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Within and beyond time and space: Tour the transcendental world, the material world and find the way back

This is a simplified way to understand the wanderings of a spirit soul within samsara, the cycle of birth and death. It shows the basic facts
needed to understand this world and the life in it and helps to learn
about the different ways of life leading to elevation or degradation.
With this information you can be more in control of your life, in harmony
with the universe and its laws:

"We cannot break the laws - we can only break ourselves against the laws."

This 'tour' is based on Vedic scriptures like Bhagavad-gita (BG), Bhagavata Purana (SB), Brahma-samhita (B-s), as well as other Vaisnava sources. Gaudiya Vaisnava siddhanta is most elaborately presented in Sad-sandarbhas of Sri Jiva Gosvami.

More resources: Sadaputa das produced Mysteries of the Sacred Universe" book and cd. Here is a short overview and part of the video online. Danavir Goswami produced Vedic Cosmology book and dvd.

I am jiva, spirit soul, part
and parcel and eternal servant of the Lord. My svarupa, spiritual body, is similar
in form to any of the material bodies in the material world but it is
of the same quality as myself and the whole spiritual world (sac-cid-ananda).
Although I could stay here eternally in Lord's loving company and participate
in His lila (pastime), I decided to explore the
material world thus beginning my journey...

The Lord does not interfere with my free will by preventing me from leaving Him but is unlimitedly happy when I return to Him again:

"Having attained me [Sarupa], a friend more dear than life, as if He had
not seen me for a long time, taking my hand in His lotus hand, asking
me wonderful questions, bringing happiness to all the people of Vraja,
and walking as gracefully as an elephant, the handsome Lord entered the
village of Vraja." (Brhad-bhagavatamrta 2.6.76, by Sanatana Goswami)

"After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogis in devotion, never
return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because they
have attained the highest perfection." (BG 8.15)

This is my home, the transcendental world of sac-cid-ananda nature (eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss), abode of the Supreme Lord
in His unlimited eternal forms. Its six divisions are called Goloka
Vrindavana, Navadvipa, Mathura, Dvaraka, Ayodhya, Vaikuntha (also
used as the general name of Hari-dhama).

HERE STARTS AND ENDS MY JOURNEY TO THE MATERIAL WORLD

Goloka Vrindavana - "I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who resides in
His own realm, Goloka, with Radha, who resembles His own spiritual figure
and who embodies the ecstatic potency [hladini]. Their companions are
Her confidantes, who embody extensions of Her bodily form and who are
imbued and permeated with ever-blissful spiritual rasa." (Brahma-samhita
5.37, as quoted in CC Adi 4.72 and CC Madhya 8.163)

Navadvipa - "In that place [where Sri Caitanya appears] is a wonderful city
like an eight-petal lotus flower. In the middle of that lotus-city is
a place called Mayapura, and in the middle of Mayapura is a place called
Antardvipa. That place is the home of Lord Caitanya, the Supreme Personality
of Godhead." (commentary of Bhaktivinoda Thakura on Chandogya Upanisad
8.1.1-2)

"That original Lord Krsna appeared in Navadvipa as Lord Caitanya, and Balarama appeared with Him as Lord Nityananda." (Caitanya-caritamrta,
Adi-lila 5.6)

"In this Age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient intelligence will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His associates, by performance
of sankirtana-yajna [congregational chanting of the holy names of the
Lord]." (SB 11.5.32)

Mathura - "Sri Uddhava said: Thereafter Lord Krsna went to Mathura City with Sri
Baladeva, and to please Their parents They dragged Kamsa, the leader of
public enemies, down from his throne and killed him, pulling him along
the ground with great strength." (SB 3.3.1)

"Since that time, the city of Mathura had been the capital of all the kings of the Yadu dynasty. The city and district of Mathura are very intimately
connected with Krsna, for Lord Krsna lives there eternally." (SB 10.1.28)

Dvaraka - "Undoubtedly it is wonderful that Dvaraka has defeated the glories
of the heavenly planets and has enhanced the celebrity of the earth. The
inhabitants of Dvaraka are always seeing the soul of all living beings
[Krsna] in His loving feature. He glances at them and favors them with
sweet smiles." (SB 1.10.27)

