What is the meaning of Kali Yuga? In a single word one can say deterioration, something that deteriorates. It is the deterioration of everything at the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical level. It is said that Kali Yuga started 5,123 years ago with the physical demise of Krishna. The day Krishna left his earthly body was the day that Kali Yuga started.
What have we seen in these 5,123 years? We have seen our civilization develop and humanity has made adjustments, and adaptations in this struggle. We have been granted intelligence something no other species on this planet possesses and we have the ability of discrimination and can distinguish between right and wrong. However, the path we are on is not one of enlightenment but one of self-destruction.
We all have a collective consciousness and we are not applying it. It is being misused for enforcing the needs of the body and senses. Our awareness is externalized and we are heading towards crass materialism which has overtaken us.
The description of Kali Yuga
In the last chapter of the Ramayana the description of Kali Yuga is given. We are overwhelmed with fear, insecurity, isolation, disease, violence and death. Our worst nature is manifesting itself. We have to look at the Covid Epidemic in 2020 and how it so many people died from it. In many instances we displayed our worst and brutal behavior.
Let us examine our own life. We are on a quest to seek happiness and pleasure. There is nothing wrong about it but we must address this quest to cover and benefit more people. From being selfish we must attempt to become selfless.
It is possible to do this through the practice of Yoga as said by Swamis Sivananda and Satyananda. Yoga gives us total help and we can be happy in Kali Yuga. We have a fickle mind and the question asked by Rama of the Sage Vashisht was how to control it? Fickleness has always existed; the absence of spiritual stability has led to identifying with the external environment and not being self-aware.
What is the remedy?
Praying to Ganesha and asking him to remove the obstacle in our path and grant us wisdom. This wisdom is to live in the right manner and be responsible for health and happiness and to transmit that.
Let us apply this yardstick to ourselves, once we have health and happiness, we become confident and we are able to engage proactively with others. Our collective consciousness is awakened for harmony and equanimity. It is a concentrated effort dear one and we will gain the spiritual strength to enable others.
Extracted from Swami Niranjananda’s lecture in 2021.
Aim Hrim Klim
Picture by Ravi Varma (d. 1906) – “The Cow with 84 Deities”, c. 1912, Ravi Varma Press., public domain, Link