TheMaterial World

&The Spiritual Sky

(Damodalta Class)

Hare Krishna Sunday SchoolInternational Society for Krishna Consciousness

Founder-acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swanli Prabhupada

Name:-----

Class:-----

TheMaterial World

&The Spiritual Sky

Compiled by:Sangita devi dasi

Hare I<rishna Sunday SchoolSponsored by:

ISKCON Foundation

This book is dedicated toHis Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

who gave us the means to return to the spiritual worldso we can eternallY serve Lord ](rishna.

Introduction

Many of you may have learned that the planet Earth is the

only planet where life exists and that many scientists theorize that

the Earth was created by a great explosion which eventually cooled

down and created life. You may have learned about other theories

proposed by the scientists concerning the creation of the universe.

Would you be surprised to learn that the Vedic literatures, which are

thousands of years old, explain a different kind of universe?

The Vedas tell us that there are many, many planets, each with

different types of living beings suitable to exist in that particular

environment. In fact, there are millions and billions of universes

with trillions of planets and suns, stars and moons within the

material world. There are too many to count! We also learn in the

Vedas that this material world, as large as it is, is only one-fourth of

the entire creation. Beyond this material world, which is temporary

and full of miseries, there is a spiritual world where Lord Krishna

lives with His loving devotees who are always happy to associate

the Lord.

In this session, we will discover the splendor that exists in the

spiritual sky, Lord Krishna's home. We will also uncover many

things about the material world and how it was created. We will

learn how we can leave this temporary world and go back to the

spiritual sky where we will be eternally happy serving the Lord.

2

Session Verse

aham sarvasya prabhavomattah sarvam pravartateiti matva bhajante mam

budha bhava-samanvitah

Translation:

I am the source of all spiritual and materialworlds. Everything emanates from Me.

The wise who know this perfectly engagein My devotional service and worship Me

with all their hearts.

(Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 10, Text 8)

3

Lesson One

The Manifestation ofBrahma From Lord Visnu

Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appears in

many different transcendental forms according to His desire.

The Srimad-Bhagavatam explains that in His form as Garbhodakasayi

Visnu, the Lord, lying on His bed with Anantasesa covering Him as

His umbrella, appeared to be sleeping within the Garbhodakasayi

Ocean for a very long time. By the Lord's arrangement, the subtle

form of creation pierced through His abdomen and took the shape

of the bud of a lotus flower. Lord Visnu personally entered into the

lotus flower as the Supersoul. At that time, Lord Brahma, the first­

born living being, was born from this lotus flower.

The Srimad-Bhagavatam (3:8: 17) explains: uBrahma, born out

of the lotus flower, could not see the world, although he was

situated in the whorl. He therefore circumambulated all of

space, and while moving his eyes in all directions he

achieved four heads in tenus of the four directions."

3

"When a satellite is thrown into outer space, a child may

not understand that there are scientific brains behind it,

but an intelligent adult realizes that scientific brains on

earth are controlling the satellite. Similarly, less

intelligent persons do not have information ofthe creator

and His eternal abode in the spiritual world, which is far

beyond our range ofvisibility, but in actuality there is a

spiritual sky, and spiritual planets which are more

spacious and greater in number than planets in the

material sky. From the Bhagavad-gita we receive

information that the material universe only constitutes a

fraction (one fourth) ofthe creation. Such information is

extensively available in the Srimad-Bhagavatam and in

other Vedic literatures. "

-His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Easy Journey to Other Planets

Lord Brahma, seated in that lotus, could not understand thecreation, the lotus or himself. He tried to understand them for onemillennuim, \vhich is such a long time that it is beyond calculationin the solar years of human beings. No one, not even Lord Brahma,can understand the mystery of creation simply by mentalspeculation.

Lord Brahma thought, "Who am I that am situated on the topof this lotus? Wherefrom has it sprouted? There must be somethingdown\\'ards, and that from which this lotus has gro\vn must bewithin the water."

'~i1

~. -~:~::"

Brahma, seated on the lotus flower, could not find the source

of the lotus which came from the abdomen of Lord Visnu.

Lord Brahma then entered the water through the channel of

the stem of the lotus. But, in spite of entering the stem and going

closer to the navel of Lord Visnu, he could not trace out the root.

He then gave up searching and returned to the top of the lotus.

He thought it wise to sit down on his lotus seat and

concentrate his mind on the Supreme Lord. In this way, Brahma

undenvent penances for one hundred celestial years.