Ayodhya - "Lord Ramacandra returned to His abode, to which bhakti-yogis are promoted.
This is the place to which all the inhabitants of Ayodhya went after they
served the Lord in His manifest pastimes by offering Him obeisances, touching
His lotus feet, fully observing Him as a fatherlike King, sitting or lying
down with Him like equals, or even just accompanying Him." (SB 9.11.22)

Vaikuntha - "Therefore, O Lord, feeling weary of material life and tormented by
its distresses, I now surrender unto You because You are the perfect master.
You are the unlimited, all-knowing Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose
spiritual abode in Vaikuntha is free from all disturbances. In fact, You
are known as Narayana, the true friend of all living beings." (SB 11.7.18)

MAHAVISNU

Lord Mahavisnu rests in the River Viraja, Causal Ocean (Karanodaka)
which is the border between transcendental and material realms.

"The Supreme Living Being in His feature as the transcendental purusa incarnation, who is the Lord's plenary expansion, impregnates the material nature of three modes, and thus by the influence of eternal
time the living entities appear. Thereafter, influenced by the interactions
of eternal time, the supreme sum total of matter called the mahat-tattva
became manifested, and in this mahat-tattva the unalloyed goodness, the
Supreme Lord, sowed the seeds of universal manifestation out of His own
body." (SB 3.5.26-27)

The destination of sunyavadis (buddhists) is pradhana, the primordial
matter, which has a sunya (void) nature. When Mahavisnu breathes out,
it is manifested and transforms gradually into the prakriti, matter, the
building block of the material world. When He breathes in, it is withdrawn
into His body together with the jivas absorbed in it. By the look of Mahavisnu
I am then transferred into the womb of Durga, the material
world.

Pradhana - "In the unmanifest stage of material nature, called pradhana, there is no expression of words, no mind and no manifestation
of the subtle elements beginning from the mahat, nor are there the modes
of goodness, passion and ignorance. There is no life air or intelligence,
nor any senses or demigods. There is no definite arrangement of planetary
systems, nor are there present the different stages of consciousness -
sleep, wakefulness and deep sleep. There is no ether, water, earth, air,
fire or sun. The situation is just like that of complete sleep, or of
voidness. Indeed, it is indescribable. Authorities in spiritual science
explain, however, that since pradhana is the original substance, it is
the actual basis of material creation." (SB 12.4.20-21)

MAHESA-DHAMA

Realm of Lord Siva is full of Brahman effulgence.
It is situated between Hari-dhama and Devi-dhama.

This is the destination of the brahmavadis, impersonalistic worshipers
of Siva and those who meditate on Brahman. Here I can stay for a long
time as Siva's associate or by his mercy reach Hari-dhama.
It may also happen that I break the rules of life here and am sent back
to material world.

"The demigods observed Lord Siva sitting on the summit of Kailasa Hill with his wife, Bhavani, for the auspicious development of the three worlds.
He was being worshiped by great saintly persons desiring liberation. The
demigods offered him their obeisances and prayers with great respect."
(SB 8.7.20)

DEVI-DHAMA

This material world is the realm of Durga who is the material energy in her personal form.

"The goddess Durga was decorated with flower garlands, smeared with sandalwood pulp and dressed with excellent garments and ornaments made of valuable
jewels. Holding in her hands a bow, a trident, arrows, a shield, a sword,
a conchshell, a disc and a club, and being praised by celestial beings
like Apsaras, Kinnaras, Uragas, Siddhas, Caranas and Gandharvas, who worshiped
her with all kinds of presentations, she spoke as follows." (SB 10.4.10-11)

I, jiva, am now just a transcendental sparkle of an atomic size and according
to my desire and karma I take birth in various material bodies one after
another (the cycle of birth and death, or samsara) within this world characterized
by all-pervading presence of birth, death, old age and disease (janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi).
These are symptoms of my conditioned life based on my identification with
matter. During my whole stay here I am accompanied by the Lord in His
invisible form of Paramatma (Supersoul) in my heart.
He lets me act according to my desires and witnesses and approves my actions.

