"There are no new jiva-souls." Srila Prabhupada - "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 dasa 7/9/1970)

Beware of Wikipedia comments, many contributors are nonsense.

Maha-Visnu does NOT create any jiva-souls as some big sannyasis and gurus foolishly believe.

The jiva-souls have to go to Maha-Visnu to aquire a material bodily vessel so they can enter the material creation.

No jiva-soul originates from Maha-Visnu as some sangas and their gurus wrongly teach.

Srila Prabhupada – Regarding your 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 dasa 7/9/1970)

Therefore, all jiva-souls are beginningless and endless, they were NEVER created not even by Krsna, they exist always together like the Sun-disc and the sun-rays. Krsna is like the Sun-disc who maintains all the sun-rays (jiva-souls)

As Bhagavad Gita As It Is correct 1983 edition Chapter 2 text 20 reveals-

"For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain." (BG Ch 2 text 20)

Srila Prabhupada - "Because he stays dormantly merged into the Body of Maha-Visnu after the dissolution of the material universes (Brahmandas), he thinks Maha-Visnu is his origin, or when one falls down from Brahma-sayujya (impersonal Brahmajyoti), he also thinks that this impersonal Brahmajyoti may be his origin, but he does not remember that long, long, long before that, he was with Krsna." (letter to Madhudvisa Swami, July 1972 Melb, Australia)

Srila Prabhupada - "In the broader sense, everyone comes from Krsnaloka (Goloka-Vrindavana). When one forgets Krsna, he is conditioned (nitya-baddha), when one remembers Krsna he is liberated (nitya-siddha)." (Letter to Mukunda, June 10, 1969)

Srila Prabhupada - "The planets are called "dvīpas", just like there are islands in the watery ocean, these planets are in the ocean of outer space." (CC Madhya 20.218, Purport)

The massive material universes (Brahmandas) coming from Maha-Visnu each have a smaller secondary universes deep inside them.

These secondary universes within each Brahmanda universe, are created by Maha-Visnu's expansion, Garbhodakashayi Visnu.

All the massive greater Brahmanda universes that originate from Maha Visnu's Body, cover and encase the inner smaller secondary universe within each Brahmanda.

Our small secondary universe is called Bhu-Mandala and has 14 planetary systems according to Srimad Bhagavatam's 5th Canto, and is 4 billion miles (500,000,000 Yojanas) in diameter.

One yojana equals 8 miles.

Sadaputa dasa ACBSP (Richard L. Thompson) earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from Cornell University. He is the author of several books on Vedic Cosmology explain what Bhu-Mandala is-

"In the Bhagavatam, Bhu Mandala—the "earth mandala" (not to be confused with our small earth globe), is a disk 500 million yojanas in diameter.

Our small earth global round sphere is only 24,901 miles in circumference and is 7,917.5 miles in diameter.

Therefore our small earth globe is NOT Bhu-Mandala that is described in Srimad Bhagavatam as 500 million yojanas in diameter (4 billion miles in diameter or 12.6 billion miles in circumference)

As said above, a yojana is a unit of distance that is about 8 miles long, and so the diameter of Bhu Mandala is about 4 billion miles which is the size of our single universe according to Srimad Bhagavatam.

Bhu-Mandala is marked by circular features designated as islands (dvipas that can also mean planets) and oceans.

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)

Bhu-Mandala is far too big to be our small earth globe Sadaputa has explained.

Our secondary single universe with its 14 planetary Systems would therefore fit in the circumference of Bhu-Mandala. (4 billion miles or 500,000,000 Yojanas in diameter)

Sadaputa dasa - "Bhu-Mandala innermost island, Jambudvipa, contains Bharata-varsha which Srila Prabhupada has repeatedly identified as our earth globe. The first covering of our outer universe (Brahmanda) that surrounds and encases our inner single universe, is earth, then water, then fire, then air, then sky, etc." (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 shell although in other places in Bhagavatam it says water as found in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 26 text 52.

There are many contradictory comments in Srimad Bhagavatam like this that needs further understanding, such as in many texts it says there is 7 layers covering our inner material universe while in other places it says 8 layers.

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 greater universal shells, each with a smaller secondary universe deep inside them that many planetary systems. 

In our Bhu-Mandala universe deep inside our Brahmanda, there are 14 planetary systems.

As said above, all Brahmanda universes originate from the Body of Maha Vishnu as seen in photo below.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 26 text 52 says water is the first layer.

However, most references say the seven layers of the Brahmanda our secondary universe is deep within, begins with earth.

Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 6 Chapter 16 text 37-

"Every universe is covered by seven layers—earth, water, fire, air, sky, the total energy and false ego—each ten times greater than the previous one. 

There are innumerable universes besides this one, and although they are unlimitedly large, they move about like atoms in You. Therefore You are called unlimited [ananta]."

