How Sun Revolve around the Earth?

The Srimad Bhagvatam is one of the most practical and foremost texts of Vedic tradition. It offers multiple examples, stories of Lord Krishna offered to practitioners of Krishna consciousness to elevate a higher spiritual taste. The divine Srimad Bhagavatam gives a detailed and exact view of cosmic world which is far much different from modern science, and it's references directly questions modern scientists, which they often fails to answer too.

In contrast to the modern heliocentric astronomy, the Bhagavatam presents a geocentric view where the Sun is said to revolve around the Earth and Mount Meru. This perspective may seem contradictory at first glance, but a deeper understanding of the Vedic worldview reveals a more symbolic, spiritual, and multidimensional explanation.

The Vedic Structure of the Universe

According to the Bhāgavatam, the universe is structured around Bhu-mandala, a vast circular plane made up of seven concentric islands (dvīpas) separated by oceans. At the center lies Mount Meru, the golden mountain that acts as the axis of the universe.

In Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.21.7, it is stated:

sūryo rāśim anupravṛtto 'ntarikṣeṇa saha merum dakṣiṇena parikrāmati

“The sun travels around Mount Meru on the southern side, in company with other planets, illuminating the heavens, earth, and space in between.”

Here, the Sun’s motion is described as a circular path around Mount Meru, supporting the geocentric structure.

Day and Night: Caused by Sun’s Circular Movement

The mechanism of day and night is described not as Earth’s rotation but as the Sun’s circular movement around Mount Meru.

In SB 5.21.9, it is stated:

evaṁ sārvabhaumaṁ merum pradakṣiṇena parikrāmati

“Thus the sun moves in a circular path around Mount Meru, bringing about day and night for different regions of the Earth.”

The implication is that as the Sun moves, it illuminates different parts of Jambūdvīpa and the rest of Bhu-mandala, causing the cycle of day and night.

Celestial Beings Drive the Sun

The Bhāgavatam also presents a deeply personalistic universe, where demigods control natural elements. The Sun is not an inanimate object but a chariot driven by the deity Sūrya.

In SB 5.22.2, it says:

eteṣu bhagavān sūrya ātmā loka-cakṣur ātma-yoni-bhūṣitaṁ sapta-turaṅgaṁ rathaṁ saparyan dakṣiṇāyanam anuprayāti

“In these planetary systems, the sun-god, the master of the planets and the eyes of the universe, travels on his chariot, driven by seven horses.”

This depiction conveys that cosmic movements are governed by divine will, not just impersonal laws of physics.

Higher-Dimensional or Symbolic Model?

Some devotees and Vedic scholars propose that the cosmology of the Bhāgavatam operates in a higher-dimensional framework. Just as a three-dimensional object cannot be fully represented in two dimensions, the descriptions of the universe in the Vedas may involve subtle dimensions invisible to modern instruments.

Śrīla Prabhupāda, in his purports, often emphasized that the Vedic cosmology is not “primitive science” but revealed knowledge from higher beings like Śukadeva Gosvāmī and Nārada Muni. He stated:

“We should not imagine that the statements in the Bhāgavatam are false or mythical simply because we cannot perceive them with our imperfect senses.”(Purport to SB 5.16.3)

Frame of Reference: Not Necessarily Contradictory

Modern astronomy observes the Earth revolving around the Sun. However, even in modern science, from a local observational standpoint, we often use Earth as the reference point, especially in calendars and astrological charts.

The Bhāgavatam's geocentric descriptions could thus be from an Earth-based perspective, emphasizing human experience and divine arrangement, rather than physical relativity alone.

Purpose of Vedic Cosmology: Devotion, Not Just Description

Vedic cosmology is designed not merely to inform but to transform consciousness. The arrangement of the planetary systems, the movement of the Sun and Moon, and the functioning of the universe are all described in a theocentric way—to help one understand that everything operates under the supervision of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna.

SB 5.23.3 summarizes this idea beautifully:

sarveṣām api bhūtānāṁ bhagavān pradhāna-puruṣeśvara īśvaraḥ saṅkarṣaṇa ātmā

“The Lord in His form as Saṅkarṣaṇa is the controller of all living beings and of the material nature itself.”

The Temple of Vedic Planetarium (TOVP)

To help the world visualize this sacred cosmology, ISKCON is constructing the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) in Mayapur, West Bengal. Based on the Fifth Canto's descriptions, the temple will feature a massive rotating cosmic chandelier that shows the planetary systems, including the revolution of the Sun around Mount Meru.

This isn’t just an architectural project—it is a spiritual offering to present Bhāgavatam’s universe to the world, preserving its divine message.

Conclusion

The idea that the Sun revolves around the Earth may appear outdated through the lens of modern astronomy. But in the context of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, it reflects a sacred cosmology designed to uplift the soul toward divine realization. Rather than dismissing these descriptions, we can approach them with humility and reverence, seeking to understand the deeper layers of reality they point to.

As Śrīla Prabhupāda often said, the purpose of all Vedic knowledge is to understand the Supreme Lord, Śrī Krishna, and our relationship with Him. The Fifth Canto reminds us that this universe is not a random accident—but a divine creation, full of purpose, beauty, and meaning.

References:

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.20 – 5.23: Descriptions of Bhu-mandala, Sun's orbit, and planetary systems.

SB 5.21.7, 5.21.9, 5.22.2, 5.23.3: Key verses about the Sun’s orbit and divine control.

Purports by Śrīla Prabhupāda: Especially on SB 5.16.3 and throughout Canto 5.

Temple of Vedic Planetarium (TOVP): https://tovp.org