Paramatma - "I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge
and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas, I am to be known. Indeed, I am the
compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas." (BG 15.15)

"Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma [Supersoul] in everyone's heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses
desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed
the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly
heard and chanted." (SB 1.2.17)

"One who worships the Deity of Godhead in the temples but does not know that the Supreme Lord, as Paramatma, is situated in every living entity's
heart, must be in ignorance and is compared to one who offers oblations
into ashes." (SB 3.29.22)

MAP 1
All the universes are clustered together up and down, and each and every
one of them is separately sevenfold-covered. The watery portion is beyond
the sevenfold coverings, and each covering is ten times more expansive
than the previous covering.
The extent of the cosmic phenomenon is calculated to be diametrically
(both ways) four billion miles. Then the coverings of the universe begin.
The first stratum of the covering (earth) is calculated to extend eighty
million miles, and the subsequent coverings of the universe are respectively
of fire, effulgence, air and ether, one after another, each extending
ten times further than the previous. (SB 2.2.28 p.)

1 yojan = 8 miles = 12,8 km

Dhruvaloka, the polestar, is 3,800,000 yojanas above the sun. Above Dhruvaloka by 10,000,000 yojanas is Maharloka, above Maharloka by 20,000,000 yojanas
is Janaloka, above Janaloka by 80,000,000 yojanas is Tapoloka, and above
Tapoloka by 120,000,000 yojanas is Satyaloka. Thus the distance from the
sun to Satyaloka is 233,800,000 yojanas, or 1,870,400,000 miles. The Vaikuntha
planets begin 26,200,000 yojanas (209,600,000 miles) above Satyaloka.
Thus the Visnu Purana describes that the covering of the universe is 260,000,000
yojanas (2,080,000,000 miles) away from the sun. (SB 5.23.9 p.)

SATYALOKA

My first body is that of Brahma, the secondary creator of this
world. I live on Satyaloka, the topmost dimensional level in this world.
If I am a pure devotee of the Lord, at the end of my long life I will
return to Hari-dhama together with my associates, great
sages. Otherwise I will be born as a great sage on Muniloka.

"Both the Lord and the living entity, being qualitatively spirit soul, have the tendency for peaceful enjoyment, but when the part of
the Supreme Personality of Godhead unfortunately wants to enjoy
independently, without Krsna, he is put into the material world, where
he begins his life as Brahma and is gradually degraded to the status of
an ant or a worm in stool." (SB 9.24.58 p.)

tathA ca brahma-vaivarte –
prApyApi durlabhataraM mAnuSyaM vibudhepsitam
yair Azrito na govindas tair AtmA vaJcitaz ciram
azIti-caturaz caiva lakSAMs tAn jIva-jAtiSu
bhramadbhiH puruSaiH prApya mAnuSyaM janma-paryayAt
tad apy aphalatAM jAtaM teSAm AtmAbhimAninAm
varAkAnAm anAzritya govinda-caraNa-dvayam

3 This is also described in the Brahma-vaivarta Purana: "They who attain the universally desired and very rare human birth, but do
not take shelter of Lord Krsna, cheat themselves again and again.
4 "By wandering through 8 400 000 species of life one finally attains a human birth.
5 "They who do not take shelter of Lord Krsna's feet, even though they
may be very proud themselves, are only unimportant fools who waste
their human life." (Bhakti sandarbha 108)

"The soul travels through many lifetimes in different bodies and at last gets a chance at the rare human birth, which is auspicious in
every respect. The soul has rotated through 8,400,000 different
species. It is by ajnatasukriti or unintentional pious activities that
the soul finally attains a human body. A birth in the human form is
most uncommon, because only in that body are spiritual activities
possible to perform, unlike any other species." (Harinama Cintamani 6)

"The yogis who become detached from the material world by practice of
breathing exercises and control of the mind reach the planet of Brahma,
which is far, far away. After giving up their bodies, they enter into
the body of Lord Brahma, and therefore when Brahma is liberated and goes
to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the Supreme Brahman, such
yogis can also enter into the kingdom of God." (SB 3.32.10)

MUNILOKA

Muniloka is the general name of the abodes of great sages: Tapoloka, Janaloka,
Maharloka. These sages constantly meditate on the Lord. Here I'm one of
the sages and by my meditation I can go either higher, up to Satyaloka,
to become Brahma's associate, or down, to the level of devas
(demigods).

