Article of the Month - Aug 2021

This article by Nitin Kumar (Edited By Kartik Kumar)

(Viewed 80068 times since Aug 2021)

We are living in the age of Kaliyuga. Both the Mahabharata and Shrimad Bhagavatam give a vivid description of how things are like in Kaliyuga. Many of these things we can see happening around us and we ourselves are also guilty of indulging in many of these actions. The following is a list of features typical to Kaliyuga according to these two shastras:


1). People will not think twice before cutting down trees or destroying groves.

2). Everyone will eat the same kind of food (i.e. will lack discrimination in matters of food and food-habits).

3). Even though having the outward appearance of saints, people will indulge in trade and commercial activity.

4). During Kaliyuga a man will be friends only with his wife. A man will consider only those people to be his relatives who are related to him through his wife.

5). Whoever has money will be considered of noble birth and as having good qualities. The one who has power in his hands will be able steer the course of justice in his favor.

6). The one who lacks money and cannot bribe will be deprived of justice by the courts.

7). People will consider far-off water bodies as pilgrimage but neglect pilgrimages near to them (for example living with parents and serving them).

8). Brahmins will start performing the tasks which otherwise shudras are supposed to perform.

9). Brahmins will abstain from sacrifices and the study of Vedas.

10). People will stop making offerings to their ancestors.


Valmiki Ramayanam Kaliyuga Parayanam (Malayalam)

11). Brahmins will start eating anything (i.e. they become indiscriminate in their food habits).

12). Men will have shorter life span and be feeble in strength. They will be weak in energy and valour.

13). During Kaliyuga, women will use their mouths for copulation.

14). Under the burden of excess taxation, householders will turn into robbers.

15). In ashramas, brahmacharis will indulge in evil conduct and pander to the desires of the world. The ashrams will be full of show-offs who are experts in the art of living off the food of others.

16). When Kaliyuga degenerates even further, people who follow Dharma are seen to have an ever smaller life.


17). People will sell goods with false weights. There will be a lot of deceit associated with trade.

18). Towards the end of Kaliyuga, the young one act like the old. The conduct that suits the young is seen in the old. The old will think like children and the young will have the intelligence of the old.

19). In Kaliyuga, people abbreviate the truth; because of this harm done to the truth, lifespans are shortened.

20). Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas will beget children with each other, and become like shudras, devoid of austerities and truth.


कलियुग भारतीय संस्कृतीची संक्रमणावस्था: Transition of Kaliyuga Indian Culture (Marathi)

21). Because of the shortage of cows, people will resort to drinking goat and sheep-milk.

22). In Kaliyuga, rules about what is to be eaten are transgressed.

23). Brahmins will not observe sacred vows but will criticize the Vedas. Deluded by logic they will give up worship and yajnas.

24). At the end of Kaliyuga, the world will be overtaken by mlechha conduct. There will be no rites and sacrifices. There will be unhappiness everywhere and no festivals will be celebrated.

25). Men will rob possessions of others, even that of widows.

26). Men will happily accept gifts given even by the evil.


27). When the end of Kaliyiga is near, the Kshatriyas will be the thorns of the world. They will not protect others.

28). No one will ask for a girl's hand in marriage; no one will duly give away a girl in marriage. When Kaliyuga is fully ripe, men and women will choose their spouses themselves.

29). Kings, discontented with what they possess, will use every means possible to steal the property of others.

30). When kaliyuga is fully advanced, one hand will steal from the other.


Sri Kalki Puranam

31). Cowards will take pride in their bravery and the brave will be immersed in depression like cowards.

32). During the final stages of Kaliyuga, there will be no Brahmins, Kshatriyas or Vaishyas left. At the end of Kaliyuga the world will have only one varna.

33). Wives will not tend to their husbands. Men and women will eat whatever they wish.

34). People will adorn themselves with the marks of a sadhu, i.e. there will be profusion of fake sadhus.

35). (Cooked) food will be sold at all major thoroughfares (according to shastras selling of cooked food is a sin; this is because everyone has a right to food, whether he has money or not).

36). When Kaliyuga is fully advanced, each will act as he wishes (human rights).

37). Brahmins will be oppressed by Shudras and thus tormented the former will wander all over the earth looking for protection.

38). Shudras will expound on Dharma and the Brahmins will listen to their discourses and serve them. Everything in the world will be utterly upside down.

39). Discarding the gods, bones set into walls will be worshipped.

40). Men will be addicted to meat and liquor and will be weak in Dharma.


सङ्घे शक्ति: कलौ युगे (कलियुगमें सङ्घेमें शक्ति)- Sanghe Shakti: Kalau Yuge (Strength In Union In Kaliyuga)

41). Rains will shower down at the wrong time.

42). Overcome by the burden of taxation, brahmins will flee in the ten directions.

43). Friends and relatives will act only out of love for wealth.

