In our ancient scriptures and purans we come across a four-age cycle known as Yuga. In modern times this is termed as Era or Epoch. The four yugas are -
The widely accepted date for beginning of Kali Yuga is 3102 B.C.E. i.e. just after conclusion of Mahabharata war.
Krita Yuga – It is also known as Golden age. In this period it is stated that life span of human being was up to 80000 years. The life was sustained till bones sustain in body. The memory was so high that people could remember things by hearing or seeing it once. Rishis and Munis can sustain life by drinking water (only at times) for long periods. It is stated that during war, even if the limbs are severed from the body, life could continue. We come across purans that during this period, some kings ruled their kingdoms for 1000s of years. From the purans, we observe that people were highly intelligent, talented and the method of teaching was totally different. This age can be called as Age of Perfection. There was only one religion. It was the age of truth, all were saintly, humans were gigantic and powerfully built. They were honest and virtuous. All were able to reach the state of supreme bliss. The earth yielded their daily requirements; hence there was no need of agriculture, mining etc. There was no decease and weather was pleasant. There was no fear, hence this period is called as Golden age. It is believed that if we consider virtue and sin as single unit, the virtue was complete unit itself without any sin.
Tretya Yuga – In this Yuga the virtue declined. During this age life was sustained in body till the flesh remained in body. The emperor rose to dominance by raging wars. Weather started changing to extremes, resulting in the formation of deserts and oceans. The wisdom, knowledge and other virtues declined slightly. Agriculture, labor and mining were started. Average life span were 10000 years. During this period three parts of virtue and one part was sin. During Tretya Yuga, the people were able to overcome sorrow and distress by performing Tapas and by obtaining Atma Dnyan.
Dwapar Yuga – In this Yuga, virtue declined further and the human strength also declined. In this age, life remained in the body, only till there was blood. Life could be sustained for some period by not taking food. performing Yadnya, Pooja were useful in order to overcome difficulties, sorrows and distress. In this age, people started having Tamasik qualities, hence their strength decreased. Deceases become rampant. There was discontent and fights between human beings. Towards the end of the Yuga, vedas were divided into 4 parts as knowledge and intelligence declined further. Old people started behaving like young ones. Average lifespan declined to about 1000 years. There was 2 parts of virtue and 2 parts of sin i.e. half-half.
Kali Yuga – This is the final Yuga in cycle and also the current yuga. In this Yuga, intelligence slumped to the lowest level. Hence this age can be considered to be the age of ignorance and darkness. People became slaves to habits, passions and became less powerful compared to the earlier Yuga. Morality decreased to the lowest level and people became liars and cheats. Love of spiritualism, respect for elders, saints and learned men decreased. People started eating forbidden food. Environment got polluted. Water and food became scarce. Families became non-existent. Doing bhajan and namasmaran is the only method i.e. Bhaktimarga is the only way to eradicate sorrow or distress. Fear started reigning as supreme. Lifespan came down to around 100 years and it will slowly decline to about 20 years at the end. There will be one part of virtue and three parts of sins.
The period of each Yuga is mentioned in various purans but almost all agree that the Kali Yuga started around 3102 B.C.E. More details can be obtained by reading various books, authored by scholars on the subject.
- Satya Yuga – Also known as Krita Yuga or Golden age
- Tretya Yuga – Also known as Silver age
- Dwapara Yuga – Also known as Bronze age
- Kali Yuga – Also known as Iron age
The widely accepted date for beginning of Kali Yuga is 3102 B.C.E. i.e. just after conclusion of Mahabharata war.
Krita Yuga – It is also known as Golden age. In this period it is stated that life span of human being was up to 80000 years. The life was sustained till bones sustain in body. The memory was so high that people could remember things by hearing or seeing it once. Rishis and Munis can sustain life by drinking water (only at times) for long periods. It is stated that during war, even if the limbs are severed from the body, life could continue. We come across purans that during this period, some kings ruled their kingdoms for 1000s of years. From the purans, we observe that people were highly intelligent, talented and the method of teaching was totally different. This age can be called as Age of Perfection. There was only one religion. It was the age of truth, all were saintly, humans were gigantic and powerfully built. They were honest and virtuous. All were able to reach the state of supreme bliss. The earth yielded their daily requirements; hence there was no need of agriculture, mining etc. There was no decease and weather was pleasant. There was no fear, hence this period is called as Golden age. It is believed that if we consider virtue and sin as single unit, the virtue was complete unit itself without any sin.
Tretya Yuga – In this Yuga the virtue declined. During this age life was sustained in body till the flesh remained in body. The emperor rose to dominance by raging wars. Weather started changing to extremes, resulting in the formation of deserts and oceans. The wisdom, knowledge and other virtues declined slightly. Agriculture, labor and mining were started. Average life span were 10000 years. During this period three parts of virtue and one part was sin. During Tretya Yuga, the people were able to overcome sorrow and distress by performing Tapas and by obtaining Atma Dnyan.
Dwapar Yuga – In this Yuga, virtue declined further and the human strength also declined. In this age, life remained in the body, only till there was blood. Life could be sustained for some period by not taking food. performing Yadnya, Pooja were useful in order to overcome difficulties, sorrows and distress. In this age, people started having Tamasik qualities, hence their strength decreased. Deceases become rampant. There was discontent and fights between human beings. Towards the end of the Yuga, vedas were divided into 4 parts as knowledge and intelligence declined further. Old people started behaving like young ones. Average lifespan declined to about 1000 years. There was 2 parts of virtue and 2 parts of sin i.e. half-half.
Kali Yuga – This is the final Yuga in cycle and also the current yuga. In this Yuga, intelligence slumped to the lowest level. Hence this age can be considered to be the age of ignorance and darkness. People became slaves to habits, passions and became less powerful compared to the earlier Yuga. Morality decreased to the lowest level and people became liars and cheats. Love of spiritualism, respect for elders, saints and learned men decreased. People started eating forbidden food. Environment got polluted. Water and food became scarce. Families became non-existent. Doing bhajan and namasmaran is the only method i.e. Bhaktimarga is the only way to eradicate sorrow or distress. Fear started reigning as supreme. Lifespan came down to around 100 years and it will slowly decline to about 20 years at the end. There will be one part of virtue and three parts of sins.
The period of each Yuga is mentioned in various purans but almost all agree that the Kali Yuga started around 3102 B.C.E. More details can be obtained by reading various books, authored by scholars on the subject.
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