Brahma's one day is calculated to be 4,300,000 solaryears of human beings. Brahma meditated for 100years before he could understand the Supreme Lord!

When Brahma's meditation was complete, he developed

transcendental knowledge and could see the Supreme Lord within

his heart.

Brahma could now see that on the water was a gigantic

lotuslike white bedstead, the body of Sesa-naga, on which the

Supreme Personality of Godhead was lying alone.

6

The whole atmosphere was illuminated by the rays of thejewels bedecking the hoods of Sesa-naga. That light dissipated allthe darkness of those regions.

Brahma could no\v see that the transcendental body of Lord.'

Visnu, unlimited in length and breadth, occupied the threeplanetary systems, upper, middle and lower. His body was self­illuminated and was beautifully decorated. The Lord showed Hislotus feet to Brahma by raising them. The reflection of the Lord'sface, decorated with earrings, was so pleasing because it dazzledwith the rays from His lips and the beauty of His nose andeyebrows.

•In the 5rimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 3, Chapter 8, Text 27, 5rila

Prabhupada states: "Devotees do not ask anythingfrom the Lord in exchan~

for their (devotional) service. Even the most desirable liberation is refused by

devotees, although offered by the Lord. Thus, the Lord becomes a kind of

debtor to the devotees, and He can on!y try to repay the devotee's service wit

His ever-enchanting smile. The devotees are ever-satisfied by the smilingface

of the Lord, and they become enlivened. And by seeing the devotees so

enlivened, the Lord Himself is further satisfied. 50 there is continuous

transcendental competition between the Lord and His devotees by such

• reciprocation ofservice and acknowledgement. .. •

7

Lord Brahma concluded that that personality within the water

was indeed the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna. He

saw that the garland of flowers on the Lord's chest glorified Him

with Vedic wisdom in sweet songs and looked very beautiful. When

Lord Brahma saw the Lord, he glanced over creation at the same

time. Lord Brahma saw the lake in Lord Visnu's navel, and the lotus

flower, as well as the devastating water, the drying air and the sky.

All became visible to him. Thus, Lord Brahma became overwhelmed

with the mode of passion and the desire to create. He began to offer

his respectful prayers to the Supreme Lord.

The Supreme Lord replied: ... "0 Brahma, the prayers thatyou have

chanted praising the glories ofMy transcendental activities, the penances

you have undertaken to understand Me, andyourfirm faith in Me--all

these are to be considered My causeless mercy.. Any human being who pray

like Brahma, and who thus worships Me, shall very soon be benedicted with

thefulfillment ofall his desires, for I am the Lord ofall benediction. "

8

These scientific theories leave out one important point:Lord Krishna is the Suvreme Controller and Creator!...

What is the Big Bang? The Big Bang theory is the most acceptable theory today about the creation of theuniverse. According to this theory the universe was created in a big bang about 12-15 billion years ago. Sciencehas no way of predicting what was before that time. Before the big bang all the matter in the universe as weknow it today was dense in one point. It's hard to imagine but the universe was that point, there was nothing elseBUT that point. Then a big blast occurred and the point started to expand with tremendous speed All thematerial init moved away from the blast into space. The explosion also created alot of radiation,

Since then, that point (which was the early universe) has expanded to the size' we know tOday,and is continuing to expand

7• Ask a NASA Scientist

The Question

~at does the evidence tell us about the origin of the Universe and what is the evidence that concludes thispomt?

The AnswerIn 1912 American astronomer Vesto Slipher noticed that virtually every spiral galaxy he observed had aredshifted spectrum. The instrument he used split the light from the galaxies into a spectrum, in the same way aprism splits the light from the Sun into a rainbow. Looking at light in this way, you can measure the intensity asa function of wavelength. Elements found in the galaxies each have "fingerprints": the spectral lines they emit.Since it is straightforward to measure the wavelength at which these spectral lines are emitted in differentplprnpnt<- in tJ..... l."~...,,tnn, Innlr-;nn ",t thp .:!r\P"'...... rn nf n",l",v;p.:! "'",n mOl'" lie:. l:t tTprnpnlinllc:. l:trnnllnt of information.

