What is Brahmand / Universe ?

Hare Krishna friends ,

According to the Puranas , there are countless Brahmand or Universes .

Each of them are egg shaped and each of them are covered by layers of fire , water , earth , air , ether , mind , intelligence & false ego .

Now , are the scriptures reffering our galaxy or solar system to be the universe … or does our scriptures mean that the universe itself holds all galaxies & solar systems inside it , as modern science says ??


Hare Krishna friends ,

According to the Puranas , there are countless Brahmand or Universes .

Each of them are egg shaped and each of them are covered by layers of fire , water , earth , air , ether , mind , intelligence & false ego .

Now , are the scriptures reffering our galaxy or solar system to be the universe … or does our scriptures mean that the universe itself holds all galaxies & solar systems inside it , as modern science says ??

Also the earth / bhuloka is believed to be at the centre of the universe according to our scriptures . Above bhuloka lies 7 upper lokas … and below bhuloka lies 7 lower lokas .

This means our universe has only 15 lokas in total (including bhuloka) .

Is the universe really that small ?? Only 15 planes of existence ??
If so , then could it be , that the scriptures are actually referring our galaxy or solar system to be the universe ?

I’m a little confused here … Would appreciate if someone enlightens me on this matter . Also are there any sanskrit terms for galaxies & solar systems ?

Thanks & Hare Krishna 🙂