, the Manu is Indra-savarni. Among his sons are Uru and Gambhira, the demigods are the Pavitras and others, Indra is Suci, and among the sages are Agni and Bahu.
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu comes to this world every 8 billion 640 million years which is how long one 24 hour day and night of Lord Brahma takes to pass.
Further more Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu only appears during the day-time between "sunrise and sunset" which is also when all the 1000 Maha-yugas take place.
There are no Maha-yugas at night between "sunset and sunrise" of Brahma's 24 hour day.
A Maha-yuga (also known as a Catur-yuga and Dvipa-yuga) is cycle of 4 Yugas.
Satya-yuga,
Treta-yuga,
Dvapara-yuga,
Kali-yuga.
Lord Caitanya comes at the beginning of just "one" Kali-yuga out of every thousand.
So lets understand a day-night 24 hour period of Lord Brahma.
Every 24 hour day equals 2 Kalpas.
1 - There is ''one kalpa'' for a "sunrise to sunset" day time that also has all the 1000 Maha-yugas in it.
2 - There is also ''one kalpa'' for "sunset to sunrise" night time period of Lord Brahma where no Maha-yugas exist.
Presently we are in 28 Maha-yugas within the 7th Manu named ''Vaivasvata'' out of 14 Manu's that exist during Brahma's day-time only.
None exist during his night time.
There are 71 Maha-yugas within each of the 14 Manus.
This means Brahma's day has already gone through the first 7 Manu's plus the first 28 Maha-yugas of the 8 Manu we are in equalling 525 maha-yugas into Brahma's day.
This means it is about 11.40 am in Brahma's late morning period of the day.
This further means the 1000 Maha-yugas in Brahma's day-time only occurs from "sunrise to sunset" or during the day-time that takes 4 billion 320 million human years to pass.
During Brahma's night from sunset to sunrise, no Maha-yugas take place while Brahma sleeps and a partial annihilation takes place.
This "sunset to sunrise" is also 4 billion 320 million human years long.
One 24 hours full day of Brahma is 2 kalpas and takes 8 billion 640 million human years to pass through.
So presently as explained, we have already passed through the previous 6 Manvantaras in Brahma's day and are now into the 7th Manu out of 14 Manu.
All 14 Manus have 71 Maha-yugas in them.
And this is just one day of Lord Brahma only.
Brahma lives for 311 trillion 40 billion human years then dies, then there is another 311 trillion 40 billion human years of inactivity until another Brahma manifests.
All souls not qualified to go back to Godhead are stored in the Body of Maha-Visnu as individual units until the next creation of this single universe by the next Brahma.
There are millions of universes and Brahmas other than ours that are also deep inside a Brahmanda that all come from the body of Maha-Visnu.
Then they carry on and get another material body according to the combination of their karma and material desires from where they left off in the previous Brahma's creation in this universe inside our Brahmanda.
The dimensions of our material universe are estimated here by Srila Prabhupada.
As the painting below reveals, within the "hollow" of our outer material universe (Brahmanda), there is found a "secondary material universe" managed by Garbhodakashayi Visnu and Brahma.
The outer covering is made of layers of
water,
air,
fire,
sky,
ego,
mahat-tattva.
Each layer is ten times greater than the one previous. The space within the hollow of the universe (Brahmanda greater universal covering of our smaller inner 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.
Srimad Bhagavatam - "This universal egg (Brahmanda) 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 (Garbhodakashayi Visnu), of whose body the fourteen planetary systems are parts." (SB, Canto 3 Ch 26 Text 52, Translation)
Srila Prabhupāda - "This material universe, or the universal sky which we can visualize with its innumerable planets, is shaped just like an egg. As an egg is covered by a shell, the universe is also covered by various layers. The first layer is water, the next is fire, then air, then sky, and the ultimate holding crust is pradhāna.
Within this egglike universe is the universal form of the Lord as the virāṭ-puruṣa. All the different planetary situations are parts of His body. This is already explained in the beginning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Second Canto. The planetary systems are considered to form different bodily parts of that universal form of the Lord. Persons who cannot directly engage in the worship of the transcendental form of the Lord are advised to think of and worship this universal form.
The lowest planetary system, Pātāla, is considered to be the sole of the Supreme Lord, and the earth is considered to be the belly of the Lord. Brahmaloka, or the highest planetary system, where Brahmā lives, is considered to be the head of the Lord.