"By mystic yoga, great austerities and the renounced order of life, the pure destinations of Maharloka, Janoloka, Tapoloka and Satyaloka are attained.
But by devotional yoga, one achieves My transcendental abode." (SB 11.24.14)

Dhruvaloka group of seven stars Sanaiscara Brihaspati-graha Angaraka Budha Sukra Group of stars Moon Sun Garbhodaka Ocean

MAP 2
The moon is situated 100,000 yojanas above the rays of the sunshine. Day
and night on the heavenly planets and Pitrloka are calculated according
to its waning and waxing. Above the moon by a distance of 200,000 yojanas
are some stars, and above these stars is Sukra-graha (Venus), whose influence
is always auspicious for the inhabitants of the entire universe. Above
Sukra-graha by 200,000 yojanas is Budha-graha (Mercury), whose influence
is sometimes auspicious and sometimes inauspicious. Next, above Budha-graha
by 200,000 yojanas, is Angaraka (Mars), which almost always has an unfavorable
influence. Above Angaraka by another 200,000 yojanas is the planet called
Brhaspati-graha (Jupiter), which is always very favorable for qualified
brahmanas. Above Brhaspati-graha is the planet Sanaiscara (Saturn), which
is very inauspicious, and above Saturn is a group of seven stars occupied
by great saintly persons who are always thinking of the welfare of the
entire universe. These seven stars circumambulate Dhruvaloka, which is
the residence of Lord Visnu within this universe. (SB 5.22) Moon
distance

SVARGALOKA

Svargaloka is the abode of demigods. I'm now Indra
(the chief demigod) or one of the other demigods in a cosmic hierarchy
(agnir vai devAnAm avamo viSNuH paramas, tadantareNa sarvA anyA devatA
- "Agni is the lowest and Vishnu is the highest among devas. All other
gods occupy positions that are in between." Aitareya Brahmana 1.1.1)
and my duty is to manage the affairs of the universe, protecting its
inhabitants against the asuras
(demons) as an empowered servant of the Lord. If I become advanced in
my devotional service, I will be born as a sage in Muniloka.
If I become attached to material enjoyment, I will degrade into a lower
position becoming a semi-demigod or a human
being.

"Men of small knowledge are very much attached to the flowery words of the Vedas, which recommend
various fruitive activities for elevation to heavenly planets, resultant
good birth, power, and so forth. Being desirous of sense gratification
and opulent life, they say that there is nothing more than this." (BG
2.42-43)

Neither the demigods controlling fire, the sun, the moon and the stars nor those in charge of earth, water, ether, air, speech and mind actually remove
the sins of their worshipers, who continue to see in terms of dualities. But
wise sages destroy one's sins when respectfully served for even a few moments.
(SB 10.84.12)

Indra: "We are now living in the heavenly planets, undoubtedly as a result of our having performed ritualistic ceremonies, pious activities and yajnas
and having studied the Vedas. However, our lives here will one day be
finished. We pray that at that time, if any merit remains from our pious
activities, we may again take birth in Bharata-varsa
as human beings able to remember the lotus feet of the Lord. The Lord
is so kind that He personally comes to the land of Bharata-varsa and expands
the good fortune of its people." (SB 5.19.28)

BHUVARLOKA

Bhuvarloka - the level of semi-demigods (Carana, Vidyadhara, Kinnara, Kimpurusa etc.). As one of the lesser demigods I am assisting the demigods
in various ways and sometimes interacting with the humans. By advancement
in my service I can become a demigod or to subdue to
the enjoying nature and be born as a human on the earthly
level, Bhurloka.

Semi-demigods - "Below Rahu by 10,000 yojanas [80,000 miles] are the planets known
as Siddhaloka, Caranaloka and Vidyadhara-loka." (SB 5.24.4)

"While He was passing in the northern direction, all the celestial denizens known as Caranas and Gandharvas, as well as the munis and the damsels
of the heavenly planets, prayed and offered Him all respects. The ocean
offered Him oblations and a place of residence." (SB 3.33.34)

Sun Rahu Siddhaloka Caranaloka Vidyadhara-loka Antariksa Earth Bila-svarga Pitrloka Hellish planets Anantadeva Garbhodaka Ocean

The hellish planets are situated in the intermediate space between the three worlds and the Garbhodaka Ocean. They lie on the southern side of
the universe, beneath Bhu-mandala, and slightly above the water of the
Garbhodaka Ocean. Pitrloka is also located in this region between the
Garbhodaka Ocean and the lower planetary systems. All the residents of
Pitrloka, headed by Agnisvatta, meditate in great samadhi on the Supreme
Personality of Godhead and always wish their families well. (SB 5.26.5)

