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, fundamental building blocks) and a total possible lifespan of 1,768,000 years. The four legs of Dharma in Satya Yuga are truth, cleanliness, kindness, and forgiveness. Due to the presence of all the four legs of Dharma in this yuga, everybody led a content life, and the human society was resplendent with happiness, peace, prosperity, and stability.
After the end of Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga commences. This Yuga has a possible lifespan of 1,296,000 years. In this Yuga, only three legs of Dharma remain – truth, kindness, and forgiveness. Thus, the leg of cleanliness does not exist in this Yuga.
After Treta Yuga, according to the wheel of time, comes Dwapara Yuga, which has a possible lifespan of 864,000 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 a possible lifespan of 432,000 years. In this yuga, Dharma is depleted by three legs and left with only one leg, Truth. Towards the end of Kali Yuga, 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 Bhaviṣya Mālikā, 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 mentioned in Manusmriti.
Mahapurush Achyutananda writes in ‘Bhaviṣya Mālikā,’
“dharma cāripāda niścaya kaṭiba hari āśrā kara nara,
sukarma kukarma bicārī pārile pāda padme sthāna pāī”
(Source: Bhaviṣya Mālikā, Achyutananda Das)
Purport:
The above verse states 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 transcend to Satya Yuga by imbibing good virtues, following the teachings inscribed in ‘Bhaviṣya Mālikā,’ and adhering to the Vedic principles.
“catvāryāhuḥ sahastrāṇi varṣāṇāṁ tu kr̥tam yugam
tasya tāvacchatī sandhyā sandhyāśaśca tathāvidhaḥ”
(Source: Manusmriti, 1.69)
Purport:
After the passage of four thousand years of Kali Yuga 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 time 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.
“cattvāryyāda sahaśrāṇi cattvāryyāda śatānicam,
kalerjyadā gamisyanti tadāpūrvam yugāśritam”
(Source: Nirnay Sindhu)
Purport:
It is clearly stated in the above verse 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 Saṁhitā)
Purport:
The above verse quoted from the ‘Garga Saṁhitā’ further testify that, after four thousand 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 verse in ‘Manusmriti,’ ‘Nirnay Sindhu,’ and ‘Garga Saṁhitā,’ Kali Yuga is four thousand years. One-tenth of that duration is the ‘sandhya’ (sunset/twilight) period, i.e., 400 years. Therefore, 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 six hundred years ago, in this Kali Yuga, the Panchasakha compiled the Bhaviṣya Mālikā 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 Saṁhitā’), 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)
Purport:
Mahapurush Achyutananda, on instructions from ‘Nirakar’ (The Formless One), declares in his book ‘Bhakta Cetāvanī’ that the total potential lifespan of Kali Yuga is 432,000 years. However, due to the immense burden of sins, the age of the yuga will be diminished and last for only 5,000 years.
“thikaṇā amara pura,
thākura tahīn ru hebe bāhāra, Rāmacandra re,
ṭhāri pānca sahasra ku dhara, Rāmacandra re”
(Source: Bhabisyata Chautisā, Achyutananda Das)
Purport:
Mahapurush Achyutananda also gives evidence in his book ‘Bhabisyata Chautisā’ that Kali Yuga will last only 5,000 years. In the above verse, 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 ‘Vaikuntha Dham’ when 5000 years of ‘Kali Yuga’ would have passed by. Thus, we get clear evidence that when Kali Yuga ends after a lifespan of 5,000 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: Bhaviṣya Mālikā, Achyutananda Das)
Purport:
Again, Mahapurush Achyutananda indicates in his book Bhaviṣya Mālikā that by writing “ṭha” three times, i.e., the numeral ‘0’ in Odia language three times (‘000’) in a row and then writing “pāñca” i.e., the numeral ‘5’ on the left (“bame”) side of the three zeroes means (i.e,. ‘5’ placed to the left of ‘000’, yields the numeral ‘5000’) that after 5,000 years of Kali Yuga, ‘Shani’ (Saturn) will enter ‘Meena Rashi’ (the zodiac sign of Pisces) (Note: This astronomical transit is scheduled to happen in 2025); at that time, terrible calamity will befall human society, and only at that time will devotees follow the tenets of ‘Bhaviṣya Mālikā’, thus being able to understand its 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)
Purport:
Amongst the Panchasakha, the eminent Mahapurush Shree 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)
Purport:
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, also known as Ananta Yuga) Lord Narayan will incarnate as Lord Kalki. By then, a period of 5,000 years in the Kali Yuga would have elapsed.