In addition to seeing that the lines appear, astronomers can measure how far the wavelength we see them atdiffers from the "rest" wavelength. If the galaxy is moving, the lines will be Doppler shifted: they will appear atshorter wavelengths (bluer) if moving toward us, and at longer wavelengths (redder) if moving away. EdwinHubble realized in the 1920s that when we look at the motions of all of the galaxies, measured in this way,there is a definite trend. The galaxies are speeding away from each other, consistent with a general expansion 0

the Universe. This was the first observational evidence to indicate an initial starting point of the Universe as asort of explosion, from which everything is now still expanding. This is called the Big Bang. Hubble noticedthat the measured recession velocity of a galaxy was proportional to its distance from us. This is called Hubble'sLaw, and the constant of proportionality is called the Hubble constant---the value of which is currently still avery active area of modem observational astronomy.

;••• ~, .:0'7':::. '--

77

• Ask a NASA Scientist

Here is some of what happend there (in the big bang):1 2 ~

immediately after the big bang (I) the universe was filled with a dense "soup" of subatomic particl~s (2) calledquarks and leptons (such as electrons) and their antiparticle equivalents. By 0.01 second after the big bang (3)some of the quarks had united to form neutrons and protons. (After another 2 seconds the only leptons .remaining were electrons; the antiparticles had been annihilated.) After 3.5 minutes (4) hydrogen and helIumnuclei had formed. After a million years (5) the universe was populated with hydrogen and helium atoms, the

raw material of stars and galaxies. The initial radiation from the big bang has grown less energetic. This

I~)~smic background radiation" today has a temperature equivalent to 3 degree~~~~~_a~~~~u~:~:~~~a~~~ =~~O .

When we stand in a dark room, we are unable to see evenour hand in front ofus. Our imperfect senses cannot

possibly understand the creation and existence ofsuch a_----1lIl vast material world.

•Origin and Destiny of the Universe

Why is our Universe the way we see it to be? And what will ultimately become of it? These are twofundamental questions which have long interested humankind. In the more than 70 years since the discoverythat that the Universe is expanding, we have made some significant steps in understanding how the Universebegan and how it must have evolved to be what it is today. We know this: galaxies and clusters of galaxiesformed from tiny fluctuations in the early Universe. We can measure these fluctuations by mapping the cosmicbackground radiation and relate them to the structures which we observe today. However, many challengesremain such as:

What is the Age of the Universe? - or - How Fast is the UniverseExpanding?

In the 1920s, Edwin Hubble used the 100" telescope at the Mount Wilson Observatory in California to detectvariable stars in nebulae. He discovered that the stars he observed had the same characteristic variations in theirbrightness as a class of stars called Cepheid Variables. Earlier, astronomer Henrietta Levitt had shown therewas a precise correlation between the period ofa Cepheid Variable and its luminosity. Hubble was able use thiscorrelation to show that the nebulae containing the variable stars he observed were not within our own Galaxy;they were external galaxies far beyond the edge of our Milky Way.

Hubble determined the distances to the galaxies and the velocities that they were moving at relative to Earth.From this, he discovered an amazing thing - the farther galaxies were away from us, the faster they were......... _yr.=_1"'r ..... ,,.. ... , &, •• _ f_ .......L .... _ ........ _ .... _ ..... _ r r_;., ........ ,. _,,_.... _~~_,..,

Check for Understanding

Briefly answer the following questions: ~

2. What type of "austerity" did Brahma perform and for how

long? _

3. Explain "transcendental competition)between the Lord and

His devotees."-------------------

9

Artwork Creation!Using markers, crayons and colored pencils, create a picture ofLord Brahma seated on the lotus flower and meditating on theSupreme Lord.

10

Word Play!Use the words in the box to fill in the missing words from thefollowing verse:(Hint: Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 3, Chapter 8, Text 26)

~ 0 ••

raIsInglotusservicefingernails

toenailsworshipdevotionawards

flowercontaminationfeet

pumsam sva-kamaya vivikta-margairabhyarcatam kama-dughanghri-padmam

pradarsayantam krpaya nakhendu­mayukha-bhinnanguli-caru-patram

Translation

The Lord showed His feet by them. His lotus

____ are the source of all achieved by

devotional free from material----- ------Such awards are for those who Him in-----

pure . The splendor of the transcendental rays

from His moonlike and appeared like

the petals of a _

11

Lesson Two

The Creation of the Material World

Mter perfonning penances for one hundred celestial years,

Brahma saw that the lotus on which he was seated was spread

throughout the universe. He thought about how to create all the

planets, the seeds of which were already inside that lotus. Brahma

could understand that the material world and all the living beings

had already been created by the Lord. Brahma was to distribute the

seedlings all over the universe.

The real creation by the Lord is called sarga, and, later on, the

manifestation by Brahma is called visarga.