Approximately 240,000 miles beneath the planet Patala lives Lord Ananta. This great universe, situated on one of Lord Anantadeva's thousands of
hoods, appears just like a white mustard seed. It is infinitesimal compared
to the hood of Lord Ananta. (SB 5.25.1-2)

The distance from the sun to the earth is lower planetary systems called Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Mahatala, Rasatala and Patala. Below
these lower planets by 30,000 yojanas, Sesa Naga is lying on the Garbhodaka
Ocean. That ocean is 249,800,000 yojanas deep. Thus the total diameter
of the universe is approximately 500,000,000 yojanas, or 4,000,000,000
miles. (SB 5.23.9 p.)

Between Bhuvarloka and Bhurloka is antariksa, an interplanetary space where the Sun is situated. Here live beings like Raksasas, Yaksas, Pisacas
and ghosts. They often descend on earth and are generally inimical
to humans. Usuallly they will be born later as humans.

Ghosts - "Living entities who are associates of Rudra develop in the third mode
of material nature, or ignorance. They are situated in the sky between
the earthly planets and the heavenly planets." (SB 3.6.29)

"Beneath Vidyadhara-loka, Caranaloka and Siddhaloka, in the sky called antariksa, are the places of enjoyment for the Yaksas, Raksasas, Pisacas,
ghosts and so on. Antariksa extends as far as the wind blows and the clouds
float in the sky. Above this there is no more air." (SB 5.24.5)

Related: Garuda Purana excerpts

BHURLOKA

Bhurloka, or Bhu-mandala is the earthly level consisting of seven spheres (dvipas) - Jambudvipa, Plaksadvipa, Salmalidvipa, Kusadvipa,
Krauncadvipa, Sakadvipa, Puskaradvipa - which are inhabited by various
human beings.

"The planetary system known as Bhu-mandala resembles a lotus flower, and its seven islands resemble the whorl of that flower. The length and
breadth of the island known as Jambudvipa, which is situated in the middle
of the whorl, are one million yojanas [eight million miles]. Jambudvipa
is round like the leaf of a lotus flower." (SB 5.16.5)

The planet Earth where I live now as a human
being is situated within Jambudvipa. It is known as karma-bhumi (Visnu
Purana 2.3.2), the place where new karma is created, a kind of cosmic
crossroad. Here I will decide about
my future situation, higher or lower, by acting in a particular way (not
that "all paths are the same" - yatha mata tatha pata).

"King Rahugana said: This birth as a human being is the best of all. Even birth among the demigods in the heavenly planets is not as glorious
as birth as a human being on this earth. What is the use of the exalted
position of a demigod? In the heavenly planets, due to profuse material
comforts, there is no possibility of associating with devotees." (SB 5.13.21)

BILA-SVARGA

Bila-svarga is the name of subterranean 'heavens' inhabited by the asuras and the Nagas. Bhagavata
Purana lists seven of them, one below another: Atala, Vitala, Sutala,
Talatala, Mahatala, Rasatala and Patala.

Bila-svarga - "In these seven planetary systems, which are also known as the subterranean heavens [bila-svarga],
there are very beautiful houses, gardens and places of sense enjoyment,
which are even more opulent than those in the higher planets because the
demons have a very high standard of sensual pleasure, wealth and influence.
Most of the residents of these planets, who are known as Daityas, Danavas
and Nagas, live as householders. Their wives, children, friends and society
are all fully engaged in illusory, material happiness. The sense enjoyment
of the demigods is sometimes disturbed, but the residents of these planets
enjoy life without disturbances. Thus they are understood to be very attached
to illusory happiness." (SB 5.24.8)

Asuras - "Now let me describe the sons of Diti, who were begotten by Kasyapa but who became demons. In this demoniac family the great devotee
Prahlada Maharaja appeared, and Bali Maharaja also appeared in that family.
The demons are technically known as Daityas because they proceeded from
the womb of Diti." (SB 6.18.10)