Purport 

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

1 - First is earth,

2 - Second is water,

3 - Third is fire,

4 - Fourth is air,

5 - Fifth is sky,

6 - Sixth is the total material energy known as the mahat-tattva.

7 - 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." (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 on SB 1.2.33 - 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 on BG 13.6-7, Montreal, Oct 25, 1968)

Srila Prabhupada - "So mahat-tattva, the total material energy, and six, five elements, sixteen, sixteen, ṣoḍaśa-kalam.

What are those?

The five elements, namely, earth, water, fire, air, and sense objects and senses and the spirit soul. 

In this way, sixteen. And from sixteen, it expands to twenty-four. That is the explanation of our Vedic creation. Ṣoḍaśa-kalam." (Lecture on SB 1.3.1 - 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 on SB 3.26.11-14, Bombay, Dec 23, 1974)

Srila Prabhupada - "That mahat-tattva is above this universe, above the sky. Above the sky there are seven layers.p 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, there is spiritual world." (Lecture on SB 3.26.10 - 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 world manifests is only one fourth of the Supreme Lord's energy. Therefore He is called ananta."

Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 2 Chapter 2 text 28 Purport-

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 is the earth element, 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 Canto 3 Chapter 29 Text 43-

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 says there are millions of individual Brahmanda universes coming from Maha Vishnu making up the entire material creation (1/4 of the Spiritual Sky) that also house their own inner universe.

All smaller universes inside their Brahmandas are of different sizes, some, like ours, are only 4 billion miles in diameter.

The "4 billion miles (500,000,000 Yojanas)" diameter of our universe with its 14 planetary systems is one of the smallest.

Srila Prabhupada - "We have to imagine that these universes (Brahmandas), which according to our limited knowledge are expanded unlimitedly, are so great that the gross and subtle ingredients—the five elements of the cosmic manifestation, namely 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. 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 inner material individual universe, deep inside our Brahmanda, is surrounded and encased by that Brahmanda. 

So it is impossible to see the millions of other Brahmandas 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.

We cannot see through our Brahmanda's seven thivk material layers of elements that surrounds and encases our smaller secondary material universe, and see the millions of other Brahmanda universes around us, Srila Prabhupada explains.

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 material universe is covered by various layers of material elements. The 7 material 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 material 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)

In the purport in Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 2 Chapter 2 text 28-

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,6,16,37 - "Every material universe is covered by seven layers — earth, water, fire, air, sky, the total energy and false ego — each ten times greater than the previous one. 

There are innumerable universes besides this one, and although they are unlimitedly large, they move about like atoms in You. Therefore You are called unlimited [ananta].

Purport:

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.

From Kṛṣṇa, or Govinda, comes Balarāma; 

from Balarāma comes Saṅkarṣaṇa; 

from Saṅkarṣaṇa, Nārāyaṇa; 

from Nārāyaṇa, the second Saṅkarṣaṇa appears.

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 in 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." (SB Canto 1 Ch 6 text 37)

Srila Prabhupada - "The entire material world manifests only one fourth of the Supreme Lord’s energy. Therefore He is called ananta." (10.42 BG As It Is)

Is the first layer of our outer Brahmanda shell Earth or water?

There is 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 single universe that is deep within it, 8 including our 4 billion miles diameter universe within the greater massive Brahmanda.

The circumference of our small single universe inside the Brahmanda shell is 12.6 billion miles. And within that area 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 is referring to the circumference of our Brahmanda universal shell our single universe is within in following text-

CC Madhya 21.84 - "Kṛṣṇa said, ‘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."

Purport

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, according to some, this is only half the circumference." (CC Madhya 21.84)

This is circumference of our ''Brahmanda universal shell'' that includes our 4 billion mile diameter universe that is deep within it or half its size according to some.

There are 7 layers surrounding our small 4 billion mile diameter ''Bhu-Mandala'' universe that has 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 Bhu-Mandala universe that is very deep within the Brahmanda egg shaped larger ''gigantic'' universe that come from Maha-Visnu along with millions of others.

So just multiply each layer by 10

For example the 4 billion miles diameter Bhu-Mandala = 40 billion.

Then you multiply 40 billion by 10.

Like this for all 7 layers of material elements and it adds up too 44 quadrillion 444 trillion 444 billion miles.

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.

ŚB 3.11.40  - "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."

Purport

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." (ŚB Canto 3 Ch 11 text 40)

ŚB 3.11.41 - "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.

Purport

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." (ŚB Canto 3 Ch 11 text 41)

ŚB 3.11.42 - "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."

Purport

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, based on Srimad-Bhagavatam you can mathematically work out the massive size of our Brahmanda egg shaped universe. 

SB.3,26,52 - "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.

Srimad Bhagavatam - "Within this egg is the universal form of Lord Hari, of whose body the fourteen planetary systems are parts."

Purport

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 Brahmanda universes, which are far greater than this one, Brahmā has more heads inside his inner material universe.

