Yugas are four repeating world ages that form a cosmic cycle of time. As the cycle progresses from the first age to the last, there is a gradual decline in human morality, physical longevity and spiritual knowledge. The four Yugas are Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga and Kali Yuga. The cycle follows a ratio of 4:3:2:1, moving from an area of pure virtue to one of darkness.
Satya Yuga (golden age)
This Yuga was the age of truth and perfection. Humanity was deeply spiritual, righteous and possessed immense wisdom. Truth prevailed and virtue was intact. This was the age in which the great seers established the basis of their approach to the world’s deep reality. Men lived like Gods and there was no illness and old age.
Treta Yuga (silver age)
The silver age was the age of the three Vedas. People were moral but righteousness was declining. Rituals, sacrifices and structural societal duties were introduced to guide mankind. Treta Yuga was the age of the three ritual fires and saw the formation of society and relationships.
Dvapara Yuga (bronze age)
It experienced further spiritual decay and people became focused on materialism and conflicts emerged. Dvapara Yuga saw the birth of various schools of philosophies.
Kali Yuga (iron age)
The Kali Yuga was and is the age of darkness and ignorance. This is the time characterized by gross greed and decline in dharma. Virtue becomes very shaky. This iron age was and is the age of darkness and ignorance. This is the time characterized by gross greed and decline in dharma. Virtue becomes very shaky. Kali Yuga is known as the age of conflict and cosmic degeneration. Tamas guna reigns in this age.
Together the four Yugas make up one Maha Yuga (great age) which lasts for 4.32 million years. Once a Kali Yuga ends the universe undergoes a dissolution or cleansing (Pralaya). A new cycle then begins with another Satya Yuga allowing the cosmos to eternally renew itself.
According to Hindu cosmology at the darkest point of Kali Yuga, Vishnu will appear in his tenth and final avatar, Kalki to destroy the wickedness, restore dharma and pave the way for a new golden age.
There is hope for us. Kalki will not destroy all the erring persons. Those who are not judged as sinful by Kalki will survive into the dawn of Satya Yuga. The practice of Tantra will enable us to become Jiwan Mukta.
Aim Hrim Klim
Picture by bazar art – http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/bce_299_200/ramayana/attack/attack.html, Public Domain, Link