"Beneath Mahatala is the planetary system known as Rasatala, which is
the abode of the demoniac sons of Diti and Danu. They are called Panis,
Nivata-kavacas, Kaleyas and Hiranya-puravasis [those living in Hiranya-pura].
They are all enemies of the demigods, and they reside in holes like snakes.
From birth they are extremely powerful and cruel, and although they are
proud of their strength, they are always defeated by the Sudarsana cakra
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who rules all the planetary systems.
When a female messenger from Indra named Sarama chants a particular curse,
the serpentine demons of Mahatala become very afraid of Indra." (SB 5.24.30)

Nagas - "Beneath Rasatala is another planetary system, known as Patala or Nagaloka,
where there are many demoniac serpents, the masters of Nagaloka, such
as Sankha, Kulika, Mahasankha, Sveta, Dhananjaya, Dhrtarastra, Sankhacuda,
Kambala, Asvatara and Devadatta. The chief among them is Vasuki. They
are all extremely angry, and they have many, many hoods - some snakes
five hoods, some seven, some ten, others a hundred and others a thousand.
These hoods are bedecked with valuable gems, and the light emanating from
the gems illuminates the entire planetary system of bila-svarga." (SB
5.24.31)

I have become one of the asuras or Nagas, half human and half serpent beings, who are enjoying high standard of material life on sub-earthly
levels. I am endowed with supernatural powers, totally irreligious and
usually inimical to humans. This seemingly ideal life is interrupted from
time to time - I am killed by Lord's Sudarsana chakra and born as a human.

HELLS

Hells (Naraka) - the lowest levels in the universe, places to suffer for committing
specific vikarmas for a determined time. Yamadutas are bringing
me to Yamaraja, the judge of the dead.
He will determine the type and length of my punishment according to dharma
sastras. After my punishment is over I will be born as an animal.

"While living one may be proud of one's body, thinking oneself a very big man, minister, president or even demigod, but whatever one may be,
after death this body will turn either into worms, into stool or into
ashes. If one kills poor animals to satisfy the temporary whims of this
body, one does not know that he will suffer in his next birth, for such
a sinful miscreant must go to hell and suffer the results of his actions."
(SB 10.10.10)

"As directed by Citragupta, he suffers in hell. Having suffered tortures
there, he is born in low species. ..."
"When the expiatory and deterrent tortures in hell cease, the living beings
are born again in human (or animal - 28) form with the characteristic
traits of their sins. O foremost among birds, I shall tell you what these
signs are." (Garuda Purana 2.10.88-89, 2.46.9-10,28)

Yamadutas
- "Those who have passed several years in the dreadful hell and have no
descendants (to offer gifts) in their favor become messengers of Yama."
(Garuda Purana 2.18.34)

As a criminal is arrested for punishment by the constables of the state,
a person engaged in criminal sense gratification is similarly arrested
by the Yamadutas, who bind him by the neck with strong rope and cover
his subtle body so that he may undergo severe punishment. (SB 3.30.20)

Yamaraja - "The King of the pitas [ancestors] is Yamaraja, the very powerful son
of the sun-god. He resides in Pitrloka with his personal assistants and,
while abiding by the rules and regulations set down by the Supreme Lord,
has his agents, the Yamadutas, bring all the sinful men to him immediately
upon their death. After bringing them within his jurisdiction, he properly
judges them according to their specific sinful activities and sends them
to one of the many hellish planets for suitable punishments." (SB 5.26.6)

LORD ANANTA

Approximately 240,000 miles beneath the planet Patala lives another incarnation of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the expansion of Lord Visnu known
as Lord Ananta or Lord Sankarsana. He is always in the transcendental
position, but because He is worshiped by Lord Siva, the deity of tamo-guna
or darkness, He is sometimes called tamasi. Lord Ananta is the predominating
Deity of the material mode of ignorance as well as the false ego of all
conditioned souls. When a conditioned living being thinks, "I am
the enjoyer, and this world is meant to be enjoyed by me," this conception
of life is dictated to him by Sankarsana. Thus the mundane conditioned
soul thinks himself the Supreme Lord. This great universe, situated on
one of Lord Anantadeva's thousands of hoods, appears just like a white
mustard seed. It is infinitesimal compared to the hood of Lord Ananta.
At the time of devastation, when Lord Anantadeva desires to destroy the
entire creation, He becomes slightly angry. Then from between His two
eyebrows appears three-eyed Rudra, carrying a trident. (SB 5.25.1 - 3)