Yuga

Last updated

A yuga, in Hinduism, is generally used to indicate an age of time. [1] [2]

Contents

In the Rigveda , a yuga refers to generations, a period of time (whether long or short), or a yoke (joining of two things). [3] In the Mahabharata , the words yuga and kalpa (a day of Brahma) are used interchangeably to describe the cycle of creation and destruction. [4]

In post-Vedic texts, the words "yuga" and "age" commonly denote a catur-yuga (pronounced chatur yuga), a cycle of four world ages—for example, in the Surya Siddhanta and Bhagavad Gita (part of the Mahabharata)—unless expressly limited by the name of one of its minor ages: Krita (Satya) Yuga , Treta Yuga , Dvapara Yuga , or Kali Yuga . [1] [5] [lower-alpha 1]

Etymology

Yuga (Sanskrit : युग) means "a yoke" (joining of two things), "generations", or "a period of time" such as an age, where its archaic spelling is yug, with other forms of yugam, yugānāṃ, and yuge, derived from yuj (Sanskrit : युज्, lit. 'to join or yoke'), believed derived from *yeug- (Proto-Indo-European: lit. 'to join or unite'). [8]

Meanings

The term "yuga" has multiple meanings, including representing the number 4 and various periods of time. In early Indian astronomy, it referred to a five-year cycle starting with the conjunction of the sun and moon in the autumnal equinox. More commonly, "yuga" is used in the context of kalpas , composed of four yugas. According to the Manusmriti, a kalpa starts with a Satya Yuga (4,000 years), followed by a Treta Yuga (3,000 years), a Dvapara Yuga (2,000 years), and ends with a Kali Yuga (1,000 years). According to Vishnu Purana, each Mahayuga comprises a Satya Yuga (1,728,000 human years), a Treta Yuga (1,296,000 years), a Dvapara Yuga (864,000 years), and a Kali Yuga (432,000 years). [9]

See also

Explanatory notes

  1. The general word "yuga" is sometimes used instead of the more specific word "catur-yuga". A kalpa is described as lasting 1,000 catur-yuga in Bhagavata Purana 12.4.2 ("catur-yuga") [6] and Bhagavad Gita 8.17 ("yuga"). [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shesha</span> Serpent God in Hinduism

Shesha, also known by his epithets Sheshanaga and Adishesha, is a serpent god (naga) and Lord of all serpents, as well as a primordial being of creation in Hinduism. In the Puranas, Shesha is said to hold all the planets of the universe on his hoods and to constantly sing the glories of Vishnu from all his mouths. He is sometimes referred to as Ananta Shesha,

Kali Yuga, in Hinduism, is the fourth, shortest and worst of the four yugas in a Yuga Cycle, preceded by Dvapara Yuga and followed by the next cycle's Krita (Satya) Yuga. It is believed to be the present age, which is full of conflict and sin.

The 32nd century BC was a century lasting from the year 3200 BC to 3101 BC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian national calendar</span> Solar calendar used in India

The Indian national calendar, called the Shaka calendar or Śaka calendar, is a solar calendar that is used alongside the Gregorian calendar by The Gazette of India, in news broadcasts by All India Radio, and in calendars and official communications issued by the Government of India. Śaka Samvat is generally 78 years behind the Gregorian calendar, except from January to March, when it is behind by 79 years.

<i>Treta Yuga</i> Second of four yugas (ages) in Hindu cosmology

Treta Yuga, in Hinduism, is the second and second-best of the four yugas in a Yuga Cycle, preceded by Krita (Satya) Yuga and followed by Dvapara Yuga. Treta Yuga lasts for 1,296,000 years.

Hindu eschatology is linked to the figure of Kalki, or the tenth and last avatar of Vishnu before the age draws to a close, and Harihara simultaneously dissolves and regenerates the universe.

<i>Satya Yuga</i> First of four yugas (ages) in Hindu cosmology

Satya Yuga, in Hinduism, is the first and best of the four yugas in a Yuga Cycle, preceded by Kali Yuga of the previous cycle and followed by Treta Yuga. Satya Yuga lasts for 1,728,000 years.

