What is Kali Yuga?
Hindu texts describe four yugas (world ages) in a Yuga Cycle, where, starting in order from the first age of Krita (Satya) Yuga, each yuga’s length decreases by one-fourth (25%), giving proportions of 4:3:2:1.
Each yuga is described as having a main period (a.k.a. yuga proper) preceded by its yuga-sandhyā (dawn) and followed by its yuga-sandhyāṃśa (dusk), where each twilight (dawn/dusk) lasts for one-tenth (10%) of its main period.
Lengths are given in divine years (years of the gods), each lasting for 360 solar (human) years.
Kali Yuga, in Hinduism, is the fourth and worst of the four yugas (world ages) in a Yuga Cycle, preceded by Dwapara Yuga and followed by the next cycle’s Krita (Satya) Yuga. It is believed to be the present age, which is full of conflict and sin.
Kali Yuga (Sanskrit: कलियुग, romanized: kaliyuga or kali-yuga) means “the age of Kali (demon)”, “the age of darkness”, “the age of vice and misery”, or “the age of quarrel and hypocrisy”.
What was the duration & structure of Kali Yuga?
According to Puranic sources, Krishna’s death marked the end of Dwapara Yuga and the start of Kali Yuga, which is dated to 17/18 February 3102 BCE. Lasting for 432,000 years (1,200 divine years), Kali Yuga began 5,124 years ago and has 426,876 years left as of 2023 CE. Kali Yuga will end in the year 428,899 CE.
Kali yuga – what is kali yuga?
Near the end of Kali Yuga, when virtues are at their worst, a cataclysm and a re-establishment of dharma occur to usher in the next cycle’s Krita (Satya) Yuga, prophesied to occur by Kalki.
What are the characteristics of Kali Yuga?
Hinduism often symbolically represents morality (dharma) as an Indian bull. In the Satya Yuga, the first stage of development, the bull has four legs, which is reduced by one in each age that follows.
By the age of Kali, morality is reduced to only a quarter of that of the golden age, so that the bull of Dharma has only one leg.
Kali Yuga is the last of the four ages, or yugas, in Hindu cosmology. It is believed to be a time of great darkness and moral decline. According to Hindu scriptures, Kali Yuga began after Lord Krishna’s departure from Earth.
During this age, people are said to become more selfish and greedy. They tend to forget their spiritual nature and focus on material possessions. It is also believed that truth and righteousness become rare during Kali Yuga.
However, it is important to remember that every age has its challenges and opportunities for growth. Despite the difficulties of Kali Yuga, individuals can still strive to lead virtuous lives by practicing kindness, compassion, and selflessness.
Ultimately, the purpose of understanding Kali Yuga is not to feel discouraged but rather to inspire us to make positive choices and contribute towards creating a better world even in challenging times.