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 3,26,52)

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 6 layers are mentioned and the names change to like Maha tattva is said to be a layer in one purport and ether is not even mentioned in others.

Srila Prabhupada says there are 7 layers 8 including the original 4 billion miles in diameter or 12.6 billion miles in circumference that has 14 planetary systems in the Bhu-Mandala universe.

One can do their own maths, start with the size of our Bhu-Mandala universe.

There are 7 layers of elements, 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)

By adding this up one can come to their own conclusion based on scripture (Srimad Bhagavatam's 5th Canto)

Eight material layers including the inner four billion miles diameter or 12.6 billion miles in circumference that houses our 14 Planetary Systems, is deep inside the Brahmanda egg shaped outer universe that surrounds it.

The full size of our Brahmanda egg shaped universe that has our 4 billion miles diameter Bhu-Mandala smaller universe very deep inside it at its center, originates from the Body of Maha Visnu.

Therefore our Brahmanda is 44 quadrillion 444 trillion 444 billion miles in diameter, or twice that size if measured  on the outer edge of Lord Brahma's inner material universe inside the Brahmanda.

This is what our small Bhu-Mandala universe with its 14 different planetary systems that includes a small earth global sphere is deep within.

Our individual material universe, with its 14 planetary systems, is found deep inside a larger spherical massive Universe called a "Brahmanda" that surrounds and encases our small inner universe found deep within it.

There are billions of Brahmanda's in the material creation.

Our small universe within one of the Brahmandas is known as Bhu-Mandala which is almost 4 billion miles in diameter.

Our massive Brahmanda universe that houses our smaller secondary material universe, looks like a massive egg shaped shell and almost a spherical covering.

It houses and encases our smaller material universe that is deep within it, known as Bhu-Mandala because the 5th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam describes our small universe inside our Brahmanda as almost 4 billion miles in diameter.

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 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 Universe in our Brahmanda is known as Bhu-Mandala which is just a mere 4 billion miles in diameter.

The 14 Planetary Systems are in the stem coming from the Body of Garbhodakashayi Visnu.

This is explained in Srimad Bhagavatam canto 1 Chapter 3 text 2-

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

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?

Answer by the late Sadaputa dasa PhD -

"This is stated in SB Canto 1 Ch 3 text 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 Quote.

Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1 Chapter 3 text 2 Purport explains-

Srila Prabhupada  - "From Karanodakasayi Visnu (Maha Vishnu) 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 - First the Karanodakasayi (Maha-Visnu) who creates aggregate material ingredients in the mahat-tattva,

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

3 - Thirdly the 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, In this sloka the subject matter of Maha-Visnu is summarized.

The 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 he cannot give a good theory to explain the creation. 

Material nature has no power to create without the power of the purusa, just as a prakrti, or woman, cannot produce a child without the connection of a purusa, or man.

The purusa impregnates, and the prakrti delivers. We should not expect milk from the fleshy bags on the neck of a goat, although they look like breastly nipples.

Similarly, 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 2p) 

Our small inner Universe's 14 Planetary Systems are situated inside the lotus stem surrounded and encased by the larger universal Brahmanda.

This massive Brahmanda outer shell or covering is made up of  7 material layers that is collectively 44 quadrillion, 444 trillion, 444 billion miles in diameter.

The 7 layers are (From SB Canto 6 Chapter 16 Text 37)

1 - Earth,

2 - Water,

3 - Fire,

4 - Air,

5 - Sky,

6 - Total Energy or  mahat-tattva,

7 - False ego.

Srimad Bhagavatam says there are millions of individual Brahmanda universes coming from Maha-Visnu making up the entire material creation (1/4 of the Spiritual Sky) that also house their own inner universe.

All smaller universes inside their Brahmanda are of different sizes, some, like ours, are only 4 billion miles in diameter.

The "4 billion miles (500,000,000 Yojanas)" diameter of our universe with its 14 planetary systems is one of the smallest. 

Our inner material universe is oftened called Bhu-Mandala because it is described in Srimad Bhagavatam's 5th Canto as being almost 4 billion miles in diameter.

In Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 26 text 52 in Purport Srila Prabhupada states-

"The space within the hollow of the universe cannot be measured by any human scientist or anyone else."

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, namely 

earth, 

water, 

fire, 

air, 

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. 

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)

Srimad Bhagavatam explains we cannot see from one universe to another from inside our Brahmanda, this is because our individual secondary universe is surrounded and encased by 7 or 8 material layers of the outer Brahmanda universe.

So it is impossible to see the millions of other Brahmandas outside our inner universe (inside a massive Brahmanda) because of those 7 thick material layers.

Although there are rare mystic yogis and advanced devotees like Arjuna who can see and pass through the thick material layers of our Brahmanda.

