Science of 4 Yugas

INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER
IRC-SNR - Science,
Nature, Religion
SCIENCE OF YUGAS.
IRC-SNS
11/1/2008
.
IRC-SNR - International Research Center for Science, Nature, Religion (Regd.)
Science of 4 Yugas - Earth Lifecycle - Time-Periods, Symbolism, Incarnations
1. Satya-yuga  2. Tretaa-yuga  3. Dwaapara-yuga  Universal Flood  4. Kali-

yuga  1. Satya-yuga
Gold-quality Silver-quality Copper-quality Iron-in-
mud-quality
Yuga-Quality 3 Sub- Hierarchy of bhoutika- Yuga Symbolism (Quality, Color, Animal/s)

Periods of guna (Material Qualities)
Each Yuga & Years
1. Sattva guna Yuga Quality: Gold: Sattva-guna

Golden Period White Age 2. Raja guna (Goodness/Purity) is predominant, flourishes and
3. Tama guna prevails
38,91,102 BC - 37,47,102 Yuga Color: White: Peaceful (White) Age. Mos
sandhya
BC of the Humans cover entire/full body with Clothe
Satya-yuga 37,47,102 BC - 23,07,102 (preferably White) - [represents Clean Health in
Satya-yuga Body, Mind and Soul]
17,28,000 Years BC
23,07,102 BC - 21,63,102 Yuga Animal/s: Cow (Gold-quality)
sandhyansa
BC
1. Raja guna Yuga Quality: Silver: Raja-guna (Passion) is

Silver Period Red Age
2. Sattva guna predominant but supported by Sattva-guna
3. Tama guna Yuga Color: Red: Blood (Red) starts spilling on
21,63,102 BC - 20,55,102 earth, but only between Warriors and that too in
sandhya
BC few Ethical Wars
Tretaa-yuga 20,55,102 BC - 9,75,102 Yuga Animal/s: Cow (Gold-quality), Horse
Tretaa-yuga (Silver-quality)
12,96,000 Years BC
9,75,102 BC - 8,67,102
sandhyansa
BC
1. Raja guna Yuga Quality: Copper: Raja-guna is predomina

Copper Period Yellow Age 2. Tama guna and also backed by Tama-guna
3. Sattva guna (Ignorant/Destructive)
8,67,102 BC - 7,95,102 Yuga Color: Yellow: More Physical
Dwaapara- sandhya
BC Disorders/Diseases (Yellow) begin
yuga Dwaapara- 7,95,102 BC - 75,102 BC Yuga Animal/s: Cow (Gold-quality), Horse
8,64,000 Years yuga (Silver-quality), Peacock (Copper-quality)
sandhyansa 75,102 BC - 3,102 BC
3,102 BC, Feb: 1) Lord Krishna’s incarnation ends, 2) Beginning of Dark Age, 3) Universal Flood occurs, 4) Dwaaraka
submerges, 5) Extinction of few species of life (including Lord Krishna’s dynasty) - non-conformance to Kali-yuga, 6) Nyuha’s
(Noah in Bible, Nuh in Quran) ship lands on mountain peak with few species of life - later they live at Shishina (Shinar in
Bible), 7) Advance split/spread [in sandhyansa of Dwaapara-yuga] of 1 Mother Language (Sanskrit) into multiple simpler
Languages through hierarchical levels for the lesser intelligent and materialistic-minded Humans of Kali-yuga, 8) Slight
disposition of 7 Continents. Later: 9) Split of Vedic-sanaatana-dharma into multiple lesser Vedic Religions
(Zoroastrianism/Iran, Jainism, Buddhism), 10) Start of non-Vedic Religions by Demi-lesser-Gods of Heavens (Egyptian,
Greek, Roman, etc), 11) Establishment of Abrahamic Religions - Judaism, Christianity, Islam (for mleccha-mentality Human
species [for Kali-yuga] born from Adama rishi, Hawyavati [Adama/Hawwa-Quran, Adam/Eve-Bible]) and implementation for
avoidance of the spiritually-sensitive deity-worship for the general humankind of Kali-yuga.
1. Tama guna Yuga Quality: Iron-in-mud (all qualities decay)

