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(3082 B.C. Dvaraka)
More than 5 thousand years ago
Lord Shri Krishna declared to sage Narada and queen Rukmini
that He would personally appear in the Kali yuga
to distribute His own divine love.
(1486 Navadvip Dhama) In the 15th century
the Lord came as promised in the form of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
and spread pure love of Godhead
and the congregational chanting of the holy names throughout India.
The Lord closest associate, Shri Nityananda,
predicted that an astonishing temple would one day manifest at Mayapur,
the birthplace of Shri Chaitanya,
from where the Lord’s mission would be broadcasted all over the world.
(1891 Mayapur Dhama) In the late 19th century
the pioneer of the program to distribute Lord Chaitanya’s teachings outside India,
Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, received the spiritual vision of the wonderful temple
where people of all nations would gather to chant the Lord’s holy name.
The Thakura’s illustrious son, Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura,
continued the mission of his father developing Mayapur
and establishing 64 temples throughout India.
Under the divine instruction of Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta,
Shrila A.C. Bhaktivedhanta Svami Prabhupada
brought the teachings of Shri Chaitanya to the western world
establishing more than 100 centers
of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness across the globe.
(1973 ISKCON Mayapur) In the 1970’s
Shrila Prabhupada revealed his vision for the grand Mayapur temple,
instructing his disciples to create a Vedic planetarium
that would be a direct challenge to the prominent
atheistic and mechanist world theory.
(2012 Mayapur Dhama) Now by the grace of the Lord
the vision of Shrila Prabhupada and his previous acharyas
is beginning to manifest in Shri Mayapur:
the Temple of The Vedic Planetarium.
Shri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir Temple of the Vedic Planetarium
Location & History
Situated in the lush green countryside of Bengal,
on the bank of sacred Ganges,
Shri Mayapur Dhama has been a holy place for a millennium
but has a special significance for the worshipers of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Shrila Prabhupada gave many instructions on how to fulfill his vision for the temple
and his disciples have been working for many years to see it manifest.
"It is not only a temple but a planetarium, according to Bhagavatam.
(Showing) Where which planet is situated...
where is Vaikunthaloka, where is Goloka Vrindavan." 9 February, 1976, Mayapur.
Srila Prabhupada also used the example of a chandelier hanging from the ceiling
to describe his vision for the planetary model.
"This planetary system is rotating from east to west,
and it is hanging like the chandelier, taking shelter of the Polestar.
That we can see every night." 2 March, 1977, Mayapur.
While Srila Prabhupada gave many instructions on the planetary model,
the most complete recorded description of his vision
was in the 1976 letter where he clearly laid out
the fifteen distinct features to be presented.
The TOVP cosmology team has used this letter
with the other instructions given by Srila Prabhupada
to develop a model that is strictly faithful to the vision
of His Divine Grace and the Vedic version.
Looking up from the temple in floor
visitors will first see the form of Garbhodakashayi Vishnu
lying on Ananta Shesha with Lakshmi Devi.
Above Him, are the seven low planetary systems
abodes of the Nagas, Daityas and Danavas.
And above these, is the plane of Bhu Mandala.
In the model this mention is more than thirty meters across
with concentric rings representing the seven oceans and islands of Bhu Mandala.
In the center rises mount Meru
atop Jambudvipa, the central island of Bhu Mandala.
The Puranas describe Jambudvipa
as having the forma of a yajna kund
with mount Meru being like the blazing fire at the center of the kund.
Thus the earthy realm situated on Jambudvipa
is designated as a place to perform sacrifice within the universe.
Above Jambadvipa is Bhuvarloka, the residence of the Upadevas.
And from the over of the Sun up to the Polestar, Dhruvaloka,
is the Svargaloka or heavenly realm.
The planets are described in the Shrimad Bhagavatam
as personalities riding in chariots with their associates and paraphernalia.
The model is faithful to this description
reinforcing the Vedic version that the universe is not governed by impersonal forces
or filled with the vacuum space
but it is overseen by unique living personalities
and is teeming with life.
Shrila Shukadeva Gosvami gives the analogy
of an ant crawling on a potter’s wheel
to explain the movement of the planets and stars.
If an ant moves in a circle in motion around a stationary potter's wheel
we can see that the movement of the ant is forwards
both for him and for us viewing from afar.
However if the wheel is rotating in the other direction
we can see that the ant's movement is still forwards relative to the wheel.
But from the viewer's perspective the ant appears to be moving backwards
under the influence of the rotating potter's wheel.
In the same way the planets have their own forward movement
within the kala chakra, or wheel of time.
However because the kala chakra is rotating in the opposite direction
it appears to an outsider as if they are moving backwards.
Above Svarga, the visible planets and the Polestar
begins the realms of the universe which are totally invisible to human eyes.
Mahar, Jana, Satya and Tapo Lokas
where perfected beings reside.
Above these are the universe coverings,
Shivaloka, Maha Vishnu and the Brahman effulgence.
Finally in the unlimited spiritual sky is the realm of the Vaikuntha planets
and the supreme realm: Goloka Vrindavana
where devotees perpetually relish the pure spiritual existence
of eternal loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead:
Shri Krishna.
Transcription of English and Translation to Portuguese CC by David Britto radhesyamaji@yahoo.com.br