<i>Dvapara Yuga</i> Third of four yugas (ages) in Hindu cosmology

Dvapara Yuga, in Hinduism, is the third and third-best of the four yugas in a Yuga Cycle, preceded by Treta Yuga and followed by Kali Yuga. Dvapara Yuga lasts for 864,000 years.

Hindu cosmology is the description of the universe and its states of matter, cycles within time, physical structure, and effects on living entities according to Hindu texts. Hindu cosmology is also intertwined with the idea of a creator who allows the world to exist and take shape.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saptarshi</span> Seven sages of Hinduism

The Saptarshi are the seven seers of ancient India who are extolled in the Vedas, and other Hindu literature such as the Skanda Purana. The Vedic Samhitas never enumerate these rishis by name, although later Vedic texts such as the Brahmanas and Upanisads do so.

Yugadharma is the dharma of an epoch or age in Hindu philosophy. The concept of yugadharma is prescribed to be a reflection of Sanatana Dharma, the eternal dharma that transcends the passage of time.

<i>Pralaya</i> Period of dissolution (non-activity) in Hindu cosmology

Pralaya is a concept in Hindu eschatology. Generally referring to four different phenomena, it is most commonly used to indicate the event of the dissolution of the entire universe that follows a kalpa called the Brahmapralaya.

A kalpa is a long period of time (aeon) in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology, generally between the creation and recreation of a world or universe.

<i>Ganesha Purana</i> Sanskrit text that deals with Ganesha

The Ganesha Purana is a Sanskrit text that deals with the Hindu deity Ganesha. It is an upapurāṇa that includes mythology, cosmogony, genealogy, metaphors, yoga, theology and philosophy relating to Ganesha.

A manvantara, in Hindu cosmology, is a cyclic period of time identifying the duration, reign, or age of a Manu, the progenitor of mankind. In each manvantara, seven Rishis, certain deities, an Indra, a Manu, and kings are created and perish. Each manvantara is distinguished by the Manu who rules/reigns over it, of which we are currently in the seventh manvantara of fourteen, which is ruled by Vaivasvata Manu.

Hindu units of time are described in Hindu texts ranging from microseconds to trillions of years, including cycles of cosmic time that repeat general events in Hindu cosmology. Time is described as eternal. Various fragments of time are described in the Vedas, Manusmriti, Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, Mahabharata, Surya Siddhanta etc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epic-Puranic chronology</span> Timeline of Hindu mythology based on the Puranas

The Epic-Puranic chronology is a timeline of Hindu mythology based on the Itihasa and the Puranas. These texts have an authoritaive status in Indian tradition, and narrate cosmogeny, royal chronologies, myths and legendary events. The central dates here are the Kurukshetra War and the start of the Kali Yuga. The Epic-Puranic chronology is referred to by proponents of Indigenous Aryans to propose an earlier dating of the Vedic period, and the spread of Indo-European languages out of India, arguing that "the Indian civilization must be viewed as an unbroken tradition that goes back to the earliest period of the Sindhu-Sarasvati Valley traditions ."

Vyasaa.k.a.Veda Vyāsa is the title given to the Rishi (sage) who comes at the end of every Dvapara Yuga to divide and compile the one Veda into four and compile the Puranas and Mahabharata for the benefit of mankind in the degraded age that follows, Kali Yuga. Vyasa is a central and revered figure in most Hindu traditions. In the 28th mahayuga (current), Krishna Dvaipāyana Vyasa was Vyasa, whose name refers to his complexion and birthplace, and who is believed to be a partial incarnation of Vishnu that occurs once in every kalpa. In the upcoming 29th mahayuga, Guru Drona's son Rishi Aswatthama will be born as the next Vyasa. In the previous 27th mahayuga, Veda Vyasa's father was Vyasa.

A Yuga Cycle is a cyclic age (epoch) in Hindu cosmology. Each cycle lasts for 4,320,000 years and repeats four yugas : Krita (Satya) Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga.