“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)
Purport:
After the Panchasakha had left their mortal bodies, ‘Mahant’ (an honorific for distinguished seer in Sanatan Dharma) Mahapurush Hadi Das of ‘Chhatia Bata’ in Odisha, who is also regarded as the ninth incarnation of Mahapurush Achyutananda and about whom there is umpteen evidence in Malika., He, through his divine vision, in his book ‘Kali Chautisā,’ for the welfare of the devotees and as a warning to the human society, wrote that Kali Yuga would end in 5,000 years. After which ‘Yuga-Sandhya’ or ‘Adi Satya Yuga’ will commence.
By that time, Lord Kalki would have incarnated in human form. First, He will remove the burden of sins from human society. After that, He will re-establish the values of truth, peace, compassion, mercy, and love as the five foundational elements of ‘Dharma’ (righteousness).
At the same time, Lord Kalki will also establish an organization, ‘Sudharma Maha-Maha Sangh’. The ‘Sadhus’ (saintly persons) will propagate the message of His organization and the tenets of Sanatan Dharma in villages, towns, countries, and all over the world. The people who are on the righteous path will be free from all suffering; contrarily, 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 pānca shasra bhoga ra anteṇa hoithibu je nareśa”
(Source: Uddhava Bhakti Pradāyinī, Achyutananda Das)
Purport:
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 5,000 years of Kali Yuga, Mahaprabhu Jagannath will leave His ‘Nilachal Dham’ (land of Shree Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha) and incarnate in a human body as Kalki Avatar.
“cahaṭiba līlā tu cāri re miśā eka,
caḍhā tini śuna tahin jete helā ṭhīka
calijiba ghora kali dalidebe mili,
cetāiṇa gīte kahe Acyuta je bhāli”
(Source: Bhavisya Chautisa – Achyutananda Rachanabali, Kabita Khanda, page-181Achyutananda Das)
Purport:
Further, Mahapurush Achyutananda, in his book ‘Bhaviṣya Mālikā,’ 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 pānca sahasra gale, Biṣṇu je janama hoibe bhale
pānca sahasra re nara śarīre, Biṣṇu je rājuti karibe bhale”
(Source: Pata Madana, Sishu Ananta Das)
Purport:
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 Maha-Vishnu will descend on Earth in human form with sixty-four ‘kalas’ (arts) and will reign the world.
“E je subāhu juga kali, kṣiṇa āyuṣa mahābalī
pāpe sakala kṣaya jiba, pānca sahasra bhoga heba”
(Source: Aadi Saṁhitā, Acyhutananda Das)
Purport:
Mahapurush Achyutananda has written in his book ‘Adi Saṁhitā‘ that the age of Kali Yuga is 432,000 years. But due to the heinous sins committed by the people of Kali Yuga, the destined life span will be reduced, and only five thousand years will be realized.
It is proven from the scriptures of Mahapurush Achyutananda and Panchasakha that the total possible age of Kali Yuga is 432,000 years, however, due to humanity’s accrued sins and misdeeds, the period will be reduced to mere 5,000 years. During this Sangam Yuga (confluence of Kali Yuga, also known as Ananta Yuga), Lord Maha-Vishnu will incarnate as Kalki Avatar and re-establish Dharma.