Lord Brahma then entered into the -whorl of the lotus,

and as it spread all over the universe, he divided it into three

divisions of worlds and later into fourteen divisions for all the

different types of living entities to live. The lower planets are called

the Patalalokas, the middle planets are called the Bhurlokas and the

upper planets are called the Svarlokas. Brahma is the most exalted

personality in the universe because of his pure devotional service to

the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

12

Brahma created six types of immovable beings: the fruit trees

without flowers, trees and plants which exist until the

fruit is ripe, creepers, pipe plants, creepers which have

no support and trees with flowers and fruits.

By the Lord's arrangement, Brahma created the

lower species of life such as the tiger, cow, goat,

buffalo, hog, deer, lamb and camel. Among others, the

lower animals also included the horse,

mule, bison, dog, jackel, fox, cat,

........ ..".L-.. ......~~. rabbit, lion, monkey, elephant, tortoise

and alligator. He also created the birds,

such as the vulture, hawk, peacock, swan and owl.

Thereafter, Brahma created the human beings, the demigods,

including the Gandharvas, Apsaras, or angels, and the Siddhas who

live on a higher planet known as Siddhaloka. The Siddhas have

superior intelligence to humans and can travel through space

without a spaceship! All varieties of beings were created by Brahma,

the creator of the universe.

13

~o ~I In the Bhagavad-gita, Lord I<rishna states, II lI "Of all that is material and all that is spiritual inI

I this world, knowfor certain that I am both its

i origin and dissolution. "

~ Q Chapter 7, Text 6 Q~In the material world there are millions and billions of

universes with trillions of planets, suns, stars and moons. We cannot

even imagine the tremendous size of the material world! But, the

material creation is only one-fourth the size of the entire creation.-'

Most of the creation is the spiritual sky.

From the lower, hellish planets in the material world to the

higher, heavenly planets, all living beings must experience birth and

death. Life within the material world is one temporary situation

after another. Due to the illusion of maya, or that which is not, the

living being tries very hard to enjoy each and every situation. He

forgets that his .real home is in the spiritual world where life.,is filled~.

with happiness and knowledge. He forgets that the cause .

of the universe is Lord Krishna, the supreme creator

of all souls and the original cause of all causes.

14

Check for Understanding

Match by drawing lines: @l

visarga Higher planetary system

Bhurlokas

sarga

Patalalokas

Svarlokas

Fill in the blanks below:

15

The real creation of the Lord

Middle planetary system

Brahma's creation

Lower planetary system

Create a diorama!Directions:

I. Cover the outside of a shoe box (or one that is similar in size)with colored paper or aluminum foil.

2. Line the inside of the box with blue construction paper.

3. ~ Cut out the lotus flower pattern on the next page and traceonto pink construction paper. Cut out and attach a three inch pieceof string to the top of the lotus using tape. Draw a picture of LordKrishna in the middle of the lotus flo'Wer.

4.Tape the lotus flower to the inside "roof' of the box so the lotus(which represents Krishnaloka, the topmost planet in the spiritualworld) hangs in the middle of the diorama.Note: Krishnaloka is really shaped like a lotus flower whichexpands as more and more souls return there from the materialworld.

5. Using clay, fonn sizes of small planets and place on the "floor" ofthe box (representing the material world). If you can, place smallplastic animals, trees, birds etc. around the various planets.

6. On a 3 x 5 inch card, write a short explanation of the dioramawhich represents the material and spiritual worlds. Don't forget toexplain that the material world is temporary and the spiritualworld is eternal. Display in the temple so guests can see yourcreation!

16

Pattern for Diorama:

17

Lesson ThreeVarieties ofPlanetary Systems

Within the Material World

In the Bhagavad-gita, 8.16, LordKrishna instructs Arjuna, ttFrom thehighest planet in the material world downto the lowest, all are places ofmiserywherein repeated birth and death takeplace. But one who attains to N{y abode,

o son ofKunti, never takes birth again. "f> W 4 D>a On A

We learn in the Vedas that the planetary system in which

we are living is called Bhurloka. Above this planetary system is

Bhuvarloka. Above that is Svarloka (the moon belongs to the Svarloka

planetary system). Above Svarloka is Maharloka; above that is

lanaloka and above that is Satyaloka. There are lower planetary

systems, as well. All together there are fourteen planetary systems

within this universe, and the sun is the chief planet. In fact, within

each and every universe within the material world there is a sun.

