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| ===Sri Aurobindo=== | ===Sri Aurobindo=== | ||
| According to ], Kali Yuga lasts far less than 432,000 years. The followers of the ] believe that ] successfully solicited the early end of the Kali Yuga in 1969, and the abolition of ] (normal process of destruction of the universe at the end of a ] – Cosmic Cycle of Creation-Destruction). | According to ], Kali Yuga lasts far less than 432,000 years. The followers of the ] believe that ] successfully solicited the early end of the Kali Yuga in 1969, and the abolition of ] (normal process of destruction of the universe at the end of a ] – Cosmic Cycle of Creation-Destruction). | ||
| ===Brahma Kumaris=== | |||
| The length of the entire Kalpa is said to be 5,000 years according the ], the length of Kali Yuga being only 1,2250 years. The ] is also unique amongst Hindu cults in believing in a 5th age called the Confluence Age which corelates to the Christian concept of "]", a time of both destruction of the world and revellation of God via their messiah. According the the ], humanity entered the end of the Kali Yug in approximately 1936 and the world will finally end currently in approximately 2036. Although there was a failed prediction of the ] or Kali Yuga in 1976. | |||
| ==Other appearances== | ==Other appearances== | ||
Revision as of 14:50, 8 October 2006
Kali Yuga (Devnāgari: कली युग) (lit. Age of Kali, also known as Iron Age), is one of the four stages of development that the world goes through as part of the cycle of Yugas, as described in Hindu scriptures. The other Yugas are Dwapara Yuga, Treta Yuga, and Satya Yuga. According to the Surya Siddhanta, an astronomical treatise that forms the basis of all Hindu and Buddhist calendars, Kali Yuga began at midnight (00:00) on 18 February 3102 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar or 23 January 3102 BCE in the proleptic Gregorian calendar, which is also considered by many Hindus to be the time that Krishna left his body (In Hindu belief, avatars don't die).
Most interpretations of Hindu scriptures believe that earth is currently in Kali Yuga. However, other interpretations of the same scriptures believe that earth is now at the beginning of Dwapara Yuga. Throughout the Kali Yuga, Hindus believe that human civilization degenerates spiritually. Kali Yuga is sometimes referred to as the Dark age (Iron Age), mainly because people are the furthest possible from God.
Hindus generally consider morality to be comparable to a bull. In the Satya Yuga the bull had four legs, and in each age morality reduced by a quarter. By the age of Kali, morality will be reduced to only a quarter to that of the golden age. Thus, the bull will only have one leg. Morality will wait on men.
Kali Yuga should not be confused with the goddess Kali, as they are unrelated words in the Sanskrit language. The "kali" of Kali Yuga means "terrible," whereas the goddess "Kaali" is the feminine form of "Kaala," which means "time." Though, it is believed by some that Kali is the one that governs this age.
Attributes of Kali Yuga
In relation to rulers
Rulers will become unreasonable, they will levy taxes unfairly. Rulers will no longer see it their duty to promote spirituality or to protect their subjects. Instead, they will become a danger to the world. People will start migrating seeking countries where wheat and Barley form the staple food source
In relation to people's relationships
Avarice and wrath is common, men will openly display animosities towards one another. Ignorance of Dharma will occur. Lust will be viewed as being socially acceptable. People will have thoughts of murder for no justification, and they will see nothing wrong with their mind-set.
People will no longer follow the science of reason and instead be led by their emotions instead of their minds. Family murders will also occur. People will see those who are helpless as easy targets and remove everything from them.
Many other unwanted changes will occur. The right hand will deceive the left and the left the right. Men with false reputation of learning will teach the Truth and the old will betray the senselessness of the young, and the young will betray the dotage of the old. Cowards will have the reputation of bravery and the brave will be cheerless like cowards. People will not trust a single person in the world, not even their immediate family. Even husband and wife will find contempt in each other.
In the Kali yuga there will be teenage pregnancies. The primary cause will be the social acceptance of intercourse as being the central requirement of life.
It is believed that sin will increase exponentially, whilst virtue will fade and cease to flourish. People will take vows only to break them soon.
Alongside death and famine being everywhere, men will have lustful thoughts and so will women. People will, without reason destroy trees and gardens. As previously mentioned, men will murder. There will be no respect for animals, and also meat eating will start.
People will become addicted to intoxicating drinks. Men will find their jobs stressful and will go to retreats to escape their work.
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 humans.
Throughout the age, humans become shorter in height and weaker physically as well as mentally and spiritually.
