Age of Kali
Hindu cosmology views time in vast cycles lasting hundreds of thousands
of years, with phases of light and darkness corresponding to the level of
spiritual awareness on the planet.
According to the scriptures, men and women in previous ages were endowed
with heroic and godly qualities. The supernatural was commonplace and
miraculous events were ordinary.
In his lucid translation and commentary of the Srimad Bhagavatam (1.17.6-8),
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada writes that people in ancient times were
godly. They enjoyed thousand-year lifespans, and the earth was ruled by
saintly kings ("rajarshis") annointed by God.
These noble rulers cared for both their human and nonhuman subjects: "men
and animals were equally protected as far as life was concerned. That is the
way in God’s kingdom."
According to Srila Prabhupada, such moral concern is required of today’s
leaders:
"The protection of the lives of both the human beings and the animals is the
first and foremost duty of a government. A government must not discriminate
in such principles."
According to the Hindu scriptures, our current age, known asKali Yuga, the
iron age, is one of spiritual darkness, violence and hypocrisy.
The Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.31 says Kali Yuga began when the constellation of
the seven sages (Saptarishi) passed through the lunar mansion of Magha.
Hindu astrologers calculated this as 2:27 a.m. on February 20, 3102 BC.
The scriptures teach that during the 432,000 year age of Kali, humanity
deteriorates and falls into barbarism.
Humans begin to indiscriminately butcher innocent 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 con 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)
In this age, states the 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. 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 saints and 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. The number of cows diminishes.
The Linga Purana says that in Kali Yuga, young women freely abandon their
virginity. Women, children, and cows— protected in an enlightened
society—are abused and killed during the iron age.
The men of Kali Yuga only seek money. Only the riches 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 worshipped 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. (Vishnu Purana 6.1)
This age of Kali runs for 432,000 years. It will be followed by a return to
Satya Yuga, a Golden Age of light. This will be brought about by Lord Kalki,
the next incarnation of God.
Religious life and devotion to God are virtually impossible duringKali Yuga.
This is a cruel, savage, bloodthirsty, licentious age, where "God is dead,"
and religion is a dirty word.
The saints and sages of ages past enjoyed a very exalted state of devotion
trhough constant prayer and meditation upon the Lord: saturating the mind
with God consciousness.
In Kali Yuga, the masses are incapable of practicing severe austerities,
subjecting themselves to strict mental and physical discipline, and
mediating upon God for years on end.
As part of the "TV generation," our attention span and ability to focus are
limited, and we demand instant gratification.
Moreover, we tend to live in congested urban metropolises, rather than on
farms and in forests, which promote a more tranquil state of mind. Classical
forms of yoga and meditation are impractical in this age.
The Srimad Bhagavatam describes the Kali Yuga as a time of sorrow, strife
and irreligion, but concludes (12.3.51) that it has one redeeming aspect—the
saving grace of God is in His holy name.
Religions all over the world teach that God’s name is holy and meant to be
glorified. The saving grace of a personal God is our only real shelter in
Kali Yuga.
As this age continues, human piety diminishes. Animal slavery. Human
slavery. AIDS. Abortion. The Holocaust. The annihilation of the Native
Americans. The "killing fields" of Cambodia. Drug abuse. These are merely
the tip of the iceberg—a preview of things to come.
At the end of this age, the human race will have turned the earth into a
wasteland. Humans will be cannibalizing their own children, and the life
expectancy will be around 20 to 30 years.
It is at this point in time that Lord Kalki, the next predicted incarnation
of God, will appear. The scriptures say He will appear as the son of a
brahmana (priest) whose name is Vishnu-yasa, in a place called Shambhala.
There is a place in India with that name, so perhaps it is there that the
Lord will appear.
Kalki is depicted riding a horse and carrying a sword. Humanity is so fallen
at this point that there is no other remedy, apart from total destruction of
the human population, to save the world. Kalki judges the world.
The Linga Purana describes "mlecchas" (flesh-eaters, barbarians) killed by
the thousands by Lord Kalki, along with the thieves who have seized royal
power.
The Lord then re-establishes pure civilization and anoints a God-conscious
king to rule on His behalf. The earth re-enters a phase of enlightenment,
and the cycle of time continues.
The prophecies given in these Sanskrit texts are consistent with Western
apocalyptic literature such as the Book of Revelations.
The Western traditions of a coming or a returning "messiah" presiding over
the end of the world, judgement day and the restoration of paradise on
earth, however, are seen in Vedic cosmology as cyclical events.
The coming Satya Yuga, or Golden Age, has been expressed in the American
popular culture as the dawning of the Aquarian or "New Age."
However, one need not wait 427,000 years for enlightenment. One can be saved
immediately by taking shelter of the Lord’s holy names:
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s humble request to the confused and
alienated American youth of the late 1960s is especially relevant today, as
Kali Yuga continues and civilization declines:
"...don’t commit suicide. Take to chanting this Hare Krishnamantra, and all
real knowledge will be revealed...
"We are not charging anything...No. It is open for everyone. Please take
it...That is our request. We are begging you—don’t spoil your life. Please
take this mantra and chant it wherever you like...chant, and you’ll feel
ecstasy."
****
"But Jesus Christ never said that he is God. He said 'son of God.' We have
no objection to chanting the holy name
of Jesus Christ. We are preaching, 'Chant the holy name of God.'
"If you haven't got any name of God, then you can chant our conception of
the name of God, Krishna. But we don't say only Krishna...
"So what more do you want? Therefore let us cooperate. Don't think that it
is against Christianity or that it is sectarian. Let us cooperate fully.
Jointly let us preach all over the world, 'Chant the holy names of God.' Let
us join together.
"That should be the real purpose of devotees of God. My students are
preaching love of God. Why should others be envious of them? We don't say
that you must chant Hare Krishna. If you have a name of God, chant it."
--Room conversation, London, August 14, 1971
****
"Lord Jesus Christ exemplified this by teaching 'Thou shalt not kill.' But
the Christians like to misinterpret this instruction. They think the animals
have no soul, and therefore they think they can freely kill billions of
innocent animals in the slaughterhouses.
"So although there are many persons who profess to be Christians, it would
be very difficult to find one who strictly follows the instructions of Lord
Jesus Christ.
"I think the Christian priests should cooperate with the Krishna
consciousness movement. They should chant the name Christ...and should stop
condoning the slaughter of animals.
"This program follows the teachings of the Bible, it is not my philosophy.
Please act accordingly and you will see how the world situation will
change."