Iron-in-mud Black Age /
2. Raja guna The demoniac Tama-guna rules and is backed by
Period Dark Age
3. Sattva guna Raja-guna (Sattva-guna can never sit directly
sandhya 3,102 BC - 32,898 AD below Tama-guna)
Kali-yuga 32,898 AD - 3,92,898 AD Yuga Color: Black: Dark Age (Black) of
Kali-yuga 3,92,898 AD - 4,28,898 Ignorance begins
4,32,000 Years AD Yuga Animal/s: Cow (Gold-quality), Horse
sandhyansa
(Silver-quality), Peacock (Copper-quality), Lam
(Iron-quality-1)
Science of 4 Yugas-Periods - Incarnations of God
Yuga Yuga/Purna-avataar Amsa-avataar Sakti-aavesa-avataars (Empowered Incarnation

(Complete/Full (Partial [of any 1 aiswarya out of 6] into qualified Huma
Incarnation of God) - Incarnation of Souls) - few in 1 Yuga
Only 1 in 1 Yuga God) -
Sometimes
Satya-yuga Yuga-Start: Lord Sri [Matsya, Kurma, [to be updated in next version]
Hamsa-Vishnu (as Varaha belong to
Guru, Whitish) still previous
Narasimha: earlier yugas]
yugas
Tretaa- Yuga-Mid: Lord Sri Lord Parasuram (tries to eradicate the kshatriyas
yuga Raama (as Human/King) [warrior mentality Human species] but was pleaded
to stop [by sages] as kshatriyas are needed for next
yugas)
Dwaapara- Yuga-End: Supreme [to be updated in next version]

yuga Lord Sri Krishna (as
God, BluishBlack
Kali-purush (Satan/Saitan, Tama-guna asura - the opposing demon of Kalki bhagavaan [the supposed last
incarnation of God]) entered as snake in sandhyansa of Dwaapara-yuga, created mleccha species for Kali-yuga
from Adama rishi (Sattva-guna) & Hawyavati (Raja-guna/Desire) by enticing Hawyavati to partake ramya-phala
(karma/desire Fruit), 3,102 BC, Feb (Universal Flood and beginning of Kali-yuga): Kali-purush’s first activity
(attack) on Cow in Kali-yuga (Cow saved by King Parikshit - first king of Bhaarat-varsha in Kali-yuga, Arjuna’
grandson), later fools King Parikshit in form of dead snake, and extended by that, the curse of sage upon King
Parikshit to die in 7 days by snake-bite
Kali-yuga Yuga-Start: Lord Sri Lord Vyaasa Maha Muni (splits 1 Veda into 4 for t
Chaitanya lesser intelligent Kali-yuga arya-mentality Humans
Mahaprabhu (as Saintly Gautam Buddha, Jesus Christ, Patanjali,
Devotee, Golden Sankaracarya, Vyghanasacarya, Ramanujacarya,
[Krishna with Radha’s Madhvacarya, Nimbarkacarya, Yuga-End: Kalki-
Mood and her avataar (on White Horse with Crown & Sword,
Complexion]) fights with Kali-Purush’s [Satan’s - Tama-guna
Vishnu Buddha: earlier demon] forces
yugas
THE HINDU THEORY OF WORLD CYCLES

In the Light of Modern Science
Traditional Hindu scriptures view history as cyclical in character, with vast repeating series of
ages. Each age has its own particular qualities. Interestingly, this system seems to be taken
literally by modern Yoga masters such as Swami Muktananda, Baba Hari Dass, Swami Vishnu
Tirtha, and so on. As a Western devotee, I found myself wondering exactly what the full system
of Hindu cycles is, and how it relates to the findings of modern science. Following is my attempt
to explain what I found out.
Traditional Puranic Model
The Hindu Puranas describe a number of cycles within cycles. Discussions of these cycles can
become confusing because different cycles are measured in different types of units. For example,
the cycles are often described in units of deva years, each of which equals 360 human years.
The following description starts with the smaller cycles and works up to the larger ones. The
length of each cycle is given in ordinary human (earth) years, as well other units where
appropriate. Large numbers are described using the conventions of American English: thus, a
million is a thousand thousand, a billion is a thousand million, a trillion is a thousand billion.
This description is based on numerous sources, which are given in the "References" section at
the end of this document.
Maha Yugas
The smallest cycle is called a maha yuga. A maha yuga is 4,320,000 human years. Each maha
yuga is subdivided into the following four ages, whose lengths follow a ratio of 4:3:2:1:
Satya Yuga (also called Krita Yuga)

