Sankarśanāya namah

The Lokāloka Mountains separate the lokās (worlds) that are inhabited from those alokās which are devoid of any life. For this reason they are addressed as Lokāloka mountains. The Supreme Lord has created these mountains as boundaries at the end of three planes (lokas) viz., Bhu, Bhuvah and Suvah.

All Stars and other celestial bodies beginning from the Sun and up to the Pole star illumine the planets or planes that exist only on this side of the Lokāloka Mountains. The illumination of these stars can never cross the high impassable Lokāloka Mountains and travel to the other side. Both in width and in height these mountains are beyond measure. It is impossible to estimate their dimensions.

Learned scholars have firmly determined the locations, dimensions and measurements of all the planetary systems and have said that the Lokāloka Mountains cover 1/4th of the surface area of the universe which is 50 crore Yojanas (4000 million miles).

The Self-originated Lord Brahma, who is also the father of this creation, has established 4 supreme elephants viz., Rṣabha, Puṣkaracuda, Vāmana and Aparājita on top of the Lokāloka mountains. These 4 elephants are situated in the four directions and maintain all the three worlds.

The Supreme Lord Srihari, who is addressed as Puruśottama, is the Lord of all universes. He is the Lord of all living entities. He is the repository of all divine energies. Residing as the Self within all entities, He is maintaining the entire creation. His transcendental state can be recognized through His righteous activities (dharma), knowledge, dispassion, Iśwara bhava and other mystical accomplishments.

Manifesting in an absolute pure form (śuddha sattva) devoid of the traits of passion and ignorance, He pervades all through the Lokāloka Mountains i.e. covering all areas enclosed within them. Holding all His weapons He manifests in a huge body solely for the welfare of all the worlds.

It is said that He pervades all through the mountains. Here it implies that in order to sustain all the worlds which have been created through the medium of his illusory power composed of the trigunas, He manifests in various forms till the end of the Kalpa.

Viśwakśena and others are His primary attendants. Remaining by His side, they are always at His service. In many ways He increases the competence of the Guardian-deities who are His limbs and of the elephants who are situated on the Lokāloka Mountains.

The description of the three worlds situated within the Lokāloka Mountains has thus far been given. The land that exists outside the Lokāloka Mountains i.e. Āloka varṣa is exactly similar in dimension to the land situated within the mountain. The area beyond the Āloka varṣa is the pure land where only Yogeshwaras who desire liberation reach. The Sun is located exactly at the center of this concentric circle (universe). It lies at the central point between heavens and earth (the 3 worlds). The radius between the Sun and the outer rim of the universal egg is 25 crore Yojaṇas (2000 million miles).

The Sun manifested in the lifeless universal egg and with his presence has filled it with living beings. He is Mārtānḍa. As he originated from the universal egg He is also addressed as Hiraṇyagarbha.

Divisions such as directions, space, earth, the different heavens, the different hells, Brahmaloka and other planetary systems exist only because of the Sun.

Deva-tiryaṅ-manuṣyāṇāṁ sarīsṛpa-savīrudhām Sarva-jīva-nikāyānāṁ sūrya ātmā dṛg-īśvaraḥ

The Sun is the Self (atma) for all celestials, animals, birds, reptiles, insects, human, trees, plants and all other living entities in the creation. He is the presiding deity for vision/ eyes.

With this the twentieth chapter of the fifth canto comes to an end.

Fifth Canto Chapter Twenty one

In this chapter the movement of the Sun’s chariot i.e. the path of the Sun is explained.

Maharishi Śuka explained, “O Parikshit, I have explained to you the measurement, location and dimensions of earth. Learned scholars have said that heaven is exactly similar in dimension to earth. Heaven and earth are exactly like the two halves of dicotyledonous seeds such as chickpeas.

Between the earth and heaven is the vast space (antareekṣa). Sun holds the most supreme position among luminous celestial bodies. He is positioned exactly at the centre of this outer space. He supplies heat to all the three worlds and ensures that they are duly illumined. Without transgressing the limitations of time, Sun enters into Makara (Capricorn) and other zodiac signs by travelling above, beneath or through them as required.

When he enters into them gradually during Uttarāyaṇa (northward journey), days are longer while nights are shorter. As he swiftly travels through them during Dakṣināyana (southward journey), days are shorter while nights are longer. As he travels through Aries (Meṣha) and Libra (Tula) at moderate pace days and nights are of equal duration.

As he travels through the five zodiac signs beginning with Tauraus (Vruṣabha) days become longer by 24 minutes (ghadi) with every passing month. Simultaneously nights become shorter. When he travels through the five zodiac signs beginning with Scorpio (Vriścika) days become shorter with every passing month. Until the start of Uttarāyana (northward movement) nights are longer; while until the start of Dakshināyana (southward movement) days are longer.

The Sun which orbits around the Mānasottara Mountains covers a distance of 9 crore 51 lakhs Yojanās (760,800,000 miles).

Learned scholars state that on this Mānasottara Mountain, on the side that is towards the east of Mount Meru, is Devadhāni the famous residence of Indra. On this mountain on the side that is towards the south of Meru is Saṃyama, the residence of Yama. Towards the west is Nimlocanī, the famous residence of Varuna. Towards the North is Vibhāvari, the residence of Moon God.

In these 4 cities of the Devatas, which are in the four directions of Mount Meru, Sunrise, Sunset, noon and midnight occur as stipulated. Due to these time changes living beings get an opportunity to engage in their prescribed duties during the days and also to stop work and relax during nights.

Pradyumnaya namah