On this day in 3102 BC, Kali Yuga began. 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 on 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. Today is also considered by many Hindus to be the time that Krishna died as a result of a freak bow hunting accident. Most interpreters of Hindu scriptures believe that Earth is currently in Kali Yuga. Many authorities such as Swami Sri Yukteswa and Paramhansa Yogananda believe that it is now Dwapara 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. Hindus believe that human civilization degenerates spiritually during the Kali Yuga, 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. Kali Yuga is associated with the apocalyptic demon Kali, not to be confused with the goddess Kālī. Kali and Kālī are unrelated words in the Sanskrit language. The Kali of Kali Yuga means strife, discord, quarrel, or contention. Attributes of Kali Yuga In relation to rulers: Most interpretations of Hindu scriptures believe that earth is currently in Kali Yuga, though others believe that earth is now at the beginning of Dvapara Yuga. Hindus believe that human civilization degenerates spiritually throughout the Kali Yuga: it is mostly referred to as the Dark Age, mainly because people are the furthest possible from God. The description of Kali Yuga given below is an indication of its interpretive relevance in our current worldly existence. Rulers will become unreasonable: they will become a danger to the world. Avarice and wrath will be common. Men will openly display animosity towards each other. Ignorance of Dharma will occur. People will be inclined to follow false sciences. (The Church of Scientology was founded on this day in 1954. Coincidence? YOU decide!) 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. 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 called cowards. 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. 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. As the sin increases exponentially, so will the incidence of divine justice and wrath. Rulers will no longer see it as their duty to promote spirituality. People will start migrating, seeking countries where wheat and barley form the staple food source. People will have thoughts of murder with no justification and will see nothing wrong in that. 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. 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 the power of government is transferred to the hands of ministers elected from the lowborn Shudra class or those less than them, 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)
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 23:55:29 +0000
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