This virāṭ-puruṣa is considered an incarnation of the Lord. The original form of the Lord is Kṛṣṇa, as confirmed in Brahma-saṁhitā: ādi-puruṣa. The virāṭ-puruṣa is also puruṣa, but He is not ādi-puruṣa. The ādi-puruṣa is Kṛṣṇa. Īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ/ anādir ādir govindaḥ (BS 5.1).
In Bhagavad-gītā Kṛṣṇa is also accepted as the ādi-puruṣa, the original. Kṛṣṇa says, "No one is greater than I."
There are innumerable expansions of the Lord, and all of them are puruṣas, or enjoyers, but neither the virāṭ-puruṣa nor the puruṣa-avatāras,
Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu (Maha-Visnu),
Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu (Hiraņyagarbha),
Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu (Paramatma or Super-Soul), are the original (only Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes.
In each material universe within the Brahmanda, there are Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, the virāṭ-puruṣa and Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. The active manifestation of the virāṭ-puruṣa is described here.
Persons who are in the lower grade of understanding regarding the Supreme Personality of Godhead may think of the universal form of the Lord, for that is advised in the Bhāgavatam.
The dimensions of the universe 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 (inner secondary universe) of the outer Brahmanda universe, cannot be measured by any human scientist or anyone else.
And beyond (surrounding) the hollow (inner "secondary material universe" - see painting below) 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 egglike universe. There are innumerable material universes besides this one, and some of them are many, many times greater.
It is considered, in fact, that this material universe (the Brahmanda and its inner secondary universe inside the hollow) 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, was thunderstruck.
That is the inconceivable potency of the Lord. No one can measure the length and breadth of God by speculation or by false identification with God. These attempts are symptoms of lunacy." (SB, Canto 3 Ch 26 Text 52, Purport)
PAINTING BELOW - Deep inside each Brahmanda universe created by Maha-Visnu, is found a "secondary" universe managed by Garbhodakashayi Visnu and Brahma.
For the creation of the material creation there are three Visnu expansions.
1 - Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu (Maha-Visnu)
2 - Garbhodakashayi Visnu (Hiraņyagarbha)
3 - Kshirodakashayi Visnu (Paramatma or Super-Soul)
Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu (Maha-Visnu) creates innumerable massive universes known as Brahmandas.
He lies down in the Causal Ocean on the bed of Ananta Sesha (a snake looking expansion of also Lord Balarama) and initiates the creation by glancing at His personified material energy, Maya.
From Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu (Maha-Visnu) comes the other two Visnus, Garbhodakashayi Visnu (Hiraņyagarbha) and Kshirodakashayi Visnu (Paramatma)
Maha-Visnu creates the innumerable "Brahmanda universes" of various sizes, our Brahmanda universe is small compared to others and is said to be 44 quadrillion 444 trillion 444 billion miles in diameter, or double that size if measured from the outer edge of the inner secondary material universe inside it.
Maha-Visnu as Garbhodakashayi Visnu then enters into each "secondary universe" that is deep inside of each massive Brahmanda universe coming from Maha-Visnu.
From His naval a lotus stem grows and a lotus flower appears at its end where Lord Brahma resides.
Our Lord Brahma has 4 heads making our inner universe very small at only 4 billion miles in diameter.
Other Lord Brahmas in other universes inside their Brahmanda have 10 or 100 or 1000, 10,000, 1000,000 or more heads!
This means the Brahmanda universe encasing our inner material universe is very small compared to other Brahmanda universes.
Ksirodakashayi Visnu (Paramatma) accompanies all jiva-souls who enter the material creation and sits with each jiva-soul in the heart area of the material bodily vessel as Supersoul and also enters into every atom in the material creation.
Wherever their is Ksirodakashayi Visnu, who is also known as Paramatma or Super Soul, there is the jiva-tattva or individual jiva-soul.
There is NOT only one material universe, there are many millions of material universes and each has a secondary universe inside it where Garbhodakashayi Visnu, Brahma and many planetary systems are found.
Srila Prabhupada - "Jagat means this material world. That is being maintained by one of His plenary portions, which is called Paramātmā. Or Garbhodakaśayī Viṣṇu, or Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. So one portion of His plenary portion, He is within the material world. A material world means within the universe. Aṇḍāntara-stham. Aṇḍa, brahmāṇḍa means this universe. This is not only one universe, but there are many millions of universes. So He's there. Advaitam acyutam anādim ananta-rūpam (Bs. 5.33). And aṇḍāntara-stham: He is within the universe.
