Kali Yuga

According to most interpretations of Hindu scriptures, including the Vedas, the Kali Yuga (lit. Age of Kali , also known as Iron Age) began at the end of Krishna's bodily lifespan (approximately 5100 years ago, 3102 BCE) and will last exactly 432,000 years — placing its conclusion in the year 428,899 CE (it began with a year 0). Kalki, the 10th and final avatar of Vishnu, is expected to appear at this time, riding a white horse and wielding a flaming sword with which to strike down the wicked.

Kali Yuga is the last of four Yugas—upon its conclusion, the world will 'reboot' into a new Satya Yuga (Golden Age). This involves the end of the world as we know it and the return of Earth to a state of paradise. Kali Yuga began at midnight (00:00) on 18 February 3102 BCE according to the Surya Siddhanta, which is an astronomical treatise that forms the basis of all Hindu and Buddhist calendars.

Kali Yuga is sometimes referred to as the Iron Age because it was also the time when forging iron was discovered. Throughout the Kali Yuga, human civilisation degenerates further.

Problems that arise

There is an increase in material technology but there is a huge decrease in spirituality. Kali Yuga is the only Yuga in which irreligion/atheism is more powerful and popular than religion. Only a quarter of each of the four virtues of Dharma (penance, truthfulness, compassion and charity) is carried out by humans now. Nobility is determined only by the wealth of a person. Law and justice are determined by one's prestige and power. The poor become enslaved by the rich and powerful. Words such as charity and freedom are constantly used by the people, yet are never done.

Warfare

"Civilised" warfare is gone and humans fight like Asuras and Rakshasas. Unlike in the other Yugas where there would be a daily ceasefire by sunset to mourn the losses, cremate the victims, and to reflect on the war, Kali Yuga battles are fought constantly, just for the sake of winning. Sadism also flourishes.

Nobility/respect

In Kali Yuga, people are no longer respected for intelligence, knowledge or spiritual wisdom. Instead, material wealth and, to a lesser extent, physical strength, are what make a person highly regarded. Even though respect is shown superficially among the people, no one sincerely respects anyone. Everyone believes that the ultimate goal in life is to be respected, hence becoming wealthy and physically strong.

Changes in the people

Throughout the age, humans become shorter in height and weaker physically as well as mentally and spiritually. There is false preaching of false Gods, idols and gurus. Many people lie and claim themselves to be prophets and God-like beings. In addition, everybody will modify the definitions of fasting, meditation and austerity, so that they suit their needs. However, by doing this, they are not following the strict moral code and law of the Vedas, therefore they will hardly gain anything.

Changes in men

In Kali Yuga, men question the power of Brahmins, religious ceremonies, the existence of Gods, and the authority of the Vedas. There is no longer any respect towards elders or children. Jealousy grows in each man and they despise, hate, and are ready to kill one another over a few coins. The actions of men and savage beasts are alike.

Changes in women

Women in this era shall be immoral and licentious by nature because they are neglected and left unprotected. Although earlier they are treated as inferior to the male and always abused, later on they begin to dominate politics and other affairs. Women begin to eat too much. They lose their shyness and begin to betray their husbands by having affairs. Many women engage in prostitution. Because of this, a high and unwanted number of children are born, so abortion is introduced.

Lives of each of the castes

Earlier on in Kali Yuga, there is discrimination among the castes, particularly on the Shudras. Gradually, however, this is inverted with the Brahmin and Kshatriyas becoming the most discriminated against. Eventually the only caste that remains is the Shudra.

Life of the Brahmin

Most of the Brahmins stop performing religious activities. Like everyone else, they lose all their morality, eat meat (even beef), and start to take in intoxicants. Their respect and dignity is lost. When the mleccha are meant to perform sacrifice, they do not. The sacrifices change from fruits, water, and other pure substances to drugs, meat and material wealth. Only a few will isolate themselves from the rest of the destructive world and follow God. This number will decrease nonetheless as the Kali Yuga goes on. Gradually the last remaining Brahmin family will be living in Shambhala, where Kalki will be born.

Life of the Kshatriya

Kshatriyas, the royal and warrior caste, become corrupt and lose their political power. Their leadership falls into the hands of unprincipled rogues, criminals, and terrorists, who use their power to exploit the people. The kings themselves become thieves. They would rather steal from their citizens than protect and defend them. New leaders emerge from the labour class and begin to persecute religious people, saints, teachers, intellectuals, and philosophers. Dictatorships are founded by the lower classes.

Life of the Vaishya

The Vaishyas, who represent the middle class, merchants, tradesmen and businessmen of society, are now the petty-minded people who conduct business transactions and merchants dishonestly. New types of business-related crimes are formed, such as fraud and counterfeiting. The traders become selfish and try to satisfy their wants before the consumer. The very few who are honest with their business are not successful and eventually become unemployed. Eventually even they resort to cheating to be successful.

Life of the Shudra

Shudras no longer respect any of the higher castes. They are the most worshipped caste in Kali Yuga. After the first 10,000 years in the Yuga, they will be the sole varna, or caste remaining on Earth. During this period, though they may change their occupations or external status, their thoughts, beliefs, wisdom, personality and spiritual insight do not change.

Exception

The Supreme Personality therefore comes to teach us how to act according to the Vedic principles. In this age of Kali, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and preached that in this age the Vedic activities cannot be systematically performed because people are so fallen. He gave this recommendation from the sastras:

harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha

"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way." The Krsna consciousness movement is therefore teaching people all over the world how to chant the Hare Krsna mantra, and this has proved very much effective in all places at all times. The Supreme Personality of Godhead appears in order to teach us Vedic principles intended for understanding Him (vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah). We should always know that when Krsna and Lord Caitanya appeared, They appeared in suddha-sattva bodies. One should not mistake the body of Krsna or Caitanya Mahaprabhu to be a material body like ours, for Krsna and Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared as needed for the benefit of the entire human society.

During Kali Yuga, there are a minority of people who are still strong supporters of Lord (or "God"). However, by around 7000 CE, which is ten thousand years after Kali Yuga began, the devotees of God would all have received moksha (liberation, gone to heaven), and evil on Earth and in humans and other creatures is omnipresent. There is total chaos.

Other Views of Kali Yuga

According to Sri Aurobindo, Kali Yuga lasts far less than 432,000 years. The followers of the Purna Yoga believe that the Mother successfully solicited the early termination of the Kali Yuga in 1969, and the abolition of pralaya (normal process of destruction of the universe at the end of a kalpa (Cosmic Cycle of Creation-Destruction)).

According to Akilattirattu Ammanai the holy book of Ayyavazhi religion and source of Ayyavazhi mythology, this Kali Yuga is the seventh of the eight yugas. The Asura of this yuga Kaliyan was the sixth-fragment of Kroni the primordial manifestation of evil.

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