What is Treta 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.
Treta Yuga, in Hinduism, is the second and second best of the four yugas (world ages) in a Yuga Cycle, preceded by Krita (Satya) Yuga and followed by Dwapara Yuga. Treta Yuga lasts for 1,296,000 years (3,600 divine years).
Treta means ‘a collection of three things’ in Sanskrit and is so called because, during the Treta Yuga, there were three Avatars of Vishnu that were seen, the fifth, sixth and seventh incarnations as Vamana, Parashurama and Rama, respectively.
The bull of Dharma symbolizes that morality stood on three legs during this period. It had all four legs in the Satya Yuga and two in the succeeding Dvapara Yuga. Currently, in the immoral age of Kali, it stands on one leg.
What was the duration & structure of Treta Yuga?
Treta Yuga, the second age in a cycle, lasts for 1,296,000 years (3,600 divine years), where its main period lasts for 1,080,000 years (3,000 divine years) and its two twilights each lasts for 108,000 years (300 divine years).
The current cycle’s Treta Yuga has the following dates based on Kali Yuga, the fourth and present age, starting in 3102 BCE.
Treta yuga – what is treta yuga?
What are the characteristics of Treta Yuga?
During Treta Yuga, people were said to live for thousands of years and possessed great knowledge and wisdom.
This age was marked by the presence of powerful beings called demigods, who played important roles in shaping the world.
Legends from this era include stories about Lord Rama and his adventures, as well as other significant events in Hindu mythology.
Treta Yuga is considered a time of righteousness and spirituality, where people strived to live virtuous lives.
It is important to remember that these yugas are not literal time periods but symbolic representations of different stages in human consciousness and behaviour throughout history.
It serves as a reminder for us today about the importance of maintaining our virtues and striving for spiritual growth amidst the changing times we live in.