Aṇḍāntara-stha-paramāṇu-cayāntara-stham: (Bs. 5.35) and He is within the atom also. Just, just imagine expansion of God. So advaitam acyutam anādim ananta-rūpam ādyaṁ purāṇa-puruṣaṁ nava-yauvanaṁ ca. Although He's the oldest of all, you'll find Kṛṣṇa always a young man. He's, from His face, we'll find a young boy, twenty to twenty-five years." (Lecture Brahma-samhita, Verse 33 - Stockholm, Sept 6, 1973, Upsala University)
Brahmāṇḍa also means all over the universe. The spirit soul is sometimes in one species of life; sometimes he's another species of life. Sometimes he is in this planet; sometimes another planet.
Srila Prabhupada - "The jiva-soul has not developed from the material body, but the body has developed from the jiva-soul. Just the opposite. The material scientists, they think that combination of these physical elements creates a situation where is..., when there is living, life symptoms. No. That is not. The real is that, fact is, that the spirit soul is there. They are wandering all over the universe. Brahmāṇḍa brahman. Brahmāṇḍa means all over the universe. The spirit soul is sometimes in one species of life; sometimes he's another species of life. Sometimes he is in this planet; sometimes another planet. In this way, according to his karma, he is wandering. That is his material life. So ei rūpe brahmāṇḍa bhramite." (CC Madhya 19.151) mm
He is loitering, wandering without any aim. "What is the aim of life? Why I have put into this condition, accepting this material body, the source of all miseries?"—these questions should be asked.
This is called brahma-jijñāsā. And that should be answered properly. Then our life will be successful." (Lecture SB, Canto 3 Ch 26 Text 29 - Bombay, Jan 6, 1975)
The living entities (jiva-souls) are rotating in different species of life, in different planetary system, all over the universe, brahmāṇḍa. Means a living entity can go anywhere, hell, heaven, as he likes, as he prepares himself.
Srila Prabhupāda - "So here Parīkṣit Mahārāja is asking, adhunā, now, iha mahā-bhāga. A Vaiṣṇava is addressed as mahā-bhāga. Bhāga means fortunate. One who becomes Vaiṣṇava, God conscious, he is to be understood as great fortunate.
Caitanya Mahāprabhu, therefore, has said that ei rūpe brahmāṇḍa kono bhāgyavān jīva, guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja (CC Madhya 19.151). The living entities (jiva-souls) are rotating in different species of life, in different planetary system, all over the universe, brahmāṇḍa, meaning a living entity can go anywhere, hell, heaven, as he likes, as he prepares himself.
So there are many heavenly planets, many hellish planets, many species of life, not only planets. This is varieties, 8,400,000 species of life. So a living entity is rotating, wandering.
According to the type of mentality he's creating in the present life, he's getting next life similar body. "As you sow, so you reap." This is going on.
So therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, ei rūpe brahmāṇḍa brahmite. The living entity (jiva-soul) is rotating." (Lecture SB, Canto 6 Ch 1 Text 6-8 - New York, July 21, 1971)
Srila Prabhupāda - "So we are completely under the clutches of material nature, and this is going on. And Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu therefore said,
ei rūpe brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja. (CC Madhya 19.151)
In this way we are loitering throughout the whole universe in different planetary system, in different species of life, in different country, different, according to our karma. Brahmāṇḍa bhramite. Brahmāṇḍa means within the universe.
They are trying to go to the upper planetary system, and they can go. There is no difficulty. Yānti deva-vratā devān pitṟn yānti (BG 9.25). But you have to properly prepare.
Not that because you have got one sputnik or airplane you can go by force. That is not possible. This is all rascaldom. This is not possible.
But you can go if you prepare yourself. You can go even back to home, back to Godhead. Mad-yājino 'pi yānti mām. So there is every possibility.
Now this is the crucial point of human form of life. We can go in the higher planetary system, we can go in the lower planetary system, we can stay where we are, or even we like we can go back to home, back to Godhead." (Arrival Address - New York City, July 9, 1976)
Source of knowledge is the Srimad Bhagavatam also known as the Bhagavat Purnana by Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.^*^..
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