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)
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