Thus, there are millions and billions of universes and millions and

billions of suns, moons and planets!

18

orne people believe there is life only on the planet Earth.

The Vedic literature teaches us something more. On each

planet within the material world there are living beings with

different types of bodies that can live in that particular atmosphere.

Some live a relatively short amount of time and some live a very

long time. For example, the life span of a human is approximately

I00 years. An insect my live for only 12 hours. On a heavenly

planet, a demigod may live for millions and millions of solar years.

But, whether in an insect body, a human body or a demigod

body, every living being from the heavenly planets to the lower

hellish planets suffers in four ways. Every being must experience

birth, death, old age and disease. Life in the material world is a

dangerous place. Even if one is fortunate enough to be born

beautiful, rich, famous, and educated, he or she still must get old,~

material world!

in within this

situation we are

get diseased and eventually die.

This is the unfortunate

The Life ofBrahma

Brahma, the first created living being, lives for 100 celestial

years. His one day is equal to 4,300,000,000 of our earthly

years. His one night is also equal to 4,300,000,000 of our

earthly years. His month consists of thirty such days and nights,

and his year consists of twelve months. Mter living for 100 years,

even Brahma must die.

The Destruction of the Material World

At the end of Brahma's very long life, the material world is

destroyed and all of the living entities return once again into the

transcendental form of Lord Visnu. The energy that was originally

created by the Lord, again enters the Lord. When there is need to

again manifest the material world, the Lord does so by His will.

When the Lord desires once again to create, the material

energy is let loose. The Lord, in His form as Lord Visnu, enters. He

lies within the Causal Ocean and breathes out innumerable

universes. Into each and every universe the Lord again enters as

Garbhodakasayi Visnu. Each universe is created in that way. He

further manifests Himself as [(sirodakasayi Visnu, or Supersoul, and

enters into everything--even into the tiny atom.

20

The Lord, as Supersoul, is present within all living beings.

--------

//

-----

\

Did You !(now?

There are 8,400,000 forms of living entitieswithin the material world--

900,000 species livingmthin the water

2,000,000 non-movingliving entites

such as trees and plants

I ,100,000 species of insects and reptiles

1,000,000 species of birds

3,000,000 four-legged animals

400,000 human species

Some of these species may exist on one planet and not onanother, but in any case, within all the planets of the universe-- .

and even in the sun--there are living entities.This is learned in the Vedic literatures.

21

Check for Understanding

List the four miseries suffered by all livingentities within the material world:I.-------2.-------3.-------4.

Circle the correct answer: e

1. The planetary system in which we live is called:a. Svarlokab. Bhurlokac. Satvaloka

.t

2. Life in the rnaterial world is:a. a fun place to beb. an exciting place to livec. a dangerous place to be

3. Lord Brahrna lives for:a. 1000 solar yearsb. 100 demigod yearsc. I 00 solar years

.t

22

ItAIIAdds Up!

Add the species of life within thematerial world: ~

900,0002,000,0001,100,0001,000,0003,000,000

400,000

Your answer should be 8,400,000 species of life.

23

Using crayons or markers,

color I<rsnaloka in the spiritual world:~

Lesson FourThe Vaikuntha Planets

Let's Revie'" What You Have Learned

In previous lessons, we learned that this universe, containing

billions of stars and planets, is one of the billions of such

universes clustered together within the material world. We also

learned that all of these universes combined together fonn only

one-fourth of the creation of the Lord.

Beyond this material world is the spiritual sky. In the spiritual

sky there are countless numbers of planets called the Vaikuntha

planets, or Vaikunthalokas. The topmost planet is called Krsnaloka.

Together these planets form three-fourths of the

Lord's creation. Srila Prabhupada states, "God's

creations are always innumerable."

25

On the Vaikuntha planets everyone worships the Lord. Unlike

the material world, there is no ignorance, no passion, no past,

present or future. This is very difficult for us to understand since we

are conditioned to measure everything in terms of time.I ~

What time is it?

Is it time for school?

Is it time for dinner?

How long did it take to get there?

Etc., etc., etc...•

But, in the spiritual sky, there is no influence of time. There is

no birth, death, old age or disease. Everyone lives eternally and is

full of knowledge and transcendental bliss.

The inhabitants of the Vaikuntha planets are described in the

Srimad-Bhagavatam as having a glowing sky-bluish complexion. Their

eyes resemble the lotus flower, their dress is of yellowish color and

their bodily features are very attractive. Everyone is youthful. They

all have four arms like Lord Visnu and are all nicely decorated with

pearl necklaces and ornaments. All of the inhabitants are effulgent.