This first age is 1,728,000 human years. Also known as the Golden Age or age of Truth.
The qualities of this age are: virtue reigns supreme; human stature is 21 cubits; lifespan is
a lakh of years, and death occurs only when willed.
Treta Yuga
This second age is 1,296,000 human years. Also known as the Silver Age. The qualities
of this age are: the climate is three quarters virtue and one quarter sin; human stature is
14 cubits; lifespan is 10,000 years.
Dvapara Yuga
This third age is 864,000 human years. Also known as the Bronze Age. The qualities of
this age are: the climate is one half virtue and one half sin; lifespan is 1,000 years.
Kali Yuga
The fourth and last age is 432,000 human years. Also known as the Iron Age. This is the
age in which we are presently living. The qualities of this age are: the climate is one
quarter virtue and three quarters sin; human stature is 3.5 cubits; lifespan is 100 or 120
years.
Toward the end of a Kali Yuga, various calamities cause a good deal of destruction. Baba Hari
Dass states that creation disappears at the end of a Maha Yuga and remains in seed form inside
Brahma. However, other sources do not suggest anything so drastic; it is possible that Hari Dass
was really thinking of the end of Brahma's daytime or Brahma's life when he wrote this
description.
Brahma Days (Kalpas)
A kalpa is a single daytime period in the life of Brahma, the creator god. Two kalpas are a day
and a night of Brahma.
Each kalpa is composed of 1,000 maha yugas. A kalpa is thus equal to 4.32 billion human years.
At the end of Brahma's daytime period, the Three Worlds (Bhuloka, Bhuvarloka, Swarloka) and
the seven underworlds (of the nagas) are temporarily dissolved (pralaya); that is, the same folks
can be reincarnated when the next day of Brahma begins.
The Vishnu Purana states that at the end of the daytime period of Brahma, a dreadful drought
occurs that lasts 100 years, and all the waters are dried up. The sun changes into seven suns, and
the three worlds (Bhurloka or Earth, Bhuvarloka or the lowest heaven, and Svarloka or the next
higher heaven) and the underworlds are burned bare of life. The inhabitants of Bhuvarloka and
Svarkloka flee to the next higher heaven, Maharloka, to escape the heat; and then to the next
higher heaven, Janaloka.
Then mighty clouds form and the three worlds are completely flooded with water. The lord
Vishnu reposes on the waters in meditative rest for another whole kalpa (4.32 billion years)
before renewing the creation.
The destruction that takes place at the end of a daytime of Brahma is referred to as naimittika,
which is incidental or occasional. The characteristic of this destruction is that the three worlds
continue to exist but are made uninhabitable. The souls of individuals also continue to exist to be
reincarnated in the next daytime of Brahma.
Brahma Years
A year of Brahma is composed of 360 day/night cycles of Brahma, or 720 kalpas, or 8.64 billion
human years.
Brahma Life
The lifespan of Brahma is 100 Brahma years, or 72,000 kalpas, or 311.04 trillion human years.
At the end of the life of Brahma, all worlds are completely dissolved (mahapralaya). No one is
reincarnated from these worlds ever again.
Manvantaras
Another cycle that overlaps the others is that of manvantaras. Each kalpa is reigned over by a
succession of 14 Manus, and the reign of each Manu is called a manvantara. A single
manvantara is approximately 71 maha yugas.
Coomaraswamy states: "Each Manvantara is followed by a Deluge, which destroys the existings
continents and swallows up all living beings, except the few who are preserved for the
repeopling of the earth."
Our Position in History
We are located in the fifty-first Brahma year of the life of our Brahma.
Within that Brahma year, we are in the first Brahma day, called the Varaha kalpa.
Within that Brahma day, we are in the seventh manvantara, and in the 28th maha yuga of that
manvantara. This would place us at about the 454th maha yuga of the 1,000 maha yugas that
comprise this day of Brahma.
Within this maha yuga, we are in Kali Yuga. The 5100th year of Kali Yuga will correspond to
the year 2,000 A.D. That means that we are fairly early in Kali Yuga and this age will continue
more than 426,000 more years.
Variant Interpretations of Hindu Chronology

