KALIYUGA In Sat Yuga there was truth; in Treta, there were Yajnas (sacrifices) and in Dwapara, there was ritualistic worship. In the three Ages, there were three types of acts, but in Kali Yuga, the Name of the Lord is the only base. (Gaurt Bairagan Ravidas, p. 346) In Kali Yuga, the chariot is of fire and falsehood is the charioteer. (Var Asa, M. l, p. 470) In the Kali Yuga, the only merit is of the Name of the Lord.
(BbairoM. 3, P. 113 ) In Kali Yuga, there is only one-fourth of the merit of Dharma. None has described it without the Perfect Guru.The self-willed indulge in falsehood and Without the True Guru, the illusion is not effaced. (Mani M. l, p. 1024) In Kali Yuga, only one-fourth of the power of Dharma remained. The Dharma-Bull walks only on one foot and the attachment of maya increases. The attachment of maya is exceedingly dark.
One achieves salvation on attaining the Name from the True Guru. (Ramkali M. 3, p. 880) Kali Yuga, the present age is the age of degeneration. Dharma-Bull in this age is only one-legged. Only one-fourth of the virtue remains in this age. The vices increase rapidly.The corruption and violence reign supreme. In Bhagavata Purana it is recorded that in this age, most of the people are Shudras. They are wicked, vicious and unkind.
The falsehood, deception, fear and distress prevail every-where. Women become shameless and ill-mannered. The kings become tyrants. There are wars, farnines, droughts and floods. Guru Nanak Dev has conclusively said, “The Kali Yuga is like a knife and the kings are butchers. The Dharma has flown away like a winged-bird. There is dark night of falsehood and the moon of Truth is not visible. See : Yugas
References :
1. Kohli, Surindar Singh (ed), Dictionary of Mythological References in Guru Granth Sahib, 1993
In Hindu mythology, Kaliyuga is the fourth and final age in the cycle of the four Yugas (epochs) described in the scriptures, particularly the Puranas and Mahabharata. It is often associated with moral decline, strife, and the eventual renewal of the cosmic order.
The Four Yugas:
Hindu cosmology divides time into four repeating Yugas:
Satya Yuga (Age of Truth): An era of purity and righteousness.
Treta Yuga: A time when virtue diminishes slightly.
Dvapara Yuga: Further decline in morals and righteousness.
Kali Yuga: The current age, marked by the lowest level of dharma (righteousness).
Characteristics of Kaliyuga:
Moral and Ethical Decline:
- Kaliyuga is described as an age where greed, dishonesty, and selfishness prevail. Truth and virtue diminish to a fraction of their strength in earlier ages.
- Humans become more driven by material desires, neglecting spiritual and ethical values.
Lifespan and Power:
- Lifespans are shorter compared to previous yugas.
- Spiritual power and the ability to attain enlightenment through meditation or austerity are significantly reduced.
Conflict and Disarray:
- Kaliyuga is marked by strife, social unrest, and the breakdown of familial and societal bonds.
- Corruption and injustice become rampant, as described in scriptures like the Vishnu Purana.
Divine Intervention:
- Hindu belief states that at the end of Kaliyuga, Lord Vishnu will incarnate as Kalki, his tenth avatar, to restore dharma and bring about a new Satya Yuga.
- This transition signifies the cyclical nature of time in Hindu cosmology, where destruction paves the way for renewal. Scriptural References:
- In the Bhagavata Purana, it is said that Kaliyuga began after the death of Krishna, approximately 5,000 years ago.
- The Mahabharata describes Kaliyuga as a time when “men will lie with their words, women with their bodies, and merchants with their scales.” Spiritual Perspective:
While Kaliyuga is often seen as a period of decline, it is also believed to offer unique opportunities for spiritual growth. According to the scriptures, the simple act of chanting the name of God (nama-sankirtana) is sufficient to attain liberation, as other complex rituals and practices are less feasible in this era.
Kaliyuga’s themes of darkness and light serve as a reflection of human challenges, offering hope through the promise of eventual renewal and divine grace.