So of course Krsna and Arjuna did not encounter such limitations from these elements of earth, water, fire and all other gross elements as Bhagavad Gita As It Is 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 of the outer Brahmanda covering), and therefore although the universes are clustered together, we cannot see from one universe to another. 

In other words, whatever we see is within this one universe. In each universe there is one Lord Brahmā, and there are other demigods on other planets, but there is only one sun." (SB Canto 5 Ch 21 text 11, Purport)

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)

As confirmed by the Lord Himself in BG As It Is- 

BG 10.42 - "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 world manifests is only one fourth of the Supreme Lord's energy. Therefore He is called ananta."

In the purport in Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 2 Chapter 2 Text 28-

"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."

It is also says in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 26 text 52-

Srila Prabhupada  - "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 of the 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."

In Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 29 text 43-

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.

It is also stated here that the total universal body is increasing. It is covered by seven layers, and as there are five elements within the universe, so the total elements, in layers, cover the outside of the universal body.

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.

The above mentioned purports to Srimad Bhagavatam seemingly gives contradictory information that can make things confusing to scholars. (SB 2.2.28 and SB 3.26.52 says it is water and SB 3.29.43 says it is earth)

Furthermore, what is the breadth of the first layer?

The purport to Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 2 Chapter 2 text 28 says it is 80,000 000 miles while the diameter of our secondary inner material universe is 4,000,000,000 miles (4 billion)

This does not add up.

On the other hand Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 29 text 43 says the first layer is the same diameter of our inner material universe, which is 4 billions miles diameter.

Therefore the first layer is 10 times greater in size than our 4 billion mile diameter inner universe and is therefore 40 billion miles in diameter.

This is another contradictory statement.

For example, the 80 million miles diameter for our first layer said in Canto 2 Chapter 2 text 28 is definitely not 4 billion miles multiplied by 10 that equals 40 billion miles in diameter.***.

Understanding loving exchanges, voluntary service, free will, surrender and selfless devotion to Krsna?

Srila Prabhupada - "Love means "two", there must be two, the lover and the beloved." (Lecture New York, Nov 23, 1966)

Srila Prabhupada - ''We have got the propensity to love. Love means somebody else. Love cannot be one or love cannot be executed by only one, 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)

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." (Lecture on BG Ch 9 text 2-5, New York, Nov 23, 1966)

Srila Prabhupāda – ''Unless there are "two persons", where is the question of love? Love means two persons, then there is exchange, 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." (Aug 9, 1976, Tehran)

Srila Prabhupada - "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? In Bengali it is said if you catch one girl or boy and you demand you love me, you love me, is it love? You love me, otherwise I will kill you! Is that love? So Krsna 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." (July 8, 1976 in Washington, D.C)

Srila Prabhupāda – ''Genuine love means a relationship between "two persons", then there is exchange, 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." (August 9, 1976, Tehran)

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

Srila Prabhupada – "So everyone can know that independence means one can use it properly, or one can misuse it. That is independence. If you make it one way only, that is not independence, that is force." (LA, June 23, 1975)

Bali Mardana - "An example of free will is someone can choose Kṛṣṇa or turn away? Is that an example of free will?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes, because if you accept Kṛṣṇa, then you must follow what Kṛṣṇa says. If you don't follow Kṛṣṇa, then what is the use of talking of Kṛṣṇa? If he accepts Kṛṣṇa, he must abide by the injunction of Kṛṣṇa." (Morning Walk, Jan 22, 1974, Hawaii)

Srila Prabhupada - "Free will means that you can act wrongly. That is free will. Unless there is chance of doing wrong or right, there is no question of free will. Where is free will then? If I act only one sided, that means I have no free will. Because we act sometimes wrongly, that means free will."

Hayagriva - "A man may know better but still act wrongly."

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes, but that is free will. He misuses his. Just like a thief, he knows that his stealing, it is bad, but still he does it. That is free will. He cannot check his greediness, so in spite of his knowing that he is doing wrong thing—he will be punished, he knows; he has seen another thief, he was punished, he was put into prison— everything he knows, but still he steals. Why? Misuse of free will. Unless there is misuse of free will, there is no question of free will." (Discussions with Srila Prabhupada – Rene Descartes 1976)

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)

Srila Prabhupada - "The jiva-soul's position in the spiritual world is voluntary. Some devotee wants to serve Kṛṣṇa as flower; they become flower there. If I want that "As a flower I shall lie down at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa," he becomes flower, voluntarily, and he can change his, from flower to human body. That is spiritual life. There is no restriction. If some devotee wants to serve Kṛṣṇa as cow, he serves Kṛṣṇa as cow, as calf, as flower, as plant, as water, as ground, field, or as father, as mother, as friend, as beloved, anything. It is inconceivable, yet a fact." (SB Canto 6 Ch 1 text 1-4 - Melb, May 20, 1975)

The constitutional position of the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) is they are nitya-siddha (eternally liberated) in their full potential in either the Vaikuntha planets, or Goloka-Vrindavana.