The "Traditional Puranic Model" described above is agreed upon by most authors on Hinduism
and Yoga. Six different authors, listed at the end of this paper, describe this model identically.
However, several other authors, some of them well-known Hindu teachers, have published
descriptions of the cycle of ages that differ from the traditional Puranic model. These variant
theories are described below.
Sri Yukteswar
In the introduction to his book The Holy Science, Sri Yukteswar describes an interesting variant
of the Hindu theory of ages. According to him,
...the sun, with its planets and their moons, takes some star for its dual and revolves around it in
about 24,000 years of our earth-a celestial phenomenon which causes the backward movement
of the equinoctial points around the zodiac. The sun also has another motion by which it revolves
round a grand center called Vishnunabhi, which is the seat of the creative power, Brahma, the
universal magnetism. Brahma regulates dharma, the mental virtue of the internal world.
Yukteswar goes on to explain that the sun's 24,000 year revolution around its companion star
takes the sun progressively closer, and then progressively further away from the mystic center
Vishnunabhi. In his system, dharma increases as we approach Vishnunabhi and decreases as we
draw away from it. The cycle of yugas takes place twice in each 24,000 year revolution. As the
sun recedes from Vishnunabhi, the ages pass in the usual order: Satya, Treta, Dvapara, Kali. As
the sun approaches Vishnunabhi, the ages pass in the opposite order: Kali, Dvapara, Treta, Satya.
The length of the yugas is: Satya Yuga, 4800 years; Treta Yuga, 3600 years; Dwapara Yuga,
2400 years; and Kali Yuga, 1200 years. The yugas during the approach to Vishnunabhi he calls
'ascending' yugas; those during the retreat from Vishnunabhi he calls 'descending' yugas. The
most recent ascending Kali Yuga began in 499 A.D. Since 1599 A.D. we have been in the
ascending Dwapara Yuga, with consequent advances in human culture and knowledge.
Yukteswar goes on to say that the Hindu almanacs, which correspond to the traditional Puranic
model described previously, are in error. The error crept in during the dark years of Kali Yuga
when scholars misinterpreted the scriptures. Regarding the conventional view that we are
currently in Kali Yuga, Yukteswar says flatly that it is not true.
Yukteswar's model thus differs from the traditional in the following respects:
• A cycle of four yugas takes 24,000 years instead of 4,320,000.

