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			Contemporary Hindu eschatology is linked in the ] tradition to the figure of ], or the tenth and last ] of ] before the age draws to a close, and ] simultaneously dissolves and regenerates the universe.
⚫	In ], time is cyclic, consisting of cycles or "]". Each kalpa lasts 4.1 - 8.2 billion years, which is a period of one full day and night for ], who in turn will live for 311 trillion, 40 billion Years. Within a '''kalpa''' there are periods of ], ] and ]. After this larger cycle, all of creation will contract to a ] and then again will expand from that single point, as the ] continue in a religious ] pattern.<ref name="Hooper">{{cite book\|last = Hooper\| first= Rev. Richard \| authorlink = \| coauthors = \| title = End of Days: Predictions of the End From Ancient Sources \| date = April 20, 2011 \| location = Sedona, AZ \| pages = 156 \| url = http://www.amazon.gom/End-Days-Predicions-Ancient-ebook/dp/B004XJ6W0G \| doi = \| id = }}</ref>

			Most Hindus believe that the current period is the ], the last of four periods (''Yuga'') that make up the current age. Each period has seen a successive degeneration in the moral order and character of human beings, to the point that in the Kali Yuga quarrel and hypocrisy are prevalent. Often, the invocation of Kali Yuga denotes a certain helplessness in the face of the horrors and suffering of the human condition and a nostalgia for a golden past or a future salvation.

			However, Hindu conceptions of time, like those found in other non-Western traditions, are cyclical in that one age may end but another will always begin. As such, the cycle of birth, growth, decay, death, and renewal at the individual level finds its echo in the cosmic order of all things, yet affected by the vagaries of the comings and goings of divine interventions in the Vaishnavite belief.

			Most Hindus believe that Shiva will destroy the world at the end of the ]. Some Shaivites hold the view that he is incessantly destroying and creating the world.

		⚫	In Hinduism, time is cyclic, consisting of cycles or "]". Each kalpa lasts 4.1 - 8.2 billion years, which is a period of one full day and night for ], who in turn will live for 311 trillion, 40 billion Years. Within a '''kalpa''' there are periods of ], ] and ]. After this larger cycle, all of creation will contract to a ] and then again will expand from that single point, as the ] continue in a religious ] pattern.<ref name="Hooper">{{cite book\|last = Hooper\| first= Rev. Richard \| authorlink = \| coauthors = \| title = End of Days: Predictions of the End From Ancient Sources \| date = April 20, 2011 \| location = Sedona, AZ \| pages = 156 \| url = http://www.amazon.gom/End-Days-Predicions-Ancient-ebook/dp/B004XJ6W0G \| doi = \| id = }}</ref>

	==The Four Yugas==		==The Four Yugas==

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Eschatology
Part of a series on
Buddhist Maitreya Three Ages
Christian — Biblical texts — Book of Revelation Book of Daniel Olivet Discourse Sheep and Goats — Major figures — Jesus Two witnesses Four Horsemen Antichrist — Different views — Preterism Idealism Historicism Futurism — Millennialism — Premillennialism Amillennialism Postmillennialism — Other events — Events of Revelation (Apocalypse) Rapture Armageddon Seven Seals Second Coming
Hindu Kalki Kali Yuga Shiva
Islamic— Figures — Beast of the Earth Dhul-Qarnayn Dhul-Suwayqatayn Isa Israfil Mahdi Dajjal Muhammad Al-Qa'im Sufyani Yajuj and Majuj — Events — Swallowing in Bayda Coming of the Mahdi Return of Isa Resurrection
Jewish — Biblical texts — Book of Isaiah Book of Ezekiel Book of Zechariah Book of Daniel — Other sources — Rabbinic literature (Mishnah, Talmud, Midrash) Medieval Jewish scholars Kabbalah — Figures — Elijah the Prophet, Messiah (Mashiach Ben David, Mashiach Ben Yosef), Gog and Magog, Armilus — Events and terms — Atchalta De'Geulah, Kibbutz Galuyot, Third Temple, War of Gog and Magog, Resurrection of the dead, Olam Haba
Norse— Figures and items — Bound monster Gjallarhorn Líf and Lífþrasir Naglfar — Events — Fimbulwinter Ragnarök Vígríðr
Taoist Li Hong Divine Incantations Scripture
Zoroastrian Frashokereti Saoshyant
Inter-religious 2012 phenomenon Afterlife Apocalypticism Fate of the unlearned Gog and Magog Last Judgment Messianism (Messiah / Age) Millenarianism Universal resurrection
v t e

Contemporary Hindu eschatology is linked in the Vaishnavite tradition to the figure of Kalki, or the tenth and last avatar of Vishnu before the age draws to a close, and Shiva simultaneously dissolves and regenerates the universe.

Most Hindus believe that the current period is the Kali Yuga, the last of four periods (Yuga) that make up the current age. Each period has seen a successive degeneration in the moral order and character of human beings, to the point that in the Kali Yuga quarrel and hypocrisy are prevalent. Often, the invocation of Kali Yuga denotes a certain helplessness in the face of the horrors and suffering of the human condition and a nostalgia for a golden past or a future salvation.

However, Hindu conceptions of time, like those found in other non-Western traditions, are cyclical in that one age may end but another will always begin. As such, the cycle of birth, growth, decay, death, and renewal at the individual level finds its echo in the cosmic order of all things, yet affected by the vagaries of the comings and goings of divine interventions in the Vaishnavite belief.

Most Hindus believe that Shiva will destroy the world at the end of the kalpa. Some Shaivites hold the view that he is incessantly destroying and creating the world.