26

In the Vaikuntha planets, there are brilliant, glowing airplanes

belonging to the devotees of the Lord. There are celestial cities and

houses just suitable to the particular planets.

The Goddess of Fortune, in her transcendental form, is

engaged in the loving service of the Lord's lotus feet. She is always

singing the glories of the Lord's activities. On the Vaikuntha planets,

the Lord appears in His beautiful four-armed form as Lord Visnu.

His smiling face is decorated with an enchanting reddish hue. He is

endowed with His six opulences: wealth, power, fame, beauty,

intelligence and renunciation. In the material world, someone may

be wealthy, powerful, famous, etc., but the Supreme Personality of-- --- -.- ~-

Godhead is the

wealthiest, the most

powerful, the most

famous, the most

beautiful, the most

intelligent and the most

renounced.

27

On the Vaikuntha planets7 the Lord appears in Hisfour-armed form as Lord Visnu.

On Krsnaloka7 the topmost planet in the spiritualsky, the Lord appears in His two-armedform

as Govinda.

28

Devotees always remember that Krishna is thecreator of the material and spiritual worlds.

Check for Understanding

List the six opulences possessed in full by LordKrishna:I.-------

2.-------

3.-------

4.-------

5.-------

6.

Write a short paragraph describing theVaikuntha planets: tSJ?

30

The Vedic literature teaches us about the material and spiritualworlds. They are known as the King ofKnowledge.

They are pure and joyful. The Vedas allow us to directly realize theselfand our eternal relationship with Lord Krishna.

Draw a picture of the inhabitants on theVaikuntha planets. Color with markers.

~-2:S===========:::;;;:::::=;========::1IJ-.1.lEEIlt~1

wukdLl1Ill::::::1 =::::::::::::::::::=:======================================================================:==::s-~>

32

Unscramble the Words

IAI(VNUHTA

----~~----~~--

SLNAPET

TERELAN

Find It On Your Own!

Research Srila Prabhupada's books (Srimad­Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, Nectar ojDevotion, etc.)and find a verse describing the Vail<untha planets

in the spiritual sky. Write the Sanskrit verseand the translation below.

(Be sure to write where you found it!)

Verse

Translation-------- --------

34

at If?What if someone asked you how he could get to

the spiritual world? What would you say?List some of the things he could do that would

help him return to the spiritual world.

35

"The wise, engaged in devotional service, take refuge inthe Lord, andfree themselves from the cycle ofbirth anddeath by renouncing thefruits ofaction in the lnaterial

world. In this way thry can attain that statebPlJond all miseries. " ~~~ \'"

(Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 2, Text 51) c;:.~ ~

I(i

"For one who has accepted the boat of the lotus feet of theLord, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and isfalnous as Mukunda or the giver ofmukti, the ocean ofthe material world is like the water contained in a calfs

hoqfprint. Purall1 padall1, or the place where there are nomaterial 111iseries, or Vaikuntha, is his goal, not the place

where there is danger in evelY step of life. "(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.58)

36

Lesson Five[(rsnaloka--The Lord's Home

And whoever, at the time ofdeath, quits his body remembering Mealone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.

Bhagavad-gita 8.5

The topmost planet in the spiritual world. is called Krsnaloka. It

is the supreme abode of the Personality of Godhead.

Krsnaloka is also known as Goloka Vrindavana. In the

Brahma-samhita it is described as cintamani-dhama, a

place where all desires are fulfilled.

Krsnaloka is full of palaces made of touchstone.

There are also trees which are called "desire trees"

that supply any type of eatable upon demand. There

are surabhi cows which supply a limitless amount of milk.

In this Supreme Abode, the Lord is called Govinda

and His transcendental form is the most attractive in all the worlds.

In the Bhagavad-gita, Srila Prabhupada states, "His eyes are like the

lotus petals and the color of His body like clouds. He is so attractive

that His beauty excels that of thousands of cupids. He wears saffron

cloth, a garland around His neck and a peacock feather in His hair."

37

/,

,

/

In the spiritual sky there is no need of sunshine, moonshine,

fire or electricity, because all the planets are self-luminous. In this

material world we have only one planet, the sun, which is self­

luminous. Actually, the shining effulgence of all those Vaikuntha

planets is the brahmajyoti which comes from Krsnaloka. The

brahmajyoti is the personal effulgence emanating from the Lord

Himself.

