Kalyug: Kalki and the Awakening of a New Era

 

"सत्ता म्भरा धर्मो धर्मेण युक्ता युगं परं। ततस्त्वं केशवेश्वरो धर्मेण अव्रजन्ति स:।"


"Sattāmbharā dharmo dharmeṇaṇ yukta yugaṁ paraṁ.
Tatas tvam keśaveśvaro dharmeṇaṇ avrajannti saḥ.ḥ"

"When the end of the Yuga comes, the last of the ages, dharma (righteousness) will take its last form.
From that moment, people will no longer practice dharma as they once did." This shloka has been cited
in The Bhāgavata Purāṇaṇ (1.3.24) which describes the beginning of Kalyuga and the decline of
dharma.

In the Hindu mythology, ”kalyuga” is the final epoch in the Sanātana cycle of creation, preservation and
destruction which has been prophesied by lord Brahma. According to the ‘Bhagvata Purana’ when Kanha (Lord Krishna) left the mortal world after the end of the epic Mahabharata, it marked the end of the Dvapara Yuga and onset of the Kalyuga. The dark age began at around 3102 BCE, with the celestial
arrangement of the planetary energies symbolizing the start of spiritual ignorance.
Kali-yuga is often referred to as kaal or kali. Kali which embodies hypocrisy, fights and deceit is said to be a ‘rakshasha’. In the Mahabharata, King Parikshit was said to be approached by kali which tried to banish him, however when asked for a shelter it was given a abode in the castle of gambling, intoxication and dishonesty which became the hallmarks of kalyuga.

Decline of Dharma has been defined by various scholars, one of them being Aaron G. L. Adoni (1984)
corroborates the thoughts of humans in Kaliyuga: "They believe that they have achieved everything when indeed they have achieved nothing". And in other various literature texts such as the Śrimad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇaṇ and Vishnu Purāṇaṇ mention that the Kaal-yuga, marks the inclination of violence, corruption and the breakdown of the social structures along with collapse in virtues like truthfulness, cleanliness, and compassion. A world which is increasingly chaotic, where the rulers exploit their people, and justice is based on power rather than righteousness.

Kalyuga is not only restricted to the modern times but it had begun way before the earth mourned the
renunciation of Kanha but existed during the epic eras as well.
With reference to the Mahabharata, the “Chausa” Game of Dice serves as a key event that not only sets
the stage for the epic battle between the Pandavas and Kauravas but also marks the beginning of a
series of moral and spiritual declines that resonate with the onset of Kalyug in Hindu cosmology.
Chausa reflected the moral decline.Just as Duryodhana and Shakuni manipulate the dice to deceive
the Pandavas, Kalyug is said to be an age where deceit and manipulation are common.
The Mahabharata also describes how, during the chausa, Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas, is
humiliated by the Kauravas,in an entire court of men. This incident marks the loss of spiritual values and respect for women, which is a significant feature of Kalyug, as described in the Bhāgavata Purāṇaṇ
(12.3.34).

However, even in the midst of Kalyug’s darkness, divine intervention offers hope. In the Mahabharata,
Lord Krishna protects Draupadi during her humiliation, symbolizing that despite the degradation of the
age, the divine remains a guiding force. This reflects the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita (9.26-27),
where Krishna assures that anyone who seeks refuge in him, especially through devotion, can transcend
the limitations of Kalyug.

"When the forces of adharma overwhelm the world, I will incarnate as Kalki to restore
righteousness and usher in a new age of truth."
(Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.25)

The end of Kalyug is prophesied to be marked by the arrival of Kalki, the tenth and final avatar of
Lord Vishnu. Riding a white horse and wielding a fiery sword, Kalki will restore dharma by
destroying the forces of evil and ignorance.The ancient scriptures describe this event as the
Pralaya (cosmic dissolution), after which a new Satya Yuga will dawn, beginning the cycle anew.

However, a different take on this could be the potential for inner spiritual awakening. Kalyug has always been associated with terms such as conceit, betrayal, aggression, violence, hunger and darkness.The greatest transformation takes place when the world is in dire need of it. 

The world history itself is the biggest proof of this statement. The world underwent revolutions, transformations whenever darkness spread. Irrespective of the religion, caste and culture, transformation has always been constant since ages. 


"परिवर्तन ही ब्रह्मांड का नियम है। आप इसे महसूस कर सकते हैं, लेकिन इसे देख नहीं सकते।"
– भगवद गीता, अध्याय 2, श्लोक 14

In such times of dread, the only liberation for mankind could be inner acceptance, awakening and redemption. 
Kalki might not be Vishnu's Avatar, riding a white horse when the seven seas rise high but simply  a symbolic representation of the divine awakening within each individual. Kalyug may be the age of materialism, but it is also an age where individuals have the chance to rise above the chaos and discover their true spiritual nature. 

Women have always played an important role yet have been historically marginalized. From Draupadi's humiliation to current day female entrepreneurs, women have come a long way and are strong pillars of the society now. Despite the adversities they face, the resilience, power, and potential of women in Kalyug have the ability to inspire positive change and uplift entire societies. Women hence may play a pivotal role in the great spiritual awakening. 

Kalyug is thus perceived as both a time of decay and a time of potential. 
Kalyug thus may be the Yug where Dharma rises again and the path to enlightenment, consciousness and self-realization is discovered or the world is completely eaten away by evil. It is the crucible in which humanity can forge its highest potential, overcoming challenges to make a better world for generations ahead. With awareness, compassion, and action, we can fashion Kalyug not as an end but a powerful new beginning.

- Prisha Gogri in collaboration with Misha Parekh

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