In Hinduism, time is cyclic, consisting of cycles or "kalpas". Each kalpa lasts 4.1 - 8.2 billion years, which is a period of one full day and night for Brahma, who in turn will live for 311 trillion, 40 billion Years. Within a kalpa there are periods of creation, preservation and decline. After this larger cycle, all of creation will contract to a singularity and then again will expand from that single point, as the ages continue in a religious fractal pattern.

The Four Yugas

Within the current kalpa, there are four yugas, or epochs, that encompass the evolution of this specific cycle. These ages encompass a beginning of complete purity to a descent into total corruption.

Satya Yuga lasts 1.728 million years.
Treta Yuga lasts 1.296 million years.
Dvapara Yuga lasts 864,000 years.
Kali Yuga lasts 432,000 years.

Kali Yuga, the last of the four ages, is the one we are in currently. This epoch has been foretold to be characterized by impiety, violence, and decay. The four pillars of dharma will be reduced to only that of charity. In addition, as the each age progresses, the human life span decreases, starting from thousands of years in the Krutha Yuga to 100 years in the current Kali Yuga.

As written in the Gita:

Yadaa Yadaa hi Dharmasya Glaanir bhavati Bhaarata
Abhyuthaanam Adharmasya Tadaatmaanam Srjaamy Aham.

Whenever there is decay of righteousness O! Bharatha
And a rise of unrighteousness then I manifest Myself!

At this time of evil, the final incarnation of Vishnu known as Kalki will appear on a white horse. The eight Adityas, or solar deities, will shine together in the sky. Kalki will amass an army to "establish righteousness upon the earth" and leave "the minds of the people as pure as crystal."

At the completion of Kali Yuga, the next epoch will begin, known as Satya Yuga in which everyone will once again be righteous with the reestablishment of dharma and piety. This, in turn, will be followed by epochs of Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga and again another Kali Yuga. This cycle will then repeat till the larger cycle of existence under Brahma returns to the singularity and a new universe is born.

A Chatur Yuga comprises four yuga's and lasts for 4.32 million years. A Chatur Yuga comprises the time of existence of the entire universe, after which it will contract to a singularity and be followed by a new explosion and universe.

Brahma Kumaris

Within Hinduism, there are more distinguishing scenarios in certain sects. Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi of the Brahma Kumari has written that their prediction of the imminent end of the world is hidden from non-members. Within their tradition, the majority of the planet is predicted to become submerged beneath the ocean, similar to the Ragnarök of Nordic mythology.

References

Hooper, Rev. Richard (April 20, 2011). End of Days: Predictions of the End From Ancient Sources. Sedona, AZ. p. 156. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
www.sanskrit.org/www/Hindu%20Primer/yugatime.html
"Vishnu Purana". Astrojyoti.com. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
"The Mahabharata, Book 6, Bhagavad Gita Chapter IV, Section 7". Sacred-texts.com. Nov 12, 2012. Retrieved Nov 12, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
Browne, Sylvia. End of Days: Predictions and Prophecies About the End of the World. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
"What Vedas say about the age of the Universe?". What Vedas say about the age of the Universe?. Gurudev. Retrieved 1 May 2007.
Beit-hallahmi, B. (2004). "Death, Fantasy, and Religious Transformations". The Psychology of Death in Fantasy and History. Retrieved 2008-01-25. A case study of Brahma Kumaris, a contemporary group characterized by an apocalyptic vision (kept hidden from nonmembers).
Varughese, Suma. "An article on the sect of the Brahma Kumaris in Rajasthan, India". Lifepositive.com. Retrieved 2011-11-21.

Hinduism

topics

Philosophy

Concepts

Puruṣārthas
- Dharma
- Artha
- Kama
- Moksha

Niti
- Ahimsa
- Asteya
- Aparigraha
- Brahmacharya
- Satya
- Dāna
- Damah
- Dayā
- Akrodha

Schools

Āstika: Samkhya
Yoga
Nyaya
Vaisheshika
Mīmāṃsā
Vedanta
- Dvaita
- Advaita
- Vishishtadvaita
Nāstika: Charvaka

Texts

Classification

Vedas

Rigveda Yajurveda Samaveda Atharvaveda
Divisions	Samhita Brahmana Aranyaka
Upanishads	Aitareya Kaushitaki Brihadaranyaka Isha Taittiriya Katha Maitrayaniya Shvetashvatara Chandogya Kena Mundaka Mandukya Prashna

Gods	Trimurti Brahma Vishnu Shiva Agni Dattatreya Ganesha Hanuman Indra Kartikeya Krishna Rama Surya Varuna Vayu more
Goddesses	Tridevi Saraswati Lakshmi Parvati Bhumi Durga Kali Mahavidya Matrika Radha Rukmini Sati Shakti Shashthi Sita more

Practices

Worship	Temple Murti Puja Bhakti Japa Bhajan Naivedhya Yajna Homa Tapas Dhyāna Tirthatana
Sanskaras	Garbhadhana Pumsavana Simantonayana Jatakarma Namakarana Nishkramana Annaprashana Chudakarana Karnavedha Vidyarambha Upanayana Keshanta Ritushuddhi Samavartanam Vivaha Antyeshti
Varnashrama	Varna Brahmin Kshatriya Vaishya Shudra Ashrama Brahmacharya Grihastha Vanaprastha Sannyasa
Festivals	Diwali Holi Shivaratri Raksha Bandhan Navaratri Durga Puja Ramlila Vijayadashami Ganesh Chaturthi Rama Navami Janmashtami Onam Pongal Makar Sankranti New Year Bihu Gudi Padwa Pahela Baishakh Puthandu Vaisakhi Vishu Ugadi Kumbh Mela Haridwar Nashik Prayag Ujjain Ratha Yatra Teej Vasant Panchami Others
Other	Svādhyāya Namaste Bindi Tilaka

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Revision as of 13:07, 29 November 2012

The Four Yugas

Brahma Kumaris

See also

References