The Planets Of The Material Universe

          When saying "cosmic manifestation" they speak of separate worlds, the spiritual & the material. The spiritual planetary systems are eternal, beyond the limits of the material universes, & belong to a "super dimensional" or "anti-material" dimension. These are beyond the limitations of material time & space & therefore beyond our vision, or powers of perception. In these planetary systems there is no occurrence of creation or dissolution, & these planets are countless, indestructible, & eternally existing. There's descriptions of these spiritual planets in the vedic literatures, but this editorial concentrates on those within the    material universe.

The cosmology & cosmography of the ancient Vedas is awe inspiring to say the least. The more "modern" of the Vedic texts are known to originate from about 3000 B.C., thus being the oldest scientific & religious doctrines known to man. The descriptions of our solar process & what modern astronomy has discovered of the visible universe corresponds with the ancient Vedic knowledge, proving that man has had advanced knowledge of astronomy for thousands of years before our modern civilization began. This editorial describes the Vedic version of planetary systems from the topmost, eternal planets down through the temporary planetary systems within innumerable universes of this material world.

Goloka-dhama is the topmost planet & residence of the Supreme Godhead Sri Sri Radha-Krishna. Below this is Hari-dhama where the spiritual planets of the Vaikunthalokas are situated. Below the Vaikuntha planets is "Mahesh-dhama" (also called Sadasivaloka, or the abode of Lord Siva). This is the realm dividing the spiritual from the material universes. Below Mahesh-dhama is Devi-dhama, the realm of the material universe. It is said that the systems of yoga offer different destinations. Bhakti yoga directs toward entering Hari-dhama or Goloka-dhama. Jnana yoga directs the aspirant toward entrance to Mahesh dhama, & karma yoga directs to stay in Devi-dhama, experiencing repeated birth & death in the material worlds.
The material planetary systems are created at some point in time & will be destroyed at another. They are bound by the influences of time & space. Both of these energies (spiritual & material) are of the same divine source called "brahmajyoti", the spiritual light. About 1/4th of this brahmajyoti is covered by the "mahat-tattva", the material energy, where are found innumerable material universes. The 3/4th portion is the eternal spiritual sky. In the spiritual world are realms of existence, "Goloka-dhama" & "Hari-dhama". The material world has realm called "Devi-dhama".