Krishna's effulgence is called Brahman. It comes from His personalform.

38

In the spiritual world there is only one Supreme Godhead,

Krishna, who expands Himself into millions and millions of plenary

expansions. As \ve learned in Lesson Four, these expansions are four­

armed and They preside over the innumerable spiritual planets

known as Vaikunthas. These transcendental expansions are known by

a variety of names--Purusottama, Trivikrama, Vasudeva, Damodara,

Janardana, Narayana, Vamana, Padmanabha, and many more.

These expansions are compared to the leaves of a tree. The main

tree is compared to Krishna. Krishna, who lives in Gololea Vrindavana

or ](rsnalolea, controls both the material and spiritual universes. Yet

He is always enjoying His eternal pastimes with His beloved

devotees on [(rsnalolea.

. _;;..:~.. ~t.!lI1iJJl~WI~

.·~/:it ~'"'0

Vrindavana is the transcendental place where Lord Krishna enjoys

His eternal pastimes as a cowherd boy. It is the topmost place in all

existence. When Vrindavana is exhibited in the material 'World it is

called Goku/a. In the spiritual world it is called G%lea,

or G%lea Vrindavana.

The pastimes exhibited in Coku/a, when Krishna appeared on

this Earth 5,000 years ago, can be read in ](rishna Book. These

stories are like windows which allow us to see the Lord's abode. In

His transcendental abode, Krishna reveals Himself to His pure

devotees who love Him more and more. Even the cows, deer, birds

and trees are enchanted by the sweet vibration of Krishna's flute.

Krishna's supreme abode and Krishna Himself arenondifferent, being of the same quality. On this planet Earth, we canvisit Vrindavana, ninety miles southeast of Delhi, India. SrilaPrabhupada states in the Bhagavad-gita that this holy place "is areplica of that supreme Goloka Vrindavana located in the spiritualsky. When Krishna descended on this earth, He sported on thatparticular tract of land known as Vrindavana in the district ofMathura, India."

Below is map of India. Using the mileage key at the top, markwhere Vrindavana is located (90 miles southeast of Delhi).

PAKISTAN

··...XANSEA

CHINA

indiao 200 400 10'1

~ '100' ldi 'ida "ioU

Check for Understanding

Fill in the missing words to the following versefrom Bhagavad-gita, 8.5;

And whoever, at the time of ,quits his body

remembering alone, at once attains My _

Of this there is no----

Circle the TRUE statements:

I. Desire trees supply any type of eatable upon demand.

2. On Krsnaloka, Krishna appears in His four-armed fonn.

3. The brahmajyoti is the bodily effulgence of Krishna.

4. When Vrindavana is exhibited in the material world it is called

Gokula. In the spiritual sky it is called Goloka.

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Krsnaloka--Lord Krishna's Home

Krsnaloka is shaped like a lotus flower which expands as more souls

return back to Godhead. Using markers, draw a picture of Krishna

and His loving devotees within the lotus flower below.

(Hint: Refer to the beautiful paintings in Srila Prabhupada's books

to get ideas about what to draw. Don't forget Krishna's cows!)

How many words can you find in:

Goloka Vrindavana111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111....... ........ . ..................... . ... ..... . .

44

Play the I<rsnaloka Game!This game is for 10 players. It is similar to "musical chairs."

Choose one student to be the leader. Arrange a row of eight

mats in a circle. The circle represents Krsnaloka which is

shaped like a lotus flower. The mats represent petals of the

lotus and the players are devotees trying to enter the Krsnaloka

planet.

The leader begins chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and the

other nine players march around the circle of mats without

touching them. Without warning the leader stops the chanting

and all the players scramble for a mat. The devotee who does

not get one falls down from Krsnaloka.

He must then chant Hare Krishna to prepare himself to re­

enter Krsnaloka. He exchanges places with the child who was

the leader and the game continues.

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Lesson Six

Back to Godhead!

he inhabitants in the spiritual world are all liberated souls.

All of them are pure devotees of the Lord. In the spiritual

world there are five kinds of liberation. Sayujya-mukti is a form of

liberation in which one merges into the impersonal existence of the

Supreme Lord, called Brahman. Another form of liberation is

sarupya-mukti, by which one receives features exactly like God's.