All jiva-souls are originally nitya-siddha (eternally liberated) as a spiritual bodily form. 

There is no such thing of one class of marginal living entities (jiva-souls) only in the spiritual world (nitya-siddha), and another class of jiva-souls (nitya-baddha) who start off in the material world and had never been to the spiritual world. 

Such foolish ideas propagated by many immature gurus, sannyasis and so called Vedic scholars, are nonsense.

Originally and eternally, ALL jiva-souls are nitya-siddha meaning all jiva-souls come from either the Vaikuntha planets or Goloka-Vrindavana.

This means all nitya-baddhas in the material world, were originally nitya-siddha and came from the spiritual world, Prabhupada has explained.

Srila Prabhupada - "The actual constitutional position of every marginal living entity is nitya-siddha. By following the rules and regulations and instructions of the spiritual master, the jiva-soul can become AGAIN nitya-siddha. So the Krsna consciousness movement is to make the nitya-baddhas AGAIN nitya-siddha." (NY City Lecture on CC, July 13, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada - "Nitya baddhas are within this material world. Beginning from Brahma down to a small ant, insignificant ant, they are all nitya-baddha. Anyone who is in this material world they are nitya-baddha." (Lecture Ch 13 text 14, July 14, 1973)

Originally, all marginal living entities (jiva-souls) are nitya-siddha (liberated) because their original home is Goloka Vrindavana or Vaikuntha. Krsna never interferes with the jiva-soul's free will, even when they choose to reject Him and become nitya-baddha (conditioned) in the materia lworld.

Srila Prabhupada - "There are two kinds of marginal living entities, nitya-siddha liberated) and nitya-baddha (conditioned) because of the spiritual world and material worlds. However, the actual constitutional position of every marginal living entity (jiva-soul) is nitya-siddha." (New York City Lecture CC, July 13, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada - "By following the rules and regulations and instructions of the spiritual master, the jiva-soul can become AGAIN nitya-siddha. So, the Krsna consciousness movement is to make the nitya-baddhas again nitya-siddha." (New York City Lecture CC, July 13, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada - "In the broader sense, everyone comes from Krsnaloka (Goloka-Vrindavana). When one forgets Krsna, he is conditioned (nitya-baddha), when one remembers Krsna he is liberated (nitya-siddha)." (Letter to Mukunda, June 10, 1969)

The majority of jiva-souls (over 90%) never fall down from Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana; only less than 10% choose to enter the material creation Prabhupada explains here.

Dr. John Mize – "Did all the jiva-souls that were in the spiritual sky fall out of the spiritual sky at once, or at different times, or are there any jiva-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." (BG lecture, Mayapur, June 20, 1973)

Also, the Krsna who enters the material world is really a Visnu-tattva 4 armed form playing the part of the two-armed Krsna in the material world. This Visnu-tattva expansion of Krsna comes to the material world and play the role of the original two armed Krsna in Vrindavana who never leaves Vṛndāvana in the spiritual world. 

Srila Prabhupada - "Because Kṛṣṇa never leaves Vṛndāvana, all the forms of Kṛṣṇa that appear elsewhere are His expansions." (BG As It Is Ch 10 Text 37)

Srila Prabhupada - ''The original Lord Kṛṣṇa never leaves Goloka Vṛndāvana. All the plenary expansions are one and the same Viṣṇu-tattva, and there is no difference in Their potency." (SB, Canto 3 Ch 1 Text 34)

Srila Prabhupada - ''The biggest and highest planet in the brahmajyoti is Kṛṣṇaloka, or Goloka Vṛndāvana, where the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself, resides. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa NEVER leaves Kṛṣṇaloka." (Sri Isopanisad 12)

Srila Prabhupada - ''Kṛṣṇa is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Baladeva (Balarama) is Kṛṣṇa's immediate expansion. Both Lord Kṛṣṇa and Baladeva appeared as sons of Vasudeva, so both of Them may be called Vāsudeva. From another point of view, because Kṛṣṇa NEVER leaves Vṛndāvana, all the forms of Kṛṣṇa that appear elsewhere are His expansions." (BG As It Is Ch 10 Text 37)

Srila Prabhupada - "The "immediate" expansions of the Lord are called svāṁśa or personal direct expansions (Visnu-tattva who are Krsna playing another role in His own pastimes) The "separated" expansions of the Lord are called vibhinnāṁśa - (jiva-tattva or the independent jiva-souls (marginal living entities) like us." (From BG, Ch 10 Text 37, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Every living being has a particular relationship with the Lord eternally, That is called svarupa. By the process of devotional service, one can revive that svarupa, and that stage is called svarupa siddhi perfection of one’s constitutional position." (BG As It Is, Introduction)

