Kali-yuga - 10,000 years of Golden Age

Kali-yuga - 10,000 years of Golden Age

Ekanath Das:

Predicted in Brahma-vaivarta Purana 4.129.*. The fourth part of the

Brahma-vaivarta is called Krsna-janma-khanda. Chapter 129 is called

Golokarohanam, because it describes how Krsna returns to His abode. The

general dialogue is between Lord Narayana and Narada Muni. This specific

dialogue is between Lord Krsna and Mother Ganga. Verse 49 is a question by

Ganga, verses 50-60 are Krsna's answer.

Text 49:

Bhaagiirathy uvaaca

he naatha ramanasrestha

yaasi golokamuttamam

asmaakam kaa gatiscaatra

bhavisyati kalau yuge

"Ganges said: O protector, Supreme enjoyer, on your departure for the

perfect abode, Goloka, thereafter what will be my situation in the age of

Kali?"

Text 50

srii-bhagavaan uvaaca

kaleh pamcasahasraani

varsaani tistha bhu-tale

paapaani paapino yaani

tubhyam daasyamti snaanatah

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: On the earth 5,000 years of Kali

will be sinful and sinners will deposit their sins in you by bathing."

Text 51

man-mamtropaasakasparsaad

bhasmibhutaani tatksanaat

bhavisyamti darsanaacca

snaanaadeva hi jaahnavi

"Thereafter by the sight and touch of those who worship Me by My mantra, all

those sins will be burnt."

Text 52

Harernaamaani yatraiva

puraanaani bhavamti hi

tatra gatvaa saavadhaanam

aabhih saarddham ca srosyasi

"There will be chanting of the name of Hari and reading of the [Bhagavata]

Purana. Reaching such a place, attentively hear.

[note: In Puranic language, when "Purana" is used alone it refers to

Bhagavata Purana. Otherwise it will specify Skanda Purana, Visnu Purana,

etc.]

Text 53:

Puraana sravanaaccaiva

harernaamaanukiirtanaat

bhasmibhutaani paapaani

brahma-hatyaadikaani ca

"Sinful reactions including the killing of a brahmana can be nullified be

hearing the Purana and chanting of the names of Hari in the manner of

devotees."

Text 54:

Bhasmibhutaani taanyeva

vaisnavaalimganena ca

trnaani suskakaasthaani

dahamti paavako yathaa

"Just as dry grass is burnt by fire, by the embrace of Vaisnavas all sins

are burnt."

Text 55:

Tathaapi vaisnavaa loke

paapaani paapinaamapi

prthivyaam yaani tiirthaani

punyaanyapi ca jaahnavi

"O Ganges, the whole planet will become a pilgrimage sight by the presence

of Vaisnavas, even though it had been sinful"

Text 56:

Madbhaktaanaam sariiresu

santi putesu samtatam

madbhaktapaadarajasaa

sadyah putaa vasundharaa

"In the body of My devotees remains eternally [the purifier]. Mother Earth

becomes pure by the dust of the feet of My devotees."

Text 57:

Sadyah putaani tiirthaani

sadyah putam jagattathaa

manmamtropaasakaa vipraa

ye maducchisrbhojinah

"It will be the same in the case of pilgrimage sites and the whole world.

Those intelligent worshipers of My mantra who partake My remnants will

purify everything."

Text 58

Maameva nityam dhyaayamte

te mat praanaadhikaah priyaah

tadupasparsamaatrena

puto vaayusca paavakah

"They are more dear to Me than My life, who everyday meditate only on Me.

The air and fire become pure simply even by their indirect touch."

[Note: Sastra says that of all material elements, fire and air are always

pure. Even though the air carries some impurities it always remains itself

pure. This verse indicates that the Vaisnavas will purify even the pure

elements of fire and air, therefore the purifying potency of the Vaisnavas

referred to in this verse is not material but completely spiritual. I.e. the

air and fire are _already_ materially pure, therefore the Vaisnavas purity

is spiritual and not material.]

Text 59:

Kaler dasa-sahasraani

madbhaktaah samti bhu-tale

ekavarnaa bhavisyamti

madbhaktesu gatesu ca

"For 10,000 years of Kali such devotees of Mine will fill the whole planet.

After the departure of My devotees there will be only one varna [outcaste]."

Text 60:

Madbhaktasunyaa prthivi

kaligrastaa bhavisyati

etasminnamtare tatra

krsnadehaadvinirgatah

"Devoid of My devotees, the earth will be shackled by Kali. Saying this,

Krsna departed."

