Demystifying the age of the four yugas

 According to the ‘Brahmand Tatwa’ (Universal Law), there are four ‘yugas’ (cosmic ages) in the material Universe: Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga. In Satya Yuga, ‘Dharma’ (duty) has four legs (pillars) and a lifespan of 17,68,000 years. The four legs of Dharma in Satya Yuga are Truth, Cleanliness, Kindness, and Forgiveness. Due to the presence of all the legs of Dharma in this yuga, everybody led a content life, and the human society was replenished with happiness, peace, prosperity, and stability.

 After the end of Satya Yuga commences Tretayuga. This Yuga had a lifespan of 12,96,000 years. In this Yuga, only 3 legs of Dharma remain – Truth, Kindness, and Forgiveness. Thus, the leg of cleanliness ends in this Yuga.

  After Treta Yuga, according to the wheel of time, comes Dwapara Yuga, which has a lifespan of 8,64,000 years and is marked with only two legs of Dharma, namely, Truth and Forgiveness. 

  After all these three yugas commences, the fourth and last yuga, Kali Yuga, which has an age of 4,32,000 years. In this yuga, Dharma is depleted by three legs and left with only one leg, Truth. Towards Kali Yuga’s end, even the last leg of Dharma is lost.

According to Vaivasvata Manu’s Manusmriti scripture, at the end of Kali Yuga, Dharma, in its final state, is fragilely sustained only on the principle of ‘Daan’ (charity.) However, in Bhavishya Malika, Mahapurush Panchasakha, with the consent and instructions from Mahaprabhu Jagannath, expounded a revised description of Kali Yuga’s end by correcting the description of the age of Kali Yuga and the prevailing signs and circumstances during the end of Kali Yuga written in Manusmriti.

Mahapurush Achyutananda writes in ‘Bhavishya Malika,’

 “Dharma cāripāda niścaya kaṭiba hari āśrā kara nara,

  sukarma kukarma bicārī pārile pāda padme sthāna pāī”

In the above couplets, Mahapurush Achyutananda writes that at the end of Kali Yuga, along with the destruction of the four legs of Dharma, extreme adversities such as natural calamities and famine will pummel the Earth. Mahapurush has referred to this time as ‘Sangam Yuga’ or ‘Yuga Sandhya’. He has also instructed everyone that one could transition to Satya Yuga by imbibing good virtues, following the teachings inscribed in ‘Bhavishya Malika’ and adhering to the Vedic principles.

“cattvārjāhu sahasrāṇi tat kr̥tam yugam,

tasya tavacchatā sandhyā sandhyānśaśca tathāvidhaḥ”

                                                                              (Source: Manusmriti)

Purport:

After four thousand years comes Satya Yuga. There are two evening or twilight periods, one at the beginning of Kali Yuga and the other at the end of Kali Yuga. The duration of each evening period is one-tenth of the total duration of the complete age of the yuga. i.e., Age of Kali Yuga = 4000 years; Two ‘Sandhyas’ (Evening Period) = 400 x 2 = 800 years, one ‘Sandhya’ period at the beginning of Kali Yuga and another at the end of Kali Yuga. Thus, a cumulative total of 4,800 years has been described as the total lifespan of Kali Yuga that will be realized. 

  “cattvārjāda sahaśrāṇi cattvāryyāda śatānicam,

  kalerjyadā gamiśyanti tadāpūrvam yugāśritam”                           

                                                                         (Source: Nirnay Sindhu)

 It is clearly stated in the above verses taken from ‘Nirnay Sindhu’ that other than the 4,000 years of Kali Yuga, the ‘sandhya’ (sunset/twilight period) period at the beginning of Kali Yuga is 400 years and at the end of the Kali Yuga is another 400 years. Thus, the total duration of Kali Yuga will be 4,800 years.

    “adāśvatvaḥ sahaśrāṇi kalai catuḥ śatānicam,

     gate giri barehi śrī nātha prādurbhaviṣyatiṁ”

                                                                    (Source: Garga Samhita)

Purport:

These above verses quoted from the ‘Garga Samhita’ further testify that, after 4000 years of Kali Yuga has passed by, and 400 years after the ‘sandhya’ period, Lord Maha Vishnu (Shree Nath) will incarnate on Earth and end the burden of sins on the Earth.