Srila Prabhupada - "The relationship with Krsna is never lost, it is simply forgotten by the influence of maya, so it maybe regained or revived by the process of hearing the Holy Name of Krsna and then the devotee engages himself in the service of the Lord which is his original or constitutional position. The relationship of the living entity with Krsna is eternal as both Krsna and the living entity are eternal; the process is one of revival only, nothing new." (Letter to Jagadisa dasa 02/27/1970)

Srila Prabhupada - "The answer to your question about the marginal energy is that the jiva-soul is always called marginal energy whether he is in the spiritual world or in the material world. There are instances where marginal energy jiva-souls have fallen from the spiritual world, just like Jaya and Vijaya. So the potency to fall under the influence of the lower energy is always there. And thus the individual jiva-soul is called as Krsna’s marginal energy." (Letter to Rayarama, Dec 2, 1968)

The full potential and original feature of all marginal living entities (jiva-souls), is a "two-arm form" like Krsna's Body.

Srila Prabhupada - "God is also human form. "Man is made after the shape of God." So Kṛṣṇa is also like human form, two hands, two legs." The human form is also the full manifestation of the jiva-soul." (Melb, Australia May 20, 1975)

Srila Prabhupada - "The spirit soul is NOT formless; it has got form, the spirit soul always has form and is expressed as hands, legs, heads, everything. But with our material eyes at the present, our gross eyes, we cannot see these facts; therefore we foolishly believe the jiva-souls have no form." (Lecture BG, Ch 2 Text 14 - Mexico, Feb 14, 1975)

Devotee - "What is the form of the spiritual body. If the spirit soul is non-material, what is the form?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "There is form, just like this material body is compared with the dress. Now, just like in your present material form you have got hand; therefore your coat has got hand. You have got legs; therefore your pant has got legs. Therefore it is to be assumed that the spirit soul always has got form, and is expressed as hands, legs, heads, everything. The spirit soul is not formless; it has got form. But with our material eyes at the present, gross eyes, we cannot find it; therefore we say and foolishly believe it has no form." (Lecture BG, Ch 2 Text 14, Mexico, Feb 14, 1975)

As said above, the full potential and original feature of all marginal living entities (jiva-souls) is a two-arm, two leg spiritual bodily form like Krsna's Body, and the jiva-souls do NOT originate from the impersonal Brahmajyoti as impersonalists foolishly believe.

Devotee – "Is the original body of the spirit soul a human form?"

Srila Prabhupada – "Yes, human form. God is also human form. "Man is made after the shape of God." I think there is in the Bible. Is it not? So God is also like human form. Here you see Krsna, two hands, two legs."

Hari-sauri – "How do we understand, then, that there are peacocks and flowers and trees in the spiritual world? Are these not eternal forms?"

Srila Prabhupada – "[describing material form first]: Yes. They are more covered. Just like if you cover your body with blanket, the hands and legs are invisible. But you are not the blanket. So the trees and plants, they are more covered. They are not in full manifestation. The human form is the full manifestation of the soul."

Hari-sauri - "They are covered in the spiritual world?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Not in the spiritual world, there that is voluntary, some devotee wants to serve Krsna as flower; they become flower there. If I want to be a flower I shall lie down at the lotus feet of Krsna, he becomes flower, voluntarily, and he can change his, from flower to human body. That is spiritual life. There is no restriction. If some devotee wants to serve Krsna as cow, he serves Krsna as cow, as calf, as flower, as plant, as water, as ground, field, or as father, as mother, as friend, as beloved, anything. It is inconceivable, yet a fact." (SB, Canto 6 Ch 1 Text 1-4 - Melb, Australia May 20, 1975)

The jiva-souls are eternal spiritual living PERSONS and can never be destroyed, terminated or extinguished, the jiva-souls are indestructible.

Bhagavad Gita As It Is - "For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain." (BG, Ch 2 text 20 “corrected” 1983 edition)

Bhagavad Gita As It Is - “Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.” (BG, Ch 2 Text 12)

Srila Prabhupada – “There are no new souls, new and old are due to this material body, but the jiva-soul is never born and never dies, so if there is no birth, how can there be new souls?” (Letter to Jagadisa dasa, 7/9/1970)

There is no origin to Krsna's marginal energy (an unlimited number of individual jiva-souls), who have existed for as long as Krsna has existed which is eternity. 

Being an "inactive" (dormant) so-called "spiritual spark" in the impersonal Brahmajyoti, is an already fallen unnatural condition of the jiva-soul, who in their full potential, are a spiritual bodily form (PERSON) fully active like Krsna in the spiritual world serving Krsna as explained above, which is the jiva-soul's natural eternal home and position.

Krsna's effulgence is known as the dormant (inactive) [impersonal] Brahmajyoti made up of a collective of "inactive" individual jiva-souls appearing there after being frustrated with the material world's temporary bodily vessels to become a bodiless "spiritual individual sparks" in the impersonal Brahmajyoti which is also a "fallen" unnatural conditioned state of the jiva-soul.

