The Symptoms of Kali-yuga

Srimad Bhagvatam : Canto 12 Chapter 2 Text 1 – 16

Understanding what to expect in Kali Yuga, the current age of decline in Hinduism, is important for navigating its challenges and fostering spiritual growth. Kali Yuga is characterized by a decline in dharma (righteousness), a rise in materialism, and a weakening of spiritual values. Knowing this allows individuals to focus on maintaining dharma, practicing spiritual disciplines, and seeking wisdom amidst the negative influences of the age. 

Here’s a more detailed look at why knowing Kali Yuga’s characteristics is important:

1. Recognizing the Challenges: Kali Yuga is described as a time of moral decay, where vices like greed, envy, and ego become dominant. Understanding this helps individuals avoid succumbing to these negative influences and instead strive for righteousness. 

2. Fostering Spiritual Growth: While Kali Yuga presents challenges, it also provides an opportunity for spiritual development. By recognizing its characteristics, individuals can focus on practices like meditation, self-reflection, and devotion to maintain a strong connection to the divine. 

3. Navigating the Age with Purpose: Knowledge of Kali Yuga helps individuals make informed decisions and live with a sense of purpose, even in a world that is seemingly driven by materialism and negativity. 

4. Maintaining Dharma: The concept of dharma, or righteousness, is crucial in Kali Yuga, as it is believed to be the foundation for a stable and harmonious society. Understanding the importance of dharma and how to practice it is essential for navigating the challenges of this age. 

5. Acknowledging the Cycle of Time: Kali Yuga is part of a larger cycle of time in Hindu cosmology, and its end is seen as the dawn of a new era. Knowing this provides hope and a sense of perspective, reminding individuals that this is a temporary phase. 

In essence, understanding the nature of Kali Yuga provides a framework for living a more meaningful life, striving for spiritual growth, and navigating the challenges of the present age. 

When did the Kali Yuga begin

According to Puranic sources Kali Yuga began on February 17/18, 3102 BCE. This is the fourth and most degenerate Yuga in the cycle, lasting for 432,000 years. The end of the Yuga is marked by the appearance of Kalki avatar, who will usher in the next cycle’s Krita Yuga. 

According to Puranic sources, Krishna’s disappearance from the earth marked the end of Dvapara Yuga and the start of Kali Yuga, which is dated to 17/18 February 3102 BCE. Lasting for 432,000 years (1,200 divine years), Kali Yuga began 5,126 years ago and has 426,874 years left as of 2025 CE. Kali Yuga will end in the year 428,899 CE.

What will happen in the age of Kali Yuga

As the Age of Kali progresses, all good qualities of men diminish and all impure qualities increase. Atheistic systems of so-called religion become predominant, replacing the codes of Vedic law. The kings become just like highway bandits, the people in general become dedicated to low occupations, and all the social classes become just like śūdras. All cows become like goats, all spiritual hermitages become like materialistic homes, and family ties extend no further than the immediate relationship of marriage.

Text 1: Religion, truthfulness, cleanliness, tolerance, mercy, duration of life, physical strength and memory will all diminish day by day because of the powerful influence of the Age of Kali.

Text 2: In Kali-yuga, wealth alone will be considered the sign of a man’s good birth, proper behavior and fine qualities. And law and justice will be applied only on the basis of one’s power.

Text 3: Men and women will live together merely because of superficial attraction, and success in business will depend on deceit. Womanliness and manliness will be judged according to one’s expertise in sex, and a man will be known as a brāhmaṇa just by his wearing a thread.

Text 4: A person’s spiritual position will be ascertained merely according to external symbols, and on that same basis people will change from one spiritual order to the next. A person’s propriety will be seriously questioned if he does not earn a good living. And one who is very clever at juggling words will be considered a learned scholar.

Text 5: A person will be judged unholy if he does not have money, and hypocrisy will be accepted as virtue. Marriage will be arranged simply by verbal agreement, and a person will think he is fit to appear in public if he has merely taken a bath.

Text 6: A sacred place will be taken to consist of no more than a reservoir of water located at a distance, and beauty will be thought to depend on one’s hairstyle. Filling the belly will become the goal of life, and one who is audacious will be accepted as truthful. He who can maintain a family will be regarded as an expert man, and the principles of religion will be observed only for the sake of reputation.

Text 7: As the earth thus becomes crowded with a corrupt population, whoever among any of the social classes shows himself to be the strongest will gain political power.

Text 8: Losing their wives and properties to such avaricious and merciless rulers, who will behave no better than ordinary thieves, the citizens will flee to the mountains and forests.

Text 9: Harassed by famine and excessive taxes, people will resort to eating leaves, roots, flesh, wild honey, fruits, flowers and seeds. Struck by drought, they will become completely ruined.

Text 10: The citizens will suffer greatly from cold, wind, heat, rain and snow. They will be further tormented by quarrels, hunger, thirst, disease and severe anxiety.

Text 11: The maximum duration of life for human beings in Kali-yuga will become fifty years.

Texts 12-16: By the time the Age of Kali ends, the bodies of all creatures will be greatly reduced in size, and the religious principles of followers of varṇāśrama will be ruined. The path of the Vedas will be completely forgotten in human society, and so-called religion will be mostly atheistic. The kings will mostly be thieves, the occupations of men will be stealing, lying and needless violence, and all the social classes will be reduced to the lowest level of śūdras. Cows will be like goats, spiritual hermitages will be no different from mundane houses, and family ties will extend no further than the immediate bonds of marriage. Most plants and herbs will be tiny, and all trees will appear like dwarf śamī trees. Clouds will be full of lightning, homes will be devoid of piety, and all human beings will have become like asses. At that time, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will appear on the earth. Acting with the power of pure spiritual goodness, He will rescue eternal religion.

Conclusion

Understanding what will happen in Kali Yuga, the current age of decline in Hinduism, can offer valuable insights and guidance for navigating its challenges and potentially achieving spiritual growth. By recognizing the characteristics of this age, individuals can make informed choices and develop practices that foster well-being and spiritual progress.