• The yugas alternate between ascending and descending trends instead of always
proceeding in the same order. This alternation becomes necessary once you posit that the
ages result from our changing distance from Vishnunabhi, rather than a deliberate divine
intervention at the end of Kali Yuga.
• The greater cycles like kalpas, manvantars, and lifespan of Brahma go unmentioned.
Paramahansa Yogananda
Paramahansa Yogananda was a disciple of Sri Yukteswar and one of the best-known Hindu
teachers ever to visit the West. He wrote the perrenial bestseller Autobiography of a Yogi.
In the latter book, Yogananda describes and endorses Yukteswar's theory of world cycles.
However, in a footnote, Yogananda adds the following:
The Hindu scriptures place the present world-age as occurring within the Kali Yuga of a much
longer universal cycle than the simple 24,000 year ecquinoctial cycle with which Sri Yukteswar
was concerned. The universal cycle of the scriptures of 4,300,560,000 years in extent, and
measures out a Day of Creation. This vast figure is based on the relationship between the length
of the solar year and a multiple of pi (3.1416, the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a
circle).
The life span for a whole universe, according to the ancient seers, is 314,159,000,000,000 solar
years, or "One Age of Brahma."
The Hindu scriptures declare that an earth such as ours is dissolved for one of two reasons: the
inhabitants as a whole become either completely good or completely evil. The world mind thus
generates a power that releases the captive atoms held together as an earth.
This statement seems at first to reconcile Yukteswar's theory with the traditional view, but in fact
actually contradicts both.
Regarding Yukteswar's theory, in his own writing he clearly states that the traditional Hindu
almanacs are in error and suggests how the error came about. He states that the length of the
yugas, given in ordindary years in the scriptures, were misinterpreted by later scholars as being
counted in units of "deva years" which are much longer. This method led the scholars to believe
that the yugas are much longer than they really are. Yukteswar's theory is thus clearly intended
to replace, not to supplement, the traditional interpretation.
Regarding the "much longer universal cycle" that Yogananda describes, he states that a Day of
Creation is 4,300,560,000 years. This is close but not identical to the traditional number, which
is 4,320,000,000 years. Similarly, Yogananda gives 314,159,000,000,000 years the the life of
Brahma, whereas traditionally the number is slightly different: 311,040,000,000,000 years. It
seems likely that Yogananda arrived at these different figures because he wanted to derive them
from some multiple of the ratio pi. The exact manner in which pi enters into the calculation is,
unfortunately, not explained in his footnote.
David Frawley
David Frawley is a Westerner who has become a scholar of Vedic scriptures, Jyotish (Indian
astrology), and Ayurveda (Indian medicine). He has written a number of books on various
aspects of Vedic culture and wisdom.
Like Yogananda, Frawley adopts Yukteswar's 24,000 year maha yuga and views it as a smaller
cycle within the larger maha yugas described traditionally. Frawley likewise introduces some
twists in the way he interprets both the smaller and the larger cycle.
With regard to the 24,000 year cycle, Frawley begins like Yukteswar by ascribing the cycle to
the sun's revolution around a companion star. Frawley says that this revolution varies the amount
of cosmic light we receive from the galactic center. Thus, he seems to have identified
Yukteswar's Vishnunabhi with the center of the galaxy, which Yukteswar never explicitly does.
Still, it is a plausible interpretation.
Unfortunately, a 24,000 year orbit would make only a negligible difference in our sun's distance
from the galactic center, which is at a vast remove from us. Presumably because of this, Frawley
abandons Yukteswar's notion that it is our varying distance from Vishnunabhi that causes the
cycles of yugas. Instead, he posits that our companion star is a dark star, and when it passes
between us and Vishnunabhi, tends to eclipse some of the cosmic light from that source, thus
causing the decline into the less inspired ages like Kali Yuga.
In describing the greater cycle, Frawley states
The greater cycle consists of 8,640,000 years, and what it corresponds to astronomically is not
now known. In this cycle we are in a dark or Iron age, whose duration is 432,000 years. Exactly
when it began or when it will end are not clearly known either. (Some begin it at 3102 B.C. but
this is just to confuse it with the beginning of the Bronze age or the dark half of the lesser cycle.)
In this passage, Frawley gives the traditional length for Kali yuga while giving double the
traditional length for the cycle as a whole. Why? Presumably he considers that the greater cycle
follows the same pattern as the lesser, with both ascending and descending yugas. Thus a full
cycle would consist of Satya-Treta-Dvapara-Kali-Kali-Dvapara-Treta-Satya. Presumably also
the whole cycle follows as a result of our overall revolution around some object more distant
than the "companion star" or "dark star."
Alain Danielou
Alain Danielou has written a number of books on the spiritual traditions of India. In the book
While the Gods Play, he quotes the Linga Purana and derives numbers from it much different
than those in the traditional interpretation described previously. In this version, the life span of
the gods is 4,320,000 human years. This period is divided into 71.42 manvantaras. Each
manvantara is divided into the four yugas: Satya, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali. As a result, the
length of these yugas is as follows:
• Satya (or Krita) Yuga: 24,195 human years.