Thus, according to the verses in ‘Manusmriti,’ ‘Nirnay Sindhu,’ and ‘Garga Samhita,’ Kali Yuga is 4000 years. One-tenth of that duration is the ‘sandhya’ (sunset/twilight) period, i.e., 400 years. At the beginning of Kali Yuga, 400 years will be accounted for as ‘sandhya’ time. This means that the total duration of Kali Yuga will be 4000 + (400 + 400) = 4800 years. 

However, after thousands of years had passed since the creation of all these scriptures, about 600 years ago, in this Kali Yuga, the Panchasakha compiled the ‘Bhavishya Malika’ scripture. With the instructions of ‘Nirakar’ (The formless one), the ‘Panchasakha,’ in their ‘Malika Granth,’ made some amendments to the total duration of Kali Yuga as provided in the old scriptures (‘Manusmriti,’ ‘Nirnay Sindhu,’ and ‘Garga Samhita’) by adding 200 years to 4,800 years and declared that the total duration of Kali Yuga will be 5000 years. 

“cāri lakhya je batiśa sahastra,

Kali Yuga ra aṭai āyuṣa

pāpa bhārā re kali tuṭi jiba,

pānca sasra kali bhoga hoiba”

                                          (Source: Bhakta Cetāvanī- Achyutananda Das)

Mahapurush Achyutananda, on instructions from ‘Nirakar’ (The formless one), declares in his book ‘Bhakta Cetāvanī’ that the total potential lifespan of Kali Yuga is 4,32,000 years. But, due to the immense burden of sins, the age of the yuga will be diminished and last for only 5,000 years. 

“ṭhikaṇā amara pura,

thākura tahīn ru hebe bāhāra, Rāmacandra re,

ṭhāri pānca sahasra ku dhara, Rāmacandra re”                                      (Source: Bhabisyata Chautisā, Achyutananda)

Mahapurush Achyutananda also gives evidence in his book ‘Bhabisyata Chautisā’ that Kali Yuga will last only 5,000 years. In the above verses, Mahapurush Achyutananda clearly states that Lord Shree Jagannath will appear in human form as Lord Kalki from ‘Nilachal Dham’ or ‘Shree Jagannath Dham,’ Puri, otherwise known as ‘Baikunth Dham’ when 5000 years of ‘Kali Yuga’ would have passed by. Thus, we get clear evidence that when Kali Yuga ends after enjoying a lifespan of 5000 years, ‘Mahaprabhu Jagannath’ will incarnate on Earth in human form.

 “Thikana Achyuta kale,

 Tha tini bame pancha rakhile Ramachandra he

 Thaki jiba mina shani bhale Ramachandra he”

                                     (Source: Bhavishya Malika, Achyutananda Das)  

 Again, Mahapurush Achyutananda indicates in his book ‘Bhavishya Malika’ that by writing “tha”, i.e., the numeral ‘0’ in Odia language three times in a row and then writing the numeral ‘5’ on the left (“bame”) side of the three zeroes means that after 5,000 years of Kali Yuga, ‘Shani’ (Saturn) will enter ‘Meena Rashi’ (the zodiac sign of Pisces) (Note: This astrological transit is scheduled to happen in 2025); at that time, terrible annihilation/disaster will befall human society, and only at that time will the devotees follow the treatises of ‘Bhavishya Malika’ and will be able to understand the relevance. 

“Ebe paancha thika kahiba suna,

  Barang bichare chit re ghen

  Paancha Sahashra jetebele heba,

 Sampoorna Leela Prakash Hoiba” 

                                (Source: Mahagupta Padmakalpa – Sishu Ananta Das)

 Amongst the Panchasakha, the exceedingly intimate Mahapurush Sri Sishu Anant Das in the treatise ‘Mahagupta Padmakalpa,’ has lucidly explained that the duration of this Kali Yuga will be 5,000 years. Then the pastimes of the devotees and the Supreme Lord will be revealed.  

“Barang bolai shunima gosain kuh bhavishya bichara, 

Ketebele Kalki avatara hebe shunain mukhu tumbhar

Sishu bolanti he shunima Baaranga, Kalanki swarupa hoi,

Juga sandhi paancha shashra barasa jebe jiba bhoga hoi

Jeshanek nishi pahile prabhata Yuga sandhi eha jancha,  

Semante samaya Kalanki swarupa hebe prabhu Narayana

Samkhyara bata suni aadikari pramana ehaku kara,

Sabu ek thabe mishai kahina karibu paancha hazara

Ehi samaya ku laye karithibu kahili he babu tote,

Thikare e katha dekhai kahilu rakhithibu hruda gate” 

                                          (Source: Agata Bhavishyat – Sishu Ananta)

Again, Mahapurush Shree Sishu Ananta Das, in his book ‘Agata Bhavishyat,’ while answering the question of his disciple Barang, says that, during the ‘sandhya’ (twilight/evening/sunset) period of Kali Yuga, that is, in ‘Sangam Yuga,’ (confluence of Kali Yuga and Ananta Yuga) Lord Narayan will incarnate as Lord Kalki. At that time, 5,000 years of Kali Yuga would have passed.

