Author : Radheshyam das, radheshyam.rns@iskconpune.com , ISKCON, Pune, Dated 25th AUGUST 2023
Can man travel to higher planets by mechanistic means? Vedas have taught the method of reaching higher planets.
The first category goes to heaven by performance of Sacrifices such as Jyotistoma and other Sacrifices. By Sacrifices one gains virtues, Punya and becomes eligible to enter higher planets. They come in the category of karma-kandis or fruitive workers, who aspire for a long life and abundance of materialistic pleasures, by trying to be obedient children of God.
The second category try to go to heavenly planets without performing Sacrifice, like Trishanku, by being aided by the Tapobalam, merit of austerities of Vishwamithra. But often fail to get entry and Vishwamithra made a Trishanku swarga between earth and heaven for him based on his siddhis .
The third category of personalities like Hiranyakashipu, who gained entry to heavenly planets, by performing severe austerities, defeating Indra and demigods and took over their throne and became Tri-loka-adhipati, master of three worlds, for some period of time. Although Lord Krishna says in BG 9.10, that He is the Controller of Material Nature, Hiranyakashipu also, by dint of his austerities, became a Controller of Material Nature by forcing Nature to give rains, give fruits etc and he even took over the departments of Agni, Varuna and Vayu and asked them to resign from their jobs! But all this drama he could do for a short while, by power of his austerities and eventually he was destroyed by Mahat aparadh, great offense to the pure devotee, Prahlad.
Then there are fourth category of personalities like Arjuna, who gained entry into heavenly planets, inspired by Krishna, obtained Celestial weapons from Indra and Siva and many other demigods and became a blessed one.
There are innumerable evidences of earthly beings going to heavenly planets Eg. Yayati, Nahusha, Muchukunda, King Kakudmi who Revati’s father and father-in-law of Balarama and many more. Although ascending to higher planets is difficult for a common man, it is not an impossible task.
In the light of the above, what do we conclude about Chandrayan 3 landing on Moon?
When Columbus discovered America some few hundred years ago, Europeans entered the Country and eventually they developed the Country materially by increasing the facilities and amenities for better eating, sleeping, mating and defending. Forward march in material progress without much attention to spiritual emancipation has been the trend of all living entities in the conditioned state or in state of Maya. And they have no superior goal beyond this. Whether they go by seas and find out a Country like America or go by air and find out a Moon planet, the goal is the same and nothing more, unless they have a spiritual outlook to life.
India landing on Moon is certainly a great Scientific achievement from the point of view of so many thousands of Space Research Scientists involved in the task. For the first time, Indians, with their Scientific research in space, have been able to put his foot (not yet), put the foot of an unmanned space vehicle on Moon and certainly it is an extraordinary feat to achieve from the point of view of regular inventions in Science made as appliances for our daily use. Soon there may be a possibility of people visiting Moon like visiting to Simla, Ooty, Nainital and other Hill Stations. People may even consider going to Moon for Honey Moon after a few years of advancement of Space research alongwith necessary technology to transport people from earth to moon! Sounds thrilling! Isn’t it?
Many of the Scientists who sent Chandrayan 3 are also devotees of God and they can tell you their story, how ardently they prayed to God to make this event happen. When a jiva fervently prays to Supreme Lord to attain a particular goal, Krishna says, “ye yatha maam prapadyante, tams tathaiva bhajaamyaham”, He bestows it based on the proportion of endeavour that jiva has put and the prayer-merits he has achieved and the intensity of desire he has expressed.
Before we start transporting hundreds and thousands of people from Earth, let us prepare our mind first by asking a question, whether are we ready. By the type of lifestyle we lead based on Industrial revolution and consumer-based culture, we have spoiled the environment of earth by polluting air, water, food, city, environment and minds also. We have proved to God how messy we can make the Earth that God gifted us, to live, to use, to purify the heart of the evil propensitites of Proprietership, Controllership and Enjoyership mentalities that causes one to injure other innocent living beings, children of God. Few people have utilized the resources of Earth to genuinely awaken love for God and love for all and have become well-wishers of all mankind, for which God originally created the Earth with that intention.
I recently came across this video : `Scientists Discover Planets More Habitable Than Earth’ Link : https://youtu.be/CJUVd8SguDw
Now, say suppose, man is able to live on Moon by transporting crores of people from Earth to Moon, will he mess up that planet also or will he preserve the pure environment provided by God? Chatgpt or baard, I heard refuses to write foul language remarks, because of its initial design; that’s great! In the long run whether it will remain so, after it goes to hands of other type of people, we don’t know. Similarly, let us say God gave us one more nice unspoiled planet like Moon or many more planets to live, will we utilize that resource properly? Are we QUALIFIED for that now?
That is only possible if we chant Hare Krishna, purify our heart of base mentalities and learn the art of loving God and loving all. Otherwise what we did to the Earth the very same thing will repeat in another planet too. Therefore it is the sole duty of all members of ISKCON, as followers of Srila Prabhupada, bring about a true change of heart in this world – from cruelty to compassion, from selfishness to selflessness, from anger to peace, from greed to satisfaction, from lust to love – by propagating chanting of Hare Krishna Mantra and distributing the spiritual literature that Srila Prabhupada has given us and for the world. That will bring about the necessary ultimate good for the whole world! And at that time, instead of just going to Moon or another material planet, we will be transported to the ultimate Spiritual Planet, Goloka Vrindavana, where all water is nectar, all land is made of purpose gems, all walk is dance and cows supply unlimited milk everyday all day and Lord Krishna is the Supreme Master, Friend, Son and Lover of living beings! It is a world where there is no birth, death, old age or disease! Let us prepare our consciousness for entering that Supreme Abode of Everlasting Mirth and Merry where we experience ocean of happiness forever ! Hare Krishna.