Age of the Four Yugas

Sanatana Dharma describes time as cyclical, turning through four ages — Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali Yuga. In each successive age, Dharma stands on fewer legs: four in Satya, three in Treta, two in Dvapara, and only one in Kali Yuga.

In accordance with many scriptures and puranas of Sanatan Dharma, Kali Yuga is believed to have a duration of 432,000 years. This perspective is also echoed in the Srimad Bhagavatam, one of the prominent puranas. However, the "Bhavishya Malika" books authored by the Panchasakha offer a different interpretation. The Panchasakha, in their separate "Malika" books, repeatedly mention that although the entire duration of Kali Yuga is indeed 432,000 years, due to the weight of numerous sinful actions committed by humanity, its actual duration will be reduced to just 5,000 years.

This prophecy is presented in one of their books, "Bhakta Chetavani," as follows: "Chari lakṣa je battiśi sahasra, kaliyuga ra aṭa’i āyuṣa, Pāpa bhārāre āyu kaṭijiba, pānca sahasra kali bhoga hoiba." This verse suggests that despite the originally prescribed duration of 432,000 years, Kali Yuga's span will be shortened to 5,000 years due to the immense burden of sinful actions.

The dawn of Satya Yuga

In the upcoming Satya Yuga, India's governance system will be established by Chandravanshi Devapi, the eldest son of King Pratipa and the elder brother of King Shantanu, and Maru, the descendant of King Ikshvaku. Prince Devapi of the Chandravanshi dynasty will rule in Hastinapura (present-day Delhi), and Prince Maru of the Suryavanshi dynasty in Ayodhya. These two individuals have been engaged in meditation in a village called Kalapagram in the northern part of India for the past 5,000 years. Due to suffering from leprosy, the eldest among all brothers, Devapi, could not ascend to the throne during the Dvapara Yuga and went to the forest to practice penance.

After completing 5,000 years of penance, they will be summoned by Lord Kalki and will be anointed as rulers. They will terminate the democratic system, and Lord Kalki himself will become the king of the entire world, centralizing global governance. He will coronate over one lakh devotees as rulers of various small regions worldwide. From the sacred land of Jajpur, they will enlighten the world with the eternal dharma, re-establish the Ram Rajya (the ideal kingdom of Lord Rama), and reign for 1,009 years, providing endless happiness to the devotees before returning to their divine abode.

Jay Shree Madhava