• Treta Yuga: 18,146 human years.
• Dvapara Yuga: 12,097 human years.
• Kali Yuga: 6,048,72 human years.
By Danielou's reckoning, Kali Yuga began in 3012 B.C. and will end in 2442 A.D. By that
point, the last traces of the present human race will have disappeared. We are supposed to be the
seventh manifestation of the human race; the previous ones appeared in 419,964 B.C.; 359,477
B.C.; 298,990 B.C.; 238,503 B.C.; 178,016 B.C.; and 118,529 B.C. Our race appeared in 58,042
B.C., which according to Danielou corresponds to the advent of Cro-Magnon man. Danielou also
suggests that Neanderthal man might be the race that precedes ours.
Danielou's version thus differs from the usual theory in the following ways:
• He takes 4,320,000 as the lifespan of the gods, rather than the length of a maha yuga.
• He divides the 4,320,000 period into 71.42 manvantaras, rather than dividing a kalpa into
14 manvantaras. His manvantaras are thus much shorter than in the usual version.
• He states that each manvantara contains a single mahayuga, instead of the usual 71 maha
yugas. His maha yugas are thus much shorter than in the usual version.
Danielou makes a couple of other comments worth mentioning. On the subject of why the
scriptures portray a year as 360 days in length, he states
The number of days in a year is not constant. The rhythm of the earth's rotation varies over very
long periods. A figure of 360 is considered to be the average.
In referring to the cyclical nature of the ages, Danielou also makes the following very interesting
statement:
The circle is an illusion, for the cosmic mechanism is in reality always formed of spirals.
Nothing ever returns to its point of departure. However, the circle does give us a simplified
image.
Unfortunately, he does not expand on this concept any further.
Rishi Singh Gerwal
Rishi Singh Gerwal was the author and apparently also the publisher of a small pamphlet on
ancient prophecies, published in Santa Barbara in the 1940s. The pamphlet contains translations
of various prophetic portions of the Mahabharata.
In the Introduction, Gerwal gives the following numbers:
1 kalpa = 22 septillion, 394 sextillion, 880 quadtillion human years.
1 kalpa = 2 manvantaras (traditionally this would be 14 manvantaras)
1 manvantara = 71 maha yugas (this is the same as the traditional reckoning)
Gerwal goes on to give the traditional lengths for the Satya, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali Yugas. He
then states that the present Kali yuga has 210,000 years to go. He also states that
22,394,880,000,000,000,000,000,000 years have already passed since the start of the kalpa.
Since this number is the same one he gave as the length of a kalpa, we are presumably at the
very end of this present kalpa.
Oddly enough, if you multiply maha yugas of 4,320,000 years times 71 to make a manvantara
and then times 2 to make a kalpa, the result is only 613,440,000 years rather than the 22
septillion Gerwal states as his total.
The 22 septillion number is far greater than the traditional length of a kalpa, and the statement
that 2 manvantaras make a kalpa is far fewer than the traditional number of 14.
Yugas and Science
If we restrict our attention to the traditional interpretation, we find that it makes a number of
significant predictions that can be compared with the findings of modern science.
Great Culture Preceded Us
Beginning about 3,894,000 years ago, there is supposed to have been a great civilisation in
which people were happier, taller, and much longer lived than they are today.
By contrast, scientists currently believe that homo sapiens evolved from more primitive forbears
about 300,000 to 400,000 years ago. Humanity is supposed to have domesticated plants about
12,000 years ago, and animals shortly thereafter. Prior to that point, humans are thought to have
been hunter-gatherers and possibly scavengers.
The scientific view is based on fossil evidence. The mystery is how an advanced civilization
posited by the Hindu theory could have vanished without leaving any trace for us to find.
Cyclic Catastrophes
A number of periodic catastrophes are described in the Hindu scriptures:
• At the end of each Kali Yuga, some type of destruction takes place. The most recent
instance would be a bit under 4 million years ago. Other instances should be found every
4,320,000 years before that.
• At the end of each manvantara, a great flood wipes out most life on earth. The most
recent occurrence would be 120,534,000 years ago. Other instances would occur at
intervals of 306,720,000 years.
• At the end of the kalpa, all life on earth is destroyed. The most recent instance would be
2,267,574,000 years ago.
• At the end of a life of Brahma, the entire universe and all its heavens and hells are
destroyed. The current universe would have come into existence more than 150 billion
years ago.
Interestingly, current scientific research does support the existence of occasional mass
extinctions in earth's history. These include the following major extinctions:
• At the Ordovician/Silurian transition, about 425 million years ago.

