The Journey of Good & Evil Through Time
The concept of the Yugas, as described in ancient texts like the Shrimad Bhagavatam, offers a profound understanding of the cyclical nature of time and morality. Each Yuga represents a distinct era with its own duration, characteristics, and challenges.
The Four Yugas:
- Satya Yuga (1,728,000 human years): The age of truth and virtue, where meditation upon Vishnu was the path to self-realization. Goodness prevailed, and the battle between good and evil was fought between two worlds—Deva Loka and Asura Loka.
- Treta Yuga (1,296,000 human years): The age of righteousness, where humanity extended its knowledge and power. The fight between good and evil moved closer, with Lord Rama battling Ravana from different countries but within the same world.
- Dwapara Yuga (864,000 human years): The age of worship, where the focus shifted to deity worship in temples. The battle of good and evil became more personal, fought within the same family—the Pandavas versus the Kauravas.
- Kali Yuga (432,000 human years): The current age, marked by impurities and vices, where good and evil coexist within us. The battle is no longer external; it is within our own hearts and minds.
The Battle Within:
As we navigate Kali Yuga, we must recognize that the struggle between good and evil is an internal one. The ancient texts remind us that the ultimate battle is not fought in distant lands or between nations, but within our own souls.
The prediction for the end of Kali Yuga speaks of a great transformation, where Lord Shiva will destroy the universe, and Lord Brahma will recreate it, giving rise to beings of truth once again.
The journey through the Yugas teaches us that with each passing era, evil comes closer, from the external world to within ourselves. Our challenge now is to confront and overcome the darkness within, to cultivate goodness, and to emerge victorious in the battle that lies within each of us.
Reflection:
As we reflect on the Yugas, let’s be mindful of the inner battle we all face. The lessons of the past can guide us in our pursuit of self-realization and moral integrity in this complex age of Kali Yuga.
Bonus:
These 4 yugas follow a timeline ratio of 4:3:2:1.
4000+400+400 =4800 divine years (=17,28,000 human years) = 1 satya yuga
3000+300+300=3600 divine years (=12,96,000 human years) = 1 treta yuga
2000+200+200 = 2400 divine years (=8,64,000 human years) = 1 dwapara yuga
1000+100+100= 1200 divine years (=4,32,000 human years) = 1 kali yuga
The age of kali yuga is so far only 5000 years.
The end of kali yuga is 4,27,000 years from now.