As said above, appearing in that "fallen condition" as a spiritual spark is an unnatural condition of the jiva-soul, who in their full potential IS a PERSON as a spiritual bodily form in their eternal natural state, serving Krsna the Supreme Lord.

Srila Prabhupada - "Existence in the impersonal Brahmajyoti is also within the category of non-Krsna consciousness and a fallen condition therefore, those who are in the brahman effulgence are also in a fallen condition, so there is no question of falling down from a fallen condition. 

We do not accept anyone elevated to the brahman effulgence as actually liberated, the living entities first falling down to this material world are NOT from the impersonal brahman. When fall takes place, it means falling down from the non-fallen condition and that non-fallen condition is Krsna cconsciousness. 

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. Those who are thinking that they are liberated by being situated in brahman effulgence are described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam as impurely intelligent. 

So, we do not accept anyone elevated to the brahman effulgence as actually liberated. In other words, they are actually not liberated, and because they are not actually liberated they again come down to the material world." (Letter to  Revatinandana dasa, Los Angeles 13 June, 1970)

As said above, appearing in that "fallen condition" as a "spiritual spark" is the unnatural condition of the jiva-soul, who in their full potential IS a PERSON as a spiritual bodily form associating with Krsna in His eternal pastimes.*××*

The facts about free will, and Krsna's promise that once returning to Vaikuntha, one never again falls down to the material worlds?

Over an eternity, not even Krsna's promise to the jiva-souls, saying they will never again fall down to the material creation, can interfere with the jiva-soul's free will to again fall down if they choose to do so. 

If Krsna forced His will on the jiva-souls, then that puts an end to free will. Kṛṣṇa's promise that one will never again fall down to the material creation, only becomes fact IF the jiva-souls agree with with Him.

In Bhagavad Gita As It Is, it is explained Krsna left the decision for Arjuna to choose. 

It implies that in the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana, Kṛṣṇa does not impose His will on anyone. 

Krsna has granted free will in the Spiritual worlds so the jiva-souls can always have a choice on how to voluntarily contribute and serve Krsna, including even rejecting Krsna if they choose to do so.^*^.

Try to understand the following mistake in the 1972 edition of Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Chapter 2 text 20, where it wrongly includes these words-

"NOR HAVING ONCE BEEN"  

These words suggest the jiva-souls have a beginning. This sentence is not in the 1983 edition of Bhagavad Gita As It Is Chapter 2 text 20.

In English "NOR HAVING ONCE BEEN" means the jiva-soul had a beginning, which is wrong because they are beginningless and endless. The jiva-souls have existed for "infinity." 

Bhagavad Gita As It Is 1983 Chapter 2 text 20, correctly says the following-

"For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain." (BG Ch 2 text 20)

It is important to understand that no jiva-souls originate from the impersonal Brahmajyoti as those with a poor fund of knowledge foolishly believe.

The jiva-souls have no origin and have always existed without beginning or end as Bhagavad Gita As It Is correct 1983 edition Chapter 2 text 20 reveals-

"For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain." (BG Ch 2 text 20)

The jiva-souls who enter the impersonal brahmajyoti, the Body of Maha-Visnu and tatastha-sakti in a dormant state, have fallen to that condition, they do not originate from any of them. 

From where they are generated means from where the jiva-souls are existing in an inactive or dormant state. 

Therefore "generated" does NOT mean "originated." 

Other foolish sangas and their gurus can't understand this fact.

As said above in Bhagavad Gita As It Is ch 2 text 20 there is no origin to the jiva-souls because they have eternally existed throughout all infinity.

Srila Prabhupada explains here the jiva-souls do not originate ftom the impersonal brahmajyoti- 

Srila Prabhupada - "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 (which means Goloka Vrindavana or the Vaikuntha planets) The non-fallen condition is Krsna consciousness."(Letter to Revatinandana, LA, 13 June, 1970)

Srila Prabhupada - "In the broader sense, everyone comes from Krsnaloka (Goloka-Vrindavana). When one forgets Krsna, he is conditioned (nitya-baddha), when one remembers Krsna he is liberated (nitya-siddha)." (Letter to Mukunda, June 10, 1969)

Srila Prabhupada - "There are two kinds of marginal living entities: nitya-siddha and nitya-baddha but the actual constitutional position of EVERY marginal living entity is NITYA-SIDDHA." (CC lecture, July 13, 1976) 

Srila Prabhupada - "By following the rules and regulations and instructions of the spiritual master, he can become again NITYA-SIDDHA. So the Krsna consciousness movement is to make the nitya-baddhas again NITYA-SIDDHA." (NY City Lecture on CC, July 13, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada - "So the Krsna consciousness movement is to make the nitya-baddhas AGAIN NITYA-SIDDHA, to bring them back to their original position. It is a difficult task." (London lecture on BG, 13-14, July 14, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "The spirit soul is NOT formless; it has got form, the spirit soul always has form and is expressed as hands, legs, heads, everything. But with our material eyes at the present, our gross eyes, we cannot see these facts; therefore we foolishly believe the jiva-souls have no form." (Lecture on BG 2.14 - Mexico, Feb 14, 1975)

