14 lokas or planes of consciousness

Thousands of Brahmandas sprung up from the navel of vishnu when he exhales and the same goes in when he inhales. Western scientists refer this as big bang and big crunch. In human perception of time, the creation or Evolution of the universe and its dissolution (Laya or PraLaya) are very slow processes. What looks like a day in the cosmos of Brahma could be millions of years in human world. Padmanabhah (Vishnu Sahasra namam 48) is one from whose navel (nabhi) springs the Lotus (padma), which is the seat of Brahmanda or solar system. Vishnu sahasra namam starts with the name Visvam which means the whole universe of various forms are a manifestation of the Lord. That which pervades everywhere is Vishnu (Vyapnoti iti Vishnu). He is not limited by space (Desa), time (Kala) or substance (Vastu). Celestial objects like Sun, Moon can be seen as a reflection in a vessel filled with water. Similarly, the mirror image of the macroscopic universe acts as a template in the creation of the body and mind of all living beings. The electrons in a microscopic atom move round in the same way as planets move around sun. Yajurveda says, "Yat pinde tat brahmande, yat brahmande tat pinde". Pinda means microcosm and Brahmanda means macrocosm. The meaning is that Microcosm (intelect) operates the same way as the macrocosm (solar system) is functioning. In the Atharva veda and Puranas, there is mention about 14 lokas or 14 planes of intellect, 7 higher ones and 7 lower ones. The 14 lokas are a reflection of the cosmos, the sun and the 12 planets orbiting around it. We are familiar with the nine planets in the solar system. In addition there are 3 more interior planets or asteroids orbiting between mercury and sun. They are called vulcanoids. They cannot be seen from the earth since they always stay close to the sun. The Scientific details of vulcanoids are very minimal because of its extremely poor visibility. The powerful rays from the sun hides them in the sky. Even Mercury and Venus are visible only during a very brief period in a year, that too either before sunrise or after sunset. The light of sun prevents its visibility during day. The other 3 interior planets (vulcanoids) are not at all visible from the earth. But NASA's sun observing STEREO spacecraft has observed smaller vulcanoids between mercury and sun.    Outer loka - Planet          Inner loka - Planet    Sathya - Sun Atala - Mars Tapa - Vulcanoids Vitala - Jupiter Jana - Vulcanoids Sutala - Saturn Mahar - Vulcanoids Talatala - Uranus Svar - Mercury Mahatala - Neptune Bhuvar - Venus Rasatala - Pluto Bhu - Earth Patala - Celestial Even though the vulcanoids are smaller in comparison than other planets, their influence on the sun is stronger due to its nearness to the sun. Celestial movements can definitely affect human behavior. Moon and other planets can certainly effect our body and hence the behavior in a certain way. The earthquakes in the ocean floor can generate huge waves or Tsunamis throughout the ocean and its impact may be felt in faraway continents. The entire Brahmanda (Solar System) can be compared to an ocean filled with ether. The movement of 12 planets around the sun has an effect on all objects in the Solar System. We are not noticing it because the planetary movements are routine, monotonous, continuous uninterrupted processes like sunrise, sunset, full moon new moon etc. But conjunction of planets, that takes place once in several hundreds or thousands of years, has some noticeable influence. The concept of 14 lokas has influence on the creation process of mind and intellect of all living beings. The 14 lokas and 14 chakras exists in the intellect, mind and body of all living beings as a mirror image of the solar system. One of the Guna will be predominant in each of the 14 lokas. The creation of all living beings in the earth during the start of day kalpa are based on the predominant guna in each of the 14 lokas. The tridoshas (vata, pita, kapha) in the 14 lokas can be mapped to trigunas in each corresponding loka. This concept is used by Ayurveda to recommend the correct medicinal herb that is suitable for a patient. Thus the treatment in Ayurveda is treating the root cause, at the level of mind. The existence of 14 lokas is the reason for dividing a day kalpa period into 14 manvantaras. The Higher Lokas are Satya, Tapa, Jana, Mahar, Svar, Bhuvar and Bhu. The Lower Lokas are Atala Vitala Sutala Talatala Mahatala Rasatala Patala.