“Sambaschar panch sahasra kali hoib shesha, 

 Satya yuga adya hoib shubh joge prakash

 Sadhu sant mane basibe sabha aarambh kari, 

 Sehi samasta nku pujibe patuara abori

 Hari shabada re maatibe Hari bhakata maane,

 Harasha hoibe hruda re dukhi daridra maane

 Phitiba praja nka kashana kasta hoiba naasha,

 Khyame Hadidas bhanile aagata je bhavishya

                                      (Source: Kali Chautisa – Hadidas) 

After the Panchasakha had left their mortal bodies, ‘Mahant’ (an eminent seer in Sanatan Dharma) Mahapurush Hadi Das of ‘Chhatia Bata’ in Odisha, who is also regarded the ninth incarnation of Mahapurush Achyutananda and about whom there is a lot of evidence in Malika, also through his divine vision, in his book ‘Kali Chautisā’, for the welfare of the devotees and warning the human society, writes that Kali Yuga will end in 5,000 years and after that ‘Sandhya Yuga’ or. ‘Adi Satyayuga’ will commence.

During that time, Lord Kalki would have incarnated in human form. He will remove the burden of sins from human society. After that, He will establish Truth, Peace, Compassion, Mercy, Love, and ‘Dharma’ (righteousness).

During that time, Lord Kalki will also establish an organization named ‘Sudharma Maha Maha Sangh.’ The ‘Sadhus’ (saintly persons) will propagate the message of His organization and the principles of Sanatan Dharma all over the world. The ‘Sadhus’ will spread the message of Sanatan Dharma in villages, towns, countries, and worldwide. The Sadhus will be free from all suffering; however, it will be a time of the destruction of all evil people The devotees of the Lord will enjoy auspicious days of happiness and prosperity. An ambiance of truthfulness will dominate the entire world.

“niśchaya avatāra abanī ūpara nilāṁbara pura bāsa,

 niśce pāṁca shasra bhoga ra aṁteṇa hoithibu je nareśa”

                            (Source: Uddhava Bhakti Pradāyinī – Achyutananda Das)

In Mahapurush Achyutananda’s treatise ‘Uddhav Bhakti Pradayini’, there is a dialogue between Shree Krishna and Uddhav, in which, answering Uddhav’s question, Shree Krishna says that after five thousand years of Kali Yuga, Mahaprabhu Jagannath will leave His ‘Nilachal Dham’ (Shree Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha) and will incarnate in a human body as Kalki Avatar.

 “cahaṭiba līlā tu cāri re miśā eka,

 caḍhā tini śuna tahiṁ jete helā ṭhīka

 calijiba ghora kali dalidebe mili,

 cetāiṇa gīte kahe Acyuta je bhāli”

                                                   (Source: Bhavisyata Malika- Achyutananda Das)

Further, Mahapurush Achyutananda, in his book ‘Bhavishya Malika,’ states that after 5,000 years of Kali Yuga, The Supreme Lord will assume the Kalki Avatar and commence His ‘Leela’ (divine pastimes).

 “Kali Yuga pāṁca sahasra gale, Biṣṇu je janama hoibe bhale

  pāṁca sahasra re nara śarīre,  Biṣṇu je rājuti karibe bhale”

                    (Source: Pata Madana – Sishu Ananta Das)

Mahapurush Sishu Ananta Das again provides evidence in his Malika treatise ‘Patta Madan’ that upon the end of Kali Yuga after five thousand years, Lord Vishnu will descend on Earth in human form with sixty-four ‘kalas’ (arts) and will rule the world.

“E je subāhu juga kali, kṣiṇa āyuṣa mahābalī

                                                    pāpe sakala kṣaya jiba, pāṁca sahasra bhoga heba”                                   

                                 (Source: Aadi Saṁhitā- Acyhutananda Das)