Theos-Talk Archives (January 2003 Message tt00041)

Dear Mr. Caldwell,

These are illustrations from the Vaishnava Shastra (Scripture) the 
Bhagavat Purana, also called the Srimad Bhagavatam. For stunning 
canonically correct illustrations of these themes, see the 
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust Edition of the Srimad Bhagavatam. For one 
popular contemporary Vaishnava explanation of the cosmology of the 
Bhagavat Purana read ...


Mysteries of the Sacred Universe
The Cosmology of the Bhagavata Purana

Richard L. Thompson

"Gripping, scholarly, and groundbreaking, Mysteries of the Sacred 
Universe deserves to be widely read and discussed."
—Robert G. Bauval, coauthor of both The Orion Mystery and The 
Message of the Sphinx 

>From the flat earth to the sun's chariot, traditional spiritual 
texts often seem wedded to outmoded cosmologies that show, at best, 
the scientific limitations of their authors. The Bhagavata Purana, 
one of the classical scriptures of Hinduism, seems, at first glance, 
to be no exception. However, a closer examination of this text 
reveals unexpected depths of knowledge in ancient cosmology. 
Mysteries of the Sacred Universe shows that the cosmology of the 
Bhagavata Purana is a sophisticated system, with multiple levels of 
meaning that encode at least four different astronomical, 
geographical, and spiritual world models.
By viewing the text in the light of modern astronomy, Richard 
Thompson shows how ancient scientists expressed exact knowledge in 
apparently mythological terms. Comparison with the ancient traditions 
of Egypt and the Near East shows early cultural connections between 
India and these regions—including a surprisingly advanced science. 
However, quantitative science is only part of the picture. Mysteries 
of the Sacred Universe also offers a clear understanding of how the 
spiritual dimension was integrated into ancient Indian cosmology.

paperback, 375 pages, 104 illustrations, 51 tables, glossary, 
bibliography, and index
ISBN 0-9635309-3-3          


I do suggest everyone get look at the BBT Edition illustrations, 
which are truly stunning and full of profound revelations. 

pax and prema, 

Bhakti Ananda Goswami
 


Daniel--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel H. Caldwell 
<info@b...>" <info@b...> wrote:
> See the following three illustrations:
> 
> http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/Pictureisworthathousandwords1.htm 
> http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/Pictureisworthathousandwords2.htm 
> http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/Pictureisworthathousandwords3.htm 
> 
> Does any reader see a RELATIONSHIP between the symbols shown in 
> Illustration 3 at:
> 
> http://blavatskyarchives.com/Pictureisworthathousandwords3.htm
> 
> and the lotus growing out of Vishnu's navel? See Illustration 2 at:
> http://blavatskyarchives.com/Pictureisworthathousandwords2.htm
> 
> In the illustration of Vishnu, what represents the circle without 
the 
> dot?
> 
> In the same illustration, what represents the circle with the dot?
> 
> And is there a geometrical figure in Illustration 3 that represents 
> Brahma sitting on the lotus? 
> 
> See Madame Blavatsky's commentary mentioned in Illustration 3 for 
> more insights.
> 
> Daniel H. Caldwell
> BLAVATSKY ARCHIVES
> http://hpb.cc