Vedic Cosmology Decoding the 5th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, Part Three

Compiled by Mayesa dasa, edited by Gauragopala dasa.

Part 1 - Calculating the distance to Venus and Mercury

In Srimad Bhagavatam 5th Canto we have seen how to calculate the distance of the Sun. In this way the sages have devised a method of calculating other planetary bodies also. Let us review.

We take the sun's circumference (circular path) as it travels around the equator, which is 756,000,000 divide by 360 divide by 31,500,000, and multiply by sun's lowest circumference 864,000,000 to get 57,600,000. Both figures 57,600,000 and 756,000,000 are found in Linga and Visnu and Vayu Puranas (Danavir Gosvami has published the cosmological sections of these books).

So that looks like this: 756,000,000 divided by 360 divided by 31,500,000 times 864,000,000 equals 57,600,000. 57,600,000 in this case appears to be an approximation. The sun travels 23.7 or 23.8 degrees. 57,600,000 divide by 24 equals 2,400,000 times 360 equals 864,000,000.

Of course this is easy when we already know what is the circumference of a planet. The Srimad Bhagavatam 5th Canto gives us a system for finding the planets. Now the Sun is the first planet and the second mentioned is the Moon. But how do we understand this?

We must start out the same way: 756,000,000 divide by 360. But now the formula says to add 800,000 miles so the formula looks like this: 756,000,000 divide by 360 divide by (31,500,000 + 800,000) times 864,000,000 equals 56,173,374.61.

This is the declination in miles of the Moon. To get the circumference or circular orbit around the equator of Earth divide that number by 28.5, now multiply by 360. The circumference of the orbit of the Moon is 709,558,416.2, its declination is 28.5 degrees or 56,173,374.61 miles.

The next planetary body is the constellations. Now we use the last number found to begin our calculation. The math looks like this 709,558,416.2 divide by 360 divide by (31,500,000 + 800,000 + 1,600,000) multiply by 864,000,000 divide by 8.9 multiply by 360.

The constellation belts circumference around us at the equator is 2,031,946,146 its declination is 8.9 degrees or 50,234,224.17 miles. Now that the figure for the constellations has been introduced we will use it in the formula rather than the Sun's circumference of 864,000,000.

Note, we can find the declination of a planetary body if we know its circumference around the equator. If its orbit is 105,000,000 miles around us in a circle then divide the circle by 360 degrees and multiply by the declination. So if the declination was 5 the math is as follows: 100,000,000 divide by 360 times 5 = 1,388,888.88

That does not mean the planet is on that declination now. This means that 5 degrees is where it travels sometime in the future

Part 2 - Calculating the distance to Venus and Mercury
The last "planet's" distance we found was the Moon, so we begin with the Moon. The math looks like this: 709,558,416.2 divide by 360 divide by (31,500,000 + 800,000 + 1,600,000 + 1,600,000) times (2,031,946,146 divided by 2) = 56,407,843.86 divide by 8.9 =6,337,959.985 divide by 27.8 times 360 = 1,459,772,842 Now divide that number by 2.

The circumference of Venus as that planet orbits around Earth at the equator is 729,886,420.9.

Unlike the Moon, whose lower and higher declinations bend back towards the Earth like a backwards 'C', Venus follows alongside of and in front of and behind the Sun. Srimad Bhagavatam 5th Canto, Chapter 22, Text 12 says in part - "Sometimes Venus moves behind the sun, sometimes in front of the sun and sometimes along with it."

To calculate the lowest circumference of Venus we divide by cos (27.8) = 825,121,092.8 to get its highest circumference multiply 729,886,420.9 by cos (27.8) =645,643,642.

The circumference of the Sun at the equator is 756,000,000 so if Venus is 729,886,420.9, Venus would be in front of the Sun. However, if Venus is at 729,886,420.9 while the Sun is at 648,000,000, the Sun is technically closer.

These two planets never occupy the same space and therefore never collide, although their paths are similar. We can also note that the Moon is closer, then Venus and then the Sun.

Part 3 - Calculating the distance to Venus and Mercury
The last planetary distance we found was for Venus. So we begin with that number to find the next planet, Mercury. The math looks like this: 729,886,420.9 divide by 360 divide by (31,500,000 + 800,000 + 1,600,000 + 1,600,000 +1,600,000) multiply by (2,031,946,146 divided by 2) = 55,521,484.72 divide by 25.6 times 360 = 780,770,878.9.

Now you will notice that the orbit of Mercury is beyond the 756,000,000 of the Sun. If we do the math we can subtract these distances from each other and find that Venus is further away from the Sun and Mercury is closer. Whether or not these planets "circle" the Sun I do not know. But we could program the Fifth Canto math into a computer and find out. Again, as with Venus, Mercury is sometimes behind, sometimes with and sometimes in front of the Sun.

In Srimad Bhagavatam 5th Canto, Ch 22, text 12, Mercury is described to be similar to Venus, in that it moves sometimes behind the Sun, sometimes in front of the Sun and sometimes along with it.

Again we can find the higher and lower declinations by dividing the circumference by cos (25.6) or by multiplying the circumference by cos (25.6) We can also note that Venus is further from the Sun than Mercury, possibly placing Venus's orbit around Mercury. But it is by plugging the numbers into a computer we shall learn.