References

  1. 1 2 "Yuga". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  2. Sundarraj, M. (1997) [1st ed. 1994]. "Ch. 4 Asvins⁠—Time-Keepers". In Mahalingam, N. (ed.). RG Vedic Studies. Coimbatore: Rukmani Offset Press. p. 219. It is quite clear that the smallest unit was the 'nimisah' ['winking of eyes'], and that time in the general sense of past, present and future was indicated by the word 'yuga'.
  3. Kane, P. V. (September 1936). Sukthankar, V. S.; Fyzee, A. A. A.; Bhagwat, N. K. (eds.). "Kalivarjya (actions forbidden in the Kali Age)". Journal of the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 12. The Asiatic Society of Bombay: 1–2. The word yuga occurs at least thirty-eight times in the Rigveda, but the meaning is rather doubtful. In a few places yuga means yoke ... In many places it appears to refer to a very brief period ... Generally yuga appears to mean in the Rigveda 'generation' (lessening the life of human generations) ... In other places 'yuga' must be given the sense of a 'long period of time' ...
  4. González-Reimann, Luis (2018). "Cosmic Cycles, Cosmology, and Cosmography". In Basu, Helene; Jacobsen, Knut A.; Malinar, Angelika; Narayanan, Vasudha (eds.). Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Vol. 2. Leiden: Brill Publishers. p. 415. doi:10.1163/2212-5019_BEH_COM_1020020. ISBN   978-90-04-17641-6. ISSN   2212-5019. The cycle [of creation and destruction] is either called a yuga (MBh. 1.1.28; 12.327.89; 13.135.11), a kalpa, meaning a formation or a creation (MBh. 6.31.7 [= BhG. 9.7]; 12.326.70; 12.327.23), or a day of the brahman, or of Brahmā, the creator god (MBh. 12.224.28–31). Sometimes, it is simply referred to as the process of creation and destruction (saṃhāravikṣepa; MBh. 12.271.30, 40, 43, 47–49).
  5. Burgess, Rev. Ebenezer (1935) [1st ed. 1860]. Gangooly, Phanindralal (ed.). Translation of the Surya-Siddhanta, A Text-Book of Hindu Astronomy; With notes and an appendix. University of Calcutta. p. 9. The period of 4,320,000 years is ordinarily styled Great Age (mahayuga), or, as above in two instances [1.15-16], Quadruple Age (caturyuga). In the Surya-Siddhanta, however, the former term is not once found, and the latter occurs only in these verses; elsewhere, Age (yuga) alone is employed to denote it, and always denotes it, unless expressly limited by the name of the Golden (krta) Age.
  6. "Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Bhāgavata Purāṇa) 12.4.2". Bhaktivedanta Vedabase. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
    catur-yuga-sahasraṁ tu brahmaṇo dinam ucyate ।
    sa kalpo yatra manavaś caturdaśa viśām-pate ॥ 2 ॥

    (2) One thousand cycles of four ages [catur-yuga] constitute a single day of Brahmā, known as a kalpa. In that period, O King, fourteen Manus come and go.
  7. "Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 8.17". Bhaktivedanta Vedabase (in Sanskrit and English). Translated by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. 1968. LCCN   68008322. Wikidata   Q854700 . Retrieved 2020-05-10.
    sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmaṇo viduḥ ।
    rātriṁ yuga-sahasrāntāṁ te 'ho-rātra-vido janāḥ ॥ 17 ॥

    (17) By human calculation, a thousand ages [yuga] taken together form the duration of Brahmā's one day. And such also is the duration of his night.
  8. "युग (yuga)". Wiktionary . Retrieved 2021-02-27.
    "yuga". Wiktionary . Retrieved 2021-02-27.
    "Yuga". Wisdom Library. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
    "युज् (yuj)". Wiktionary . Retrieved 2021-02-27.
    "*yeug-". Online Etymology Dictionary . Retrieved 2021-02-27.
    "yug". Wiktionary . 6 June 2022. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  9. Cush, Denise; Robinson, Catherine A.; York, Michael, eds. (2008). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. London ; New York: Routledge. pp. 1043–1044. ISBN   978-0-7007-1267-0. OCLC   62133001.