Kali Yuga
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Practices
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Kali Yuga (Devanāgarī: कलियुग [kəli juɡə], lit. "age of [the demon] Kali", or "age of vice") is the last of the four stages the world goes through as part of the cycle of yugas described in the Indian scriptures. The other ages are Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga and Dvapara Yuga. The duration and chronological starting point in human history of Kali Yuga has given rise to different evaluations and interpretations. According to one of them, the Surya Siddhanta, Kali Yuga began at midnight (00:00) on 18 February 3102 BCE[1] in the proleptic Julian calendar, or 23 January 3102 BC in the proleptic Gregorian calendar. This date is also considered by many Hindus to be the day that Krishna left Earth to return to his abode. Most interpreters of Hindu scriptures believe that Earth is currently in Kali Yuga. Many authorities such as Swami Sri Yukteswar,[2] and Paramhansa Yogananda[3] believe that it is now Dvapara Yuga. Many others like Aurbindo Ghosh have stated that Kali Yuga is now over. The Kali Yuga is sometimes thought to last 432,000 years, although other durations have been proposed.[4]
Hindus believe that human civilization degenerates spiritually during the Kali Yuga,[5] which is referred to as the Dark Age because in it people are as far away as possible from God. Hinduism often symbolically represents morality (dharma) as a bull. In Satya Yuga, the first stage of development, the bull has four legs, but in each age morality is reduced by one quarter. 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.[6][7]
Kali Yuga is associated with the apocalyptic demon Kali, not to be confused with the goddess Kālī (read as Kaalee) (these are unrelated words in the Sanskrit language). The "Kali" of Kali Yuga means "strife, discord, quarrel, or contention."
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[edit] Attributes of Kali Yuga
A discourse by Markandeya in the Mahabharata identifies some of the attributes of Kali Yuga:
[edit] In relation to rulers
- Rulers will become unreasonable: they will levy taxes unfairly.
- Rulers will no longer see it as their duty to promote spirituality, or to protect their subjects: they will become a danger to the world.
- People will start migrating, seeking countries where wheat and barley form the staple food source.
- "At the end of Kali-yuga, when there exist no topics on the subject of God, even at the residences of so-called saints and respectable gentlemen of the three higher varnas [castes] and when nothing is known of the techniques of sacrifice, even by word, at that time the Lord will appear as the supreme chastiser." (Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.7.38))
[edit] In human relationships
- Avarice and wrath will be common. Humans will openly display animosity towards each other. Ignorance of dharma will occur.
- People will have thoughts of murder with no justification and will see nothing wrong in that.
- Lust will be viewed as socially acceptable and sexual intercourse will be seen as the central requirement of life.
- Sin will increase exponentially, whilst virtue will fade and cease to flourish.
- People will take vows and break them soon after.
- People will become addicted to intoxicating drinks and drugs.
- Gurus will no longer be respected and their students will attempt to injure them. Their teachings will be insulted, and followers of Kama will wrest control of the mind from all human beings. Brahmins will not be learned or honoured, Kshatriyas will not be brave, Vaishyas will not be just in their dealings, Shudras will be given jobs they are not qualified for.
[edit] A special 10,000 year period within Kali Yuga
The Brahma Vaivarta Purana mentions a ten thousand year period, starting from the traditional dating of the Kali Yuga epoch of February 18, 3102 BC/BCE, during which bhakti yogis will be present.[8]
[edit] The end of Kali Yuga
"When flowers will be begot within flowers, and fruits within fruits, then will the Yuga come to an end. And the clouds will pour rain unseasonably when the end of the Yuga approaches." Then Lord Vishnu in the form of infant Krishna on a leaf will come to earth and again everything will start producing from the beginning. Many prominent Hindu scholars believe that we have either crossed the era of Kali Yuga or are approaching it, arguing for the repeated invasions on Hinduism in the last millennium in India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Indo-China, Central Asia etc. as the proof of the height of Kali Yuga.
[edit] Personification
Kali is the reigning lord of Kali Yuga and the nemesis of Sri Kalki, who is the tenth and final Avatar of Lord Vishnu. According to the Vishnu Purana, Kali is a negative manifestation of Vishnu who perpetually operates in this world as a cause of destruction, along with his evil extended family.[9] Kali also serves as an antagonistic force in the Kalki Purana. It is said that towards the end of this yuga, Kalki will return riding on a white horse to do battle with Kali and his dark forces. The world will suffer a fiery end that will destroy all evil, and a new age, Satya Yuga, will begin.
[edit] Kali Yuga in Sikhism
In Sikhism, it is believed that one should meditate on God as much as possible because of the world being in Kali Yuga. Because of Kali Yuga it is stressed that one should meditate as much as possible to reach the state of Nirvana and be liberated or be one with God. Guru Granth Sahib Ji on Ang:1185 says:
- ab kaloo aaeiou rae
- Now, the Dark Age of Kali Yuga has come.
- eik naam bovahu bovahu ||
- Plant the Naam, the Name of the One Lord.
- an rooth naahee naahee ||
- It is not the season to plant other seeds.
- math bharam bhoolahu bhoolahu ||
- Do not wander lost in doubt and delusion.[10]
[edit] Brahma Kumaris
According to the Brahma Kumaris and Prajapita Brahma Kumaris, there are also five ages or yugas in a single cycle or Kalpa of 5,000 years in which the Kali Yuga or Iron Age is the lowest, most impure, vicious and where ignorance rules. It lasts for 1,250 years at the end of which a fifth age of only 100 years exists called the Sangum Yuga (Confluence Age or meeting with God) during which time the Iron Age is destroyed and the Golden Age re-created. Every 5,000-year kalpa cycle repeats identically the same.[11]
[edit] Notes
- ^ The Induand the Rg-Veda, Page 16, By Egbert Richter-Ushanas, ISBN 8120814053
- ^ The Holy Science, by Jnanavatar Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, Yogoda Sat-Sanga Society of India, 1949
- ^ Yogananda, Paramhansa. Autobiography of a Yogi. BiblioBazaar. pp. 200–201. ISBN 9780554224664. http://books.google.com/books?id=_R6B6e4l4_4C&pg=PA201.
- ^ See the article René Guénon, in particular the section on the Hindu doctrine of cosmic cycles: René Guénon#Hindu doctrine of cosmic cycles.
- ^ Dimitri Kitsikis, L'Orocc, dans l'âge de Kali, Editions Naaman,1985, ISBN 2-89040-359-9
- ^ The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Markandeya-Samasya Parva: Section CLXXXIX
- ^ Bhāgavata Purāṇa 1.16.20
- ^ Ramesh Chaturvedi, Shantilal Nagar. Brahmavaivarta Purana. Parimal Publications. ISBN 8171101704. Online Book 4, Chapter 129, versus 49-60
- ^ CHAP. VII
- ^ http://sikhitothemax.com/page.asp?ShabadID=4214
- ^ The Cycle of Time, Brahma Kumaris, http://www.brahmakumaris.com/rajayoga-meditation/cycle-of-time.html, retrieved 23 January 2011
[edit] See also
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[edit] External links
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Look up Kali Yuga in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