44). Women will be harsh and cruel in speech and will love to cry. They will not follow the words of their husbands.

45). Travelers in transit (guests) will ask for food and water but will not receive it. They will be refused shelter and will be forced to sleep on the roads.

46). People will leave their own countries and seek refuge in other countries, directions, regions, etc., and will roam around the world lamenting 'Alas, father!', 'Alas, son.'

47). Mutual liking between the boy and girl, and not family pedigree or social status etc. will be criterion for selecting a spouse.

48). Cheating will be the order of the day in business relations.

49). Sexual skill will be the criterion for excellence in men and women.

50). The only mark of evil will be poverty.


51). The one who can make a great display (of his austerities, occult powers etc.) will be considered the greatest sadhu.

52). Brushing one's hair and dressing up will be considered as substitute for bath.

53). The highest purpose of life will be to fill one's belly.

54). Maintenance of one's family will be looked upon as the highest skill.

55). Dharma will be followed to gain fame.

56). There will be no rule in becoming a king. Any Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya or Shudra, depending on who is the most powerful at the time, will become the king. At that time, the rulers will be so greedy that there will not any difference between them and robbers.

57). Houses will be desolate because of the lack of chanting of Vedas and absence of guests.


KEY TAKEAWAYS

 

  • Kali Yuga is the fourth and final stage of the cosmic cycle in Hinduism.


  • It is characterized by moral and spiritual decline, chaos, and suffering.

 

  • Despite its challenges, Kali Yuga is also considered a time of great opportunity for spiritual growth.

 

  • Bhakti or devotion is seen as the most effective path for spiritual advancement in Kali Yuga.


  • The ultimate goal of life remains the same in Kali Yuga, which is to attain liberation from the cycle of rebirth.


References & Further Reading:

G. P. Bhatt & J. L. Shastri (Tr). The Bhagavata Purana (5 Volumes): Delhi 2002

Debroy, Bibek. The Mahabharata: Complete and Unabridged (Ten Volumes): Penguin India, 2015

Pandey, Pandit Ramnarayandutt Shastri. The Complete Mahabharata (The Only Edition with Sanskrit Text and Hindi Translation) - Six Volumes: Gita Press, Gorakhpur, 2017

Saraswati, Swami Akhandananda (Tr). Shrimad Bhagavata Purana (2 Volumes): Gorakhpur 2004

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  • Hi, Till date, I have not read or heard about fifty oracles about Kalyuga. I read it about story of Pandva and Shri Krishna about characteristics of Kalyuga. The story consist of five characteristics only. So, could you please give reference ( to the point ), from which book you have found fifty characteristics ?
    Hardik Joshi May 07, 2022
  • I want to know more and more about kalyug.
    Tushar negi July 27, 2021
  • The system of dividing people into different groups like brahmin , kshatriya , vaishas , sudhra etc , was on the basis of work performed not actually the caste and one point of mahabharata which was conducted for dharam sthapana was not only the dignity of women but also that there was a castist system and karn being a maharathi was still deprived of respect as he was considered to be sudhra putra and it was also said that even though duryodhyana was a adharmi he did a dharma of giving the respect and diginity to karn on basis of his ability not caste soo some points feel so wrong … and according to out vedas a girl always has the choice to choose her partner that’s why sita and draupadi and many more had her swayamvar was conducted soo saying that they will choose their partner themselves will be a part of kalyug is also wrong …please educate me accordingly if i am wrong
    Megha Modi July 03, 2021
  • Its a real pity you have not referenced each of these. It is just too easy to make it up. I don't doubt that many if not all are written in the texts - but I cannot find them.
    PJ October 16, 2019
  • So many points mentioned as the mark of kaliyuga but they were happening in other yugas also nothing particular about this yuga or that yuga when the circumstances appear wise people also turn towords karma contrary to usual course of action. If it wer'nt so Maharaja Prithviraj even after winning upon Mohammad Gori so many times would not have let him go without paying the price of wars thrust upon him by Gori. He should of thought of the miseries his praja has gone through because of war. It was the will of allmighty to give the British an upper hand because at least they had this kind of thinking to punish their enemies. LIke this even after having india partitioned Mahatma Gandhi choose liberal Nehru over Subhash Chandra Bose or Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel to take over the reign from Britishers. In fact he should have made Subhash Chandra Bose the Head of Military, Vallabh Bhai Patel the leader of Executive and Pandit Nehru and Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar the caretaker of the lawmakers which would have served the country well and he should have become the co-ordinator of the Three. But Alas he was also drenched into water of perfectionists thoughts ignored the Balancing nature of the dimensions of the three pillars of democracy A person has to Balance his thoughts, actions, as per the challenges thrown by nature, environment (both man made and natural). Nothing wrong in doing so even when it looks like we are departing from usual way of living described in scriptures.
    Nandita Rao October 31, 2018