Another is salo~a-mukti, by which one can live on the same planet

with God. By sarsti-mukti one can h~ve opulences similar to the

Supreme Lord's. Another type enables one to remain always with

God as one of His associates, just like Arjuna, who is always with

Krishna as His friend. Of these five types of liberation, sayuiYa-mukti,

merging with the impersonal aspect of the Lord, is not accepted by

Vaisnava devotees.

When one takes birth again and again

within this material world,

there is no liberation!

46

hen one is situated in pure devotional service to the

Lord he does not care where he is living.

He does not care if he takes birth within the animal

society, human society or demigod society. He only prays

to Krishna that he will not forget Him and that he will

always be able to engage in His transcendental devotional

service. These are symptoms of pure devotion. Even

while in a material body, a pure devotee remains, within

his mind and heart, in the spiritual world.

In the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna tells Arjuna,

"He who meditates on the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, his mind

constantly engaged in remembering Me,

undeviatedfrom the path, he, 0 Arjuna,

is sure to reach Me."

47

ord Krishna wants us to remember our tm..e identity. He

wants us to return to Him in the spiritual world where...--.-we can be happy forever. He does not want us to remain in this

suffering condition of life within the material world.

Because the Lord loves us so much He comes Hilllself to the

. material world to teach us how to return to Him. Only~,~.., !:;

'<' .. I'!.~"~!tt.~.;~/'';Y 500 years ago the Lord appeared on this Earth as Lord'~~';! ,,~~:

j~.·b~, (~\ll Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Along with His associates, He

'.~'- , >1 ~~.S traveled throughout India teaching everyone the meansa~ ,.~ ~.

.>l!A~.'·· .~ for liberation in this age of Kali (quarrel and" (t' :) \~

". disturbance). Lord Chaitanya taught the chanting of the

maha-mantra:

0000000000000

Hare I<rishna Hare I<rishna

I<rishna I<rishna Hare Hare

Hare RaDla Hare RaDla

RaDla RaDla Hare Hare

48

he Hare Krishna mantra means: "0 Lord, 0 energy ofthe Lord, please engage me in Your service." Thissixteen-word mantra is very simple to chant. By chanting

it we gradually become cleansed of all material desires. By chantingthe Lord's holy names over and over again we will awaken the soul,our .tru.e self, and will want to spend our days serving I<rishna.Chanting the Lord's holy names and serving Him is so many ways isvery pleasant and fun! While enjoying this life, we will be preparingto enter into the kingdom of God in our next life.

~

~~t.~SAJAt1~le

UsJJA

JJJ)

I<rishna states, "Whatever state of being one remembers '\Vhenhe quits his body, that state he will attain without fail."

;"

ord Krishna and His nallles are the same. I<.rishna and

His transcendental abode are also the same. By chanting----the Hare Krishna maha-mantra we can have Krishna with us all the

time! For example, if we chant while we are walking down the street

we will see that Krishna is going with us. If we chant Hare Krishna

\Vhile we are in school we will know that Krishna is there as well.

Wherever we are, if we chant the Lord's holy names, we will always

be with Krishna. Lord Chaitanya, who was Krishna Himself, made

Krishna consciousness so easy for us. Simply chant Hare Krishna

and be happy! In this way, you will remember Krishna at the time

death and return back horne, back to Godhead! ©

50

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Ratna Hare Ratna

Ratna Ratna Hare Hare

52

Check for Understanding

Briefly explain the £iy~ tnJes oLliheratiou:

Write-the Hare I<rishna mantra below:

Write the meaning of the Hare Krishna mantta..;.

53

t

t

t

t

t

.J'J-

.........~~--.......~-....c:::.....-_ ....-.. \:"0

.. "11:"~

t __

t

START START START START

CULplayer pie,es: 3«---

Cut QuLthe game card£:. ~---

Pray to the Deities.Move forward 3 spaces.

Help prepare feast atthe tem.ple. Moveforward 4 spaces.

Chant 16 roundson japa beads.Move forward3 spaces.

Forget to offer your food.Lose one turn.

I----------------------------------------------------------------~---------------------------------------------

r

Dance nicely in arotika.

Move forward 2 spaces.

Preach to gUest attemple. Move forwardI space.

-------------------------------------------------------~------------------------------------------------------Read Bhagavad-gita

everyday. Move forward

I space.

Forget to payobeisances in tem.pleroom. Move back 2spaces.

Late for arotika.Move back one space.

Lead kirtan. Moveforward 3 spaces.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Give prasadam to guests.Move forward 3 spaces.

Teach a friend to chantHare Krishna. Moveforward I space.

55