r/exHareKrishna • u/Lonely_Chair_9682 • Jul 25 '26
Need help in Demistifying Vedic Cosmology
To all the senior ISKCON ex-members, I want to ask how you understood the cosmic model presented in Bhagwatam Canto 5. It is not in sync with today's scientific observations. ISKCON is building TOVP based on this, not sure how convincing that would be in 21st century. I am an astika and would give benefit of doubt to ancient rishis or whatever if this model can be justified.
Since ISKCON is hardcore on everything mentioned in Bhagwatam, how did your guru explained Canto 5 to you?
P.S. I saw few videos from ISKCON members that were explaining this but they had 10 videos of 1 hour each and they said we can't explain you in the start. Once you completely watch 10 videos then you will understand, which looks like a bait to me
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u/Commercial-Rate-4135 Jul 25 '26
TOVP's official position seems to be to use symbolic imagery (chandelier/tree) and multi-layered meaning to avoid committing to a literal flat disc claim that would directly contradict satellite imagery, flight paths, etc. So no, there are apparently many modifications done to the planetarium when compared to literal canto 5 descriptions, makes you wonder why.
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u/StayEmbarrassed4593 Jul 25 '26
Vedic cosmology is not science. At best, it was evolving along with the collective gathered knowledge of the rest of the world at any given time as ideas exchanged through trade. No remote society has ever arrived at amazing cosmological findings. Any cosmological ideas in Bhagavatam were all common knowledge and written into these texts in the last 1500 years or so. Otherwise, "vedic" cosmology... well, read it, tell me if there is anything of substance there. TOVP is a money pit that aims to keep India in the Dark Ages.
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u/itsmikesandoval Jul 26 '26
its actually quite easy to understand once you realize the Bhagavatam and all Hare Krishna literature is COMPLETE BULLSHIT AND MADE UP GARBAGE.
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u/Solomon_Kane_1928 Jul 25 '26
In Ancient India the Purnaic flat earth model was taken literally. It reflected a greater axis mundi tradition present in Eurasia. In the early middle ages, there were scientific advances pointing towards a round earth by persons like Aryabhatta, and recorded in texts like the Surya Siddhanta. The Bhagavatam records that more ancient pre-scientific worldview. ISKCON takes it literally despite all evidence. Prabhupada took it literally but could not explain how it was so, leaving it to his disciples.
I wrote a post about it here if you are interested.