Theos-Talk Archives (December 2005 Message tt00131)

>From the universe and our solar system, we move on to the 
formation of the seven planes or worlds of nature.

Om Bhuhu, Om Bhuvaha, Ohum Suvaha, Om Mahaha, 
Om Janaha, Om Tapaha, Ohum Satyam. 
Om tat savitur varenyam, bhargo devasya dhimahi, 
dhiyo yo nah prachodayat. 
Om apo jyoti raso amritam brahma bhurbhuvasuvarom. 

Recognize this mantra?

Pranayamam. The maha mantra that purifies our body, heart and soul. 
It indicates the Seven Planes of Nature that are the next worlds 
for a human, after he/she drops his/her physical body.

The transliteration below uses the ITRANS scheme, developed by 
Avinash Chopde. The ITRANS utility, converts the transliterated 
text below into Devanagari script. This utility is freeware, 
available at the Website http://www.omkarananada-ashram.org.

oM bhUH. oM bhuvaH. o{\m+} suvaH. oM mahaH. 
oM janaH. oM tapaH. o{\m+} satyam.. 
oM tat savitu^rvareNyaM. bhago^r devasya dhImahi. 
dhiyo yo naH pracodayat.. 
omApo jyoti raso .amRRitaM bramhA bhUbhu^rvassuvarom..  

We noted in the article 5. Formation of Our Solar System how the 
seven planes of our solar system were formed by the seven impulses 
or "breaths" of the Solar Deity. Coming one after another, over long 
periods of time, each breath aggregated the bubbles of koilon (which 
are ultimate atoms of all planes) into multiples of 49 (7^2) to form 
the matter of each plane.

These seven planes are the seven folds of space, surrounding each 
planet in the solar system, the solar system itself, the other 
systems in the universe, and the universe itself.

There are seven far larger Cosmic Planes. The seven solar planes 
form the Cosmic Physical Plane, the lowest of the cosmic planes.

So the space around us has seven planes, called the Seven Planes of 
Nature, that surround our planet earth. Each of these planes has 
seven sub-planes. The planes are also known as worlds, lokas, 
regions or dimensions.

Each plane relates to a state of consciousness; that is, with the 
right state of consciousness, humans can see and travel in the 
related plane. For example, human consciousness, which is at most 
times of the day focussed on the physical body, is confined to the 
Physical plane or world. During sleep at night, the consciousness 
gets focussed on the Astral or Emotional plane. Human thoughts 
originate from the Mental or Intellectual plane.Flashes of intution 
originate from the Buddhic or Causal plane.

The planes of Nature from the subtlest to the grossest are listed 
below. The names in brackets are the other names for the planes.    
Theosophy currently adopts the term world for the older term plane. 
Each plane has its own nature and inhabitants, so it is a world in 
itself.

1. Divine World (Adi, Satya-loka) 
2. Monodic World (Anupadaka, Taparloka) 
3. Spiritual World (Atmic, Janarloka) 
4. Intutional World (Buddhic, Causal, Maharloka) 
5. Mental World (Intellectual, Manas, Suvarloka) 
6. Astral World (Emotional, Bhuvar-loka, Kamaloka) 
7. Physical World (Earth, Bhur-loka, Sthula, Prithvi) 

The Hindu Model of the Seven Worlds 

In the Hindu model, Bhur-loka is the lowest of the seven lokas or 
worlds. This the Bhumi, the Earth or the Physical World we live. The 
field of influence of bhurloka is said to extend little farther than 
our atmosphere. The term Bhur-loka originates from bhur earth and 
loka place or world.

The sixth loka (counting downwards) is the Bhuvar-loka, the middle 
of the three worlds Bhur, Bhuvas, Suvar. This is the world we go to 
after death. The ethereal realm or sphere between the earth and the 
sun, this world is also the abode of the munis. The term Bhvar-loka 
originates from bhuvas air, atmosphere and loka world.

Svarloka, the fifth world (counting downwards) is the svarga or the 
Heaven-world. Svarloka is also exoterically said to be a paradise 
situated on Mount Meru, the abode of Brahma and Vishnu. Mount Meru, 
the Hindu Olympus, is "described geographically as passing through 
the middle of the earth-globe, and protruding on either side. On its 
upper station are the gods, on the nether (or South pole) is the 
abode of the demons (hells)" (SD 2:404). The sphere of influence of 
svarloka is said to reach to the pole star. The term Svarloka is a 
combination of the roots svar heaven and loka world.

The fourth of the seven lokas is the Maharloka, the abode of certain 
classes of pitris, certain of the manus, and the seven rishis, as 
well as of orders of celestial spirits and gods. Its sphere of 
influence is exoterically said to extend to the utmost limits of the 
solar system. The term Maharloka is a combination of the verbal root 
mah to be great, also pleasure, delight and loka world.

Janarloka (also called Janoloka), the third of the seven lokas 
(counting downwards). Exoterically said to extend beyond the solar 
system, it is the abode of the kumaras belonging to a high plane, 
but one nevertheless inferior to those living in taparloka. The 
siddhas (saints, pious men) are stated to have their spiritual 
dwellings or rest periods in janarloka. There too, according to the 
Puranas, animals destroyed in the general cosmic conflagration are 
born again (SD 1:371). The term Janarloka originates from the root 
jan to be born and loka world.

