Concept of Celestial Bodies

Vishnu Purana has discussed the position and the path of various celestial bodies in great detail. The path of the celestials is situated on the north of the solar sphere of the Nagavithi and south of the seven Rishis. There reside the Siddhas of subdued senses, continent and pure, not desirous of having offspring and consequently victorious over death. Eighty-eight thousand of these continent ascetics live in the regions north of the Sun till the time of dissolution. The Siddhas of the heaven are freed from covetousness and concupiscence, love and hatred and are not engaged in the work of procreation. They always detect the deficiency of the properties of elementary matter and being freed from these desires they do not meet with any obstacle in the way of asceticism. The Purana says that it is for this reason that the Siddhas attain immortality. By immortality it is meant that they exist till the end of Kalpa or they live as long as the three regions of the universe exist.

The Purana states that region between the seven Rishis and Dhruva, the third region of the sky is the excellent celestial path of Vishnu and is the splendid abode, of the ascetics, who have controlled their senses and are freed from sins and in whom virtue and vice are annihilated. Those in whom virtue and vice are annihilated and who are freed from the consequences of piety or iniquity go to this excellent place of Vishnu where they never suffer sorrow. In this celestial region live Dharma, Dhruva and other spectators of the world radiant with the superhuman faculties of Vishnu obtained by virtue, of religious meditation. It has been mentioned in the Purana that the holy seat of Lord Vishnu is the stay of the three worlds as it is the source of the rain. Again it is from this region that the river Ganges precedes that has the capacity to remove all sins embrowned with the unguents of the nymphs of heaven. This seat of Vishnu is being meditated upon by the wisdom of Yogis at one with supreme light as the radiant eye of heaven. The splendid Dhruva is stationed as the pivot of atmosphere. As Vishnu Purana discusses the concept of the celestials` bodies of the universe Dhruva has also received a special mention in the Purana. On Dhruva are placed the seven great planets and on them depend the clouds. And from the clouds proceed the rains; from them the water which is the nutriment and delight of all the celestials and the rest.