Situation in Kali-yuga

According to the Vedic scriptures, our current age, known as Kali-yuga, is

one of spiritual darkness, violence and hypocrisy. Srimad-Bhagavatam

(12.2.31) records Kali-yuga as having begun when the constellation of the

seven sages (saptarsi) passed through the lunar mansion of Magha. Hindu

astrologers have calculated this to have been 2:27 a.m. on February 20, 3102

BC. This took place some 36 years after Lord Krsna spoke Bhagavad-gita to

Arjuna.

The scriptures like SB 12.2 teach that during the 432,000 year age of Kali,

humanity deteriorates and falls into barbarism. Humans begin to kill animals

for food. They fall under the spell of intoxication. They lose all sexual

restraint. Families break up. Women and children are abused and abandoned.

Increasingly degraded generations, conceived accidentally in lust and

growing up wild, swarm all over the world. Political leadership falls into

the hands of unprincipled rogues, criminals and terrorists, who use their

power to exploit the people. Entire populations are enslaved and put to

death. The world teems with fanatics, extremists and spiritual artists, who

win huge followings among a people completely dazed by hedonism, as well as

by cultural and moral relativism. "Religion, truthfulness, cleanliness,

tolerance, mercy, physical strength and memory diminish with each passing

day." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 12.2.1)

The saints and sages of ancient India describe the people of this age as

greedy, ill-behaved, and merciless. In this age, says Srimad-Bhagavatam,

merely possessing wealth is considered a sign of good birth, proper

behavior, and fine qualities. Law and justice are determined by one's

prestige and power. Marriage ceases to exist as a holy union - men and women

simply live together on the basis of bodily attraction and verbal agreement,

and only for sexual pleasure. Women wander from one man to another. Men no

longer look after their parents in their old age, and fail to provide for

their own children. One's beauty is thought to depend on one's hairstyle.

Filling the belly is said to be the only purpose in life. Cows are killed

once their milk production drops. Atheism flourishes. Religious observances

are performed solely for the sake of reputation.

The Linga Purana (ch. 40) describes the human race in Kali-yuga as a vain

and stupid people "spurred on by the lowest instincts." They prefer false

ideas and do not hesitate to persecute sages. They are tormented by bodily

desires. Severe droughts and plagues are everywhere. Slovenliness, illness,

hunger and fear spread. Nations are continually at war with one another. The

number of princes and farmers decline. Heroes are assassinated. The working

classes want to claim regal power and enjoy royal wealth. Kings become

thieves. They take to seizing property, rather than protecting the

citizenry. The new leaders emerge from the laborer class and begin to

persecute religious people, saints, teachers, intellectuals, and

philosophers. Civilization lacks any kind of divine guidance. The sacred

books are no longer revered. False doctrines and misleading religions spread

across the globe. Children are killed in the wombs of their mothers. Women

who have relations with several men are numerous. Predatory animals are more

violent. The number of cows diminishes.

The Linga Purana says that in Kali-yuga, young women freely abandon their

virginity. Women, children, and cows - always protected in an enlightened

society - are abused and killed during the iron age. Thieves are numerous

and rapes are frequent. There are many beggars, and widespread unemployment.

Merchants operate corrupt businesses. Diseases, rates, and foul substances

plague the populace. Water is lacking, fruits are scarce. Everyone uses

vulgar language.

The men of Kali-yuga seek only money. Only the richest have power. People

without money are their slaves. The leaders of the state no longer protect

the people, but plunder the citizenry through excessive taxation. Farmers

abandon living close to nature. They become unskilled laborers in congested

cities.

Many dress in rags, or are unemployed, and sleep on the streets. Through the

fault of the government, infant mortality rates are high. False gods are

worshiped in false ashrams, in which pilgrimages, penances, charities and

austerities are all concocted.

People in this age eat their food without washing beforehand. Monks break

their vows of celibacy. Cows are kept alive only for their milk. Water is

scarce. Many people watch the skies, praying for rain. No rain comes. The

fields become barren. Suffering from famine and poverty, many attempt to

migrate to countries where food is more readily available. People are

without joy and pleasure. Many commit suicide. Men of small intelligence are

influenced by atheistic doctrines. Family, clan and caste are all

meaningless. Men are without virtues, purity or decency. (Visnu Purana 6.1).

Spiritual Process

punsam ekaha vai sadhya hari bhaktih kalau yuge

yuga antarena dharma hi sevitavya narena hi

(Padma Purana, Svarga Khanda 61.5)

In Kali-yuga, a person should accept only one process, that is devotional

service. According to what process is decided for a particular yuga, that

should be followed by everyone without fail.