8,400,000 species

We have discussed that this body is the field of activity. We are acting according to the body. I am the same person, but when I had my boyhood body or childhood body, I was acting differently. This child, they are acting now some way, but when they will get another body, they will act in a different way. Similarly, not only this human form of body, but there are 8,400,000 different types of bodies. We have explained several times, jalaja nava-laksani [Padma Purana]: "In the water there are 900,000 different forms of body." How many do we know? We do not know all the details. We know there are different types of fishes, and say 100,000 we have seen or experimented, the zoologist. But from the Vedic literature we understand that there are 900,000 forms of body within the water.    (More...)

So this is called Vedic knowledge. Perfect information is given there. Doesn't say 901 or 950. Exactly, 900,000. Jalaja nava-laksani. Then next, sthavara laksa-vimsati. Then, after aquatic, when the water dries, the vegetation comes out, and that vegetation grow gradually into plants, trees, herbs and so many, big, big trees. Here we have got big, big trees. So from aquatic life they have come to this vegetable life. And one tree standing for thousands of years. They cannot move an inch. This is also life. There is life. The trees, these banyan trees, they are making their arrangement how to stand fixed-up very strong. Nobody can move. The same struggle for existence is going on. As we are struggling to make our position secure, similarly, the trees are also making their position secure. The cats and dogs, they are also making attempt to make their position secure. This is called struggle for existence. So from this tree, just try to remember that there are 900,000 species of aquatics.    (More...)

So our process of understanding, this Krsna consciousness movement-we do not hear from any bogus person. We hear from Krsna. Therefore Krsna says for us, those who are Krsna conscious, tat samasena me srnu: "From Me, because I am the supreme authority, Krsna." Krsna says that mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya [Bg 7.7]: "There is no more superior authority than Me." So we get knowledge from superior authority. That is the process of acquiring knowledge. We go to school, colleges, teachers. So why? To receive knowledge. So teacher or school, college, they are in higher authority. Similarly, you go on, higher authorities, higher authorities, higher authorities, you reach to Brahma, because he is the original creature, and he described the Vedic knowledge. So he is also not higher authority. He also received knowledge from God. Tene brahma hrda adi-kavaye. That is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavata. Adi-kavaye, the original person.    (More...)

There are 8,400,000 forms of life. Out of that, the human forms in different status, 400,000. And eight millions, they are lower animals-birds, beast, aquatics, insects, serpents, so many. They're eight millions. The number of... You can see the number of human being. The other being... Just like even a small ant. From your room thousands of small ants will come out. But in that room, as human being, you cannot live more than two, three. That is the nature's way. You'll find so many sparrows, so many other birds, beast, even elephants. So they are getting their food, they are getting their sleeping accommodation, they have facility for sex life and they know how to defend. So human life is also meant for like that, simply for eating, sleeping, mating and defending?    (More...)

There are two things: conditioned life and liberated life. Eight million, four hundred thousand forms of life there are. Jalaja nava-laksani sthavara laksa-vimsati [Padma Purana]. Nine lakhs forms of life in the water. [child talking] Jalaja nava-laksani. [aside:] The child may be... Sthavara laksa-vimsati. The trees and plants, they are two million. Sthavara laksa-vimsati, krmayo rudra-saṅkhyakah. And the germs and insects, reptiles, they are eleven hundred thousand, eleven lakhs. Paksinam dasa-laksanam. Then birds, they are ten lakhs of forms. Then beasts, animals, so they are three millions forms. And then human being, they are 400,000. Very small quantity. Of all the living entities, the human forms, they are very small number, 400,000. Asitim caturas caiva. Asitim means eighty, and catura means four. So 8,400,000 species of forms.    (More...)

Svarupa Damodara: They ask, "How are you so much sure about 8,400,000 species?"    (More...)

Prabhupada: Because we have heard from authority. As you are asking assurance from me, so I give it the knowledge from where I have heard. You want to hear from me; I have heard from authority. That's all. Where is the difficulty? Why you are asking me? You want to hear from me. So I have also heard from authority. This is the statement. You take it.    (More...)