As the sin increases exponentially, so will the incidence of divine justice and wrath. Sinners will be punished sooner by apparent freak means. However witnesses to these acts of justice will have a choice to recognize the power of God and submit to Him or disregard it as a freak incident and continue on the path of Sin and eventually be destroyed in the most gruesome incidents.
Weather and nature conditions in the 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.
End of this Kali Yuga
At the end of this Kali Yuga, an Avatar (Earthly incarnation ) of the god Vishnu will arrive on earth known as Kalki, and ride on a white horse. The world would suffer a fiery end where all evil will perish. And in turn will start a new age, the age of Satya Yuga. His tale is told in the Kalki Purana.
Other interpretations of Kali Yuga and the yuga cycle
Other interpretations of the Hindu scriptures, most notably by David Frawley and Sri Yukteswar Giri, hold a different view of the Yuga cycle. Based on historical and scriptural evidence, they state that the Yugas change in a cycle much like the four seasons, where the planet moves repeatedly and gradually from one Yuga to the next, without a sudden jump from Kali into Satya Yuga. Further, they both state that historical evidence shows that Kali Yuga ended around 1700 CE, changing at that time to Dwapara Yuga.
Also supporting their view is the fact that that humans are becoming taller in height, more intelligent, and are living longer. This, according to Sri Yukteswar, is contrary to some of the only objective criteria for defining Kali Yuga.
Vamadeva David Frawley
Frawley, a widely respected Jyotish astrologer and author of many books on Vedic traditions, points out that Manu, in his Manhu Samhita, posits a much shorter Yuga cycle of 24,000 years. Manu’s Yuga cycle happens to correspond roughly to the same length of time that astronomers attribute to the Precession of the Equinoxes. Based on Frawley’s interpretation of scripture, we are currently near the beginning of a Dwapara Yuga cycle that will last a total of 2,400 years. He further points out that that the traditional 432,000 year cycle is questionable, based on Vedic and Puranic historical records. He explains this interpretation in more depth in his book The Astrology of the Seers.
Sri Yukteswar Giri
According to Sri Yukteswar Giri, we are currently in Dwapara Yuga. In his book The Holy Science, he explains that "the astronomers and astrologers who calculate the almanacs have been guided by wrong annotations of certain Sanskrit scholars (such as Kullu Bhatta) of the dark age of Kali Yuga, and now maintain that the length of Kali Yuga is 432,000 years, of which 4994 have (in 1894 CE) passed away, leaving 427,006 years still remaining. A dark prospect! And fortunately one not true." The Holy Science includes his astronomical explanation for a shorter Yuga Cycle, in which Kali Yuga lasts only 2,400 years (1,200x2, one descending Kali Yuga cycle, followed by an ascending cycle).
Sri Aurobindo
According to Sri Aurobindo, Kali Yuga lasts far less than 432,000 years. The followers of the Purna Yoga believe that the Mother successfully solicited the early end of the Kali Yuga in 1969, and the abolition of pralaya (normal process of destruction of the universe at the end of a kalpa – Cosmic Cycle of Creation-Destruction).
Brahma Kumaris
The length of the entire Kalpa is said to be 5,000 years according the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, the length of Kali Yuga being only 1,2250 years. The BKWSU is also unique amongst Hindu cults in believing in a 5th age called the Confluence Age which corelates to the Christian concept of "End Times", a time of both destruction of the world and revellation of God via their messiah. According the the BKWSU, humanity entered the end of the Kali Yug in approximately 1936 and the world will finally end currently in approximately 2036. Although there was a failed prediction of the end of the world or Kali Yuga in 1976.
Other appearances
The Kali-Yuga is a weapon in the videogame series Soul Calibur in which it resembles a bo staff. The Dvapara Yuga is a purifiyng stone and the Krita Yuga a Tai-Chi sword (Jian). They are called The Holy Trinity. The Treta Yuga isn't mentioned in the series. Characters that use these weapons include Kilik, Chai Xianghua, and Edge Master.
Notes
- Astrology of the Seers, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin ISBN 0-914955-89-6
- The Holy Science, by Jnanavatar Swami Sriyukteswar Giri, Yogoda Sat-Sanga Society of India, 1949
See also
External links
- The Hindu concept of Time
- On the Golden period of 10,000 years in current Kali Yuga
- Future History of the World - description of the features of Kali Yuga
- Comparison of Hindu and Christian end-of-world prophecies
- Story of the Kali Yuga 'taking up residence' at beginning of the current age