The second of the seven lokas (counting downwards), Taparloka is 
often called in Hindu literature the mansion of the blessed. It is 
considered to be the abode of vairaja-deities, agnishvattas, Sons of 
Brahma, the highest classes of manasaputras and kumaras. The term 
Taparloka originates from tapar devotion and loka world.

The first or the highest of the seven lokas is the Satyaloka. 
Referred to as the abode of truth, this loka is the innermost and 
closest to the radiating spiritual center, and yet extends its 
influence through and beyond all the inferior lokas. The three 
higher worlds Janarloka, Taparloka and Satyaloka are together known 
as Brahmaloka. Satyaloka is the abode of jivanmuktas, souls that are 
liberated for the remainder of the entire solar manvantara from the 
cycle of spiritual transmigrations through the various spheres of 
being. The term Satyaloka is a combination of satyam truth and loka 
world.

Atoms of the Seven Worlds 

Each of the seven worlds has its own ultimate or permanent atom that 
consists of bubbles from koilon. The number of bubbles in each 
permanent atom of the planes is given below. The names in brackets 
are the commonly used older names.

1. Divine World (Adi) - 1 
2. Monodic World (Anupadaka) - 49  
3. Spiritual World (Atmic) - 2,401 (49^2) 
4. Intutional World (Buddhic, Causal) - 117,649 (49^3) 

5. Mental World (Intellectual) - 5,764,801 (49^4) 
6. Astral World (Emotional, Kamaloka) - 282,475,249 (49^5) 
7. Physical World (Earth) - 13,841,287,201 (49^6) 

Evolution of Form and Life 

There are three currents of evolution that are distinguishable on 
our earth in connection with humanity. The first great wave from the 
Solar Logos (Solar Deity) forms the matter, seeding it with His 
spirit, using His third aspect.

The second great wave, using the second aspect of the Solar Deity, 
evolves the forms out of matter. The third, using the first aspect, 
evolves the self-consciousness of the forms and ensouls them.

As Annie Besant in her book The Ancient Wisdom says that the first 
current makes the materials, the second builds the house and the 
third grows the tenant of the house.

These three great waves of evolution formed the Seven Kingdoms of 
Nature, four of which are well known. The first is the Mineral 
Kingdom, the second, Vegetable Kingdom, the third, Animal Kingdom 
and the fourth, Human Kingdom. The three higher kingdoms, according 
to Theosopy, are represented by the Hierarchy, Shamballa and Sanat 
Kumara. We shall consider these life regions separately later.

Human constitution, like the seven planes, is septenary. In other 
words, we have seven bodies or vehicles of consciousness. The three 
higher vehicles are permanent in nature. They are the Atma, Buddhi 
and Manas. The four lower vehicles that are transitory in nature are 
the physical body, etheric-double, astral body and the animal soul 
(kama-rupa).

Let us now start exploring the seven worlds, from the lowest and the 
grossest.

The Physical World (Physical Plane) 

The world we live in our waking consciousness (jagrat state), our 
holy mother Earth, has seven sub-planes, four of which most of us 
are aware of: solid, liquid, gas and ether.

The sub-plane ether is actually four sub-planes. For want of better 
names, they are known as the fourth, third, second and first ether. 
What is the difference between these four ethers?

The first ether, the highest, has only one ultimate physical atom 
(UPA). This is the seventh sub-plane of our physical world, counting 
from the lowest. The second ether is composed of fairly simple 
heterogeneous combinations of UPAs. The complexity increases in the 
third and fourth etheric sub-planes. Each combination stays stable 
and acts as the unit of matter in a given etheric plane. 

In the lowest three sub-planes, the gaseous, liquid and solid, the 
complicated combinations of the UPAs are regarded as the scientific 
or chemical atom, the atom of the elements, such as hydrogen, 
oxygen, bromine or gold. In these three sub-planes, the combinations 
exist as elements, mixtures and compounds.

Whether it exists in mixtures or compounds, or individually, an 
element preserves its nature. For example, the element oxygen exists 
as a constituent of wood (solid), water (liquid) and air (gas). Pure 
oxygen can also be reduced from gas to liquid to solid. In the same 
way, oxygen can be raised to the four etheric levels, losing its 
UPAs in the process, until it has a single UPA in the first ether, 
which is the seventh sub-plane of the physical world.

Our physical body is composed of matter from all the seven 
sub-planes of the physical plane. The etheric matter constitutes an 
etheric-double of the physical body. These two bodies respond to the 
vibrations at their own levels of matter. We shall consider the 
septenary constitution of man separately.

To continue on the other planes...

Sources: 
1. Theosophy Explained in Questions and Answers by P. Pavri. 
2. The Ancient Wisdom by Annie Besant 

Lower than hell, 
Higher than heaven, outside the utmost stars, 
Farther than Brahm doth dwell, 
Before beginning and without an end, 
As space eternal and as surety sure, 
Is fixed a power divine which moves to good, 
Only its laws endure.  

--From The Light of Asia by Edwin Arnold 

Regards,
saidevo

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