Girl devotee - "What is the form of the spiritual body. If the spirit soul is non-material, what is the form?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "There is form, just like this material body is compared with the dress. Now, just like in your present material form you have got hand; therefore your coat has got hand. You have got legs; therefore your pant has got legs. Therefore it is to be assumed that the spirit soul always has got form, and is expressed as hands, legs, heads, everything. The spirit soul is not formless; it has got form. But with our material eyes at the present, gross eyes, we cannot find it; therefore we say and foolishly believe it has no form." (Lecture on BG 2.14 - Mexico, Feb 14, 1975)

Srila Prabhupada - "Your question about one's relationship with Lord Krsna on Krsnaloka, does he ever fall down? The jiva-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 dasa, 4/25/1970)

Tatastha-sakti refers only to the jiva-souls already in a fallen state, who are already fallen Prabhupada has explained.

The jiva-souls do NOT originate from tatastha-sakti, it refers to those jiva-souls who have fallen to the material creation, and those who have further fallen to the impersonal Brahmajyoti.

It is not possible to originate from an already fallen condition therefore the jiva-souls did NOT come from the impersonal Brahmajyoti as the less intelligent believe.

In other words, tatastha-sakti does not describe those jiva-souls in their original "none-fallen" position in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.

Tatastha-sakti is a name describing the none Krsna conscious condition of the fallen jiva-souls.

Srila Prabhupada - "So this material world is the taṭastha (conditioned) characteristics, and the spiritual world is the "personal" characteristics. So our effort is to get out of this taṭastha (conditioned) characteristics and to enter the permanent characteristics. That is called spiritual elevation." (Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.354-358 — New York, Dec 28, 1966)

Srila Prabhupada - "Because the individual soul is apt to fall down sometimes under the clutches of māyā, it is called taṭastha-śakti. Just like in the seaside the shore, the beach, sometimes you see it is covered by water and sometimes it is land; similarly, when we are covered by māyā, that is our jīva-bhūta stage, and when there is no more covering, that is brahma-bhūta stage. When we are Kṛṣṇa conscious, then we are brahma-bhūta (SB 4.30.20), and when we are not Kṛṣṇa conscious, we are materially conscious, that is māyā." (Lecture on BG 7.4-5 - Bombay, March 30, 1971)

Revatīnandana - "Srila Prabhupāda you very clearly explained to me once in a letter that if the jiva-soul then goes into the brahmajyoti, he is considered still fallen. Still fallen. Does that means the whole brahmajyoti is composed of fallen souls? You see my question? If I go there, I'm a jīva-soul, and I go to the brahmajyoti I'm still fallen."

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes."

Revatīnandana - "That means all jīva-souls there in the impersonal Brahman (Brahmajyoti) are also fallen souls?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes, 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 (Goloka-Vrindavana and Vaikuntha). The non-fallen condition is Krsna consciousness.'' (Letter to Revatinandana, Los Angeles 13 June, 1970 and 1971 London)

The full potential and original feature of all marginal living entities (jiva-souls) is a two arm form like Krsna's Body Prabhupada explains.

Devotee – "Is the original body of the spirit soul a human form?"

Srila Prabhupada – "Yes, human form. God is also human form. "Man is made after the shape of God." I think there is in the Bible. Is it not? So God is also like human form. Here you see Krsna, two hands, two legs."

Hari-sauri – "How do we understand, then, that there are peacocks and flowers and trees in the spiritual world? Are these not eternal forms?"

Srila Prabhupada – "[describing material form first] Yes, they are more covered, just like if you cover your body with blanket, the hands and legs are invisible. But you are not the blanket. So the trees and plants, they are more covered. They are not in full manifestation. The human form is the full manifestation of the soul."

Hari-sauri - "Are they covered in the spiritual world?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Not in the spiritual world, there that is voluntary. Some devotee wants to serve Krsna as flower; they become flower there. If I want to be a flower I shall lie down at the lotus feet of Krsna and become flower, voluntarily, and can change from flower to human body if one desires. That is spiritual life. There is no restriction. If some devotee wants to serve Krsna as cow, he serves Krsna as cow, as calf, as flower, as plant, as water, as ground, field, or as father, as mother, as friend, as beloved, anything. It is inconceivable, yet a fact." (SB 6.1.1-4 - Melbourne, May 20, 1975)

As said above the word tatastha-sakti refers to the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) in their "fallen conditioned state" in both the material creation, and when dormant in the impersonal Brahmajyoti or Brahman effulgence..^*^..