• Near the Devonian/Carboniferous transition, about 345 million years ago.
• At the Permian/Triassic transition, about 230 million years ago.
• At the Triassic/Jurassic transition, about 180 million years ago.
• At the Cretaceous/Tertiary transition, about 63 million years ago.
Additionally, some scientists have identified what they believe is a cycle of periodic mass
extinctions occurring every 26 million years.
Unfortunately, none of these specified dates corresponds to the catastrophes called for by the
Hindu theory.
Current scientific estimates of the age of the universe range from 7 billion to 20 billion years. By
contrast, the Hindu theory calls for a universe more than 150 billion years old.
On the other hand, the dates ascribed by scientists to the various geologic periods have been
revised a number of times on the basis of new evidence, and could possibly be revised again in
the future. Further, cosmology could reasonably be described as an infant science, and the age it
ascribes to the universe as a whole might also change on the basis of new theories and evidence.
Downward Trend
By far the greater divergence from modern science is in the overall pattern of the Hindu theory.
The Hindu and scientific patterns differ in the following ways:
• The main pattern in the Hindu theory is one of cycles.

• In the Hindu theory, life follows a downward trend most of the time, from the finest age
to the worst. At the end of the worst age, Kali Yuga, divine intervention rapidly destroys
the wicked and restores everything to its pristine state.
• In the Hindu theory, humanity is always present. The concept of evolution is confined to
spiritual evolution; that is, each soul takes life in a series of lower to higher animal forms
before finally incarnating as a human being.
By contrast, the fossil record of life on earth indicates that life began with very simple forms and
later developed more complex organisms. The advent of humanity appears to be an extremely
recent development when compared to the history of life on earth. Humanity itself does not
appear to have existed long enough to have participated in the vast cycles of ages posited by
Hindu theory.
Conclusion
There is no scientific support for the Hindu theory of world cycles. Further, current scientific
theory contradicts Hindu theory in many respects. It is best to begin by acknowledging this truth,
as such an acknowledgement can form the basis for interesting discussions of the different ways
of knowing that underly the more specific differences. Such, however, must be the substance of
another paper.
References
Traditional Puranic Chronology
(Anonymous), Introduction to Kashmir Shaivism. S.Y.D.A. Foundation, Oakland, California,

1977. See pp. 69-70.
Ananda K. Coomaraswamy & Sister Nivedita, Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists. Dover
Publications, Inc., New York, 1967. See pp. 392-395.
Baba Hari Dass, Silence Speaks. Sri Rama Foundation, Santa Cruz, California, 1977. See pp. 79-
80.
Cornelia Dimmitt & J.A.B. van Buitenen, Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the Sanskrit
Puranas. Rupa & Co., Calcutta etc., 1983. See pp. 19-24, 36-43.
Swami Vishnu Tirtha Maharaj, Devatma Shakti (Kundalini): Divine Power. Pub. Swami Shivom
Tirth, 1962. See pp. 29-30.
W. J. Wilkins, Hindu Mythology. Rupa & Co., Calcutta etc., 1983. See pp. 353-360.
Variant Interpretations of Hindu Chronology
Alain Danielou, While the Gods Play: Shaiva Oracles and Predictions on the Cycles of History
and the Destiny of Mankind. Inner Traditions International, Rochester, Vermont, 1987. See pp.
194-199.
David Frawley, Vedic Astrology Correspondence Course, Part I, Section 1. Vedic Research
Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1986. See pp. 16-18.
Rishi Singh Grewal, World Prophecies: Dictators and Taxation Foretold in Ancient Hindu
Philosophy, pub. Rishi Singh Grewal, Santa Barbara, California, 1941. Esp. pp. 1-5.
Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi. Self-Realization Fellowship, Los Angeles,

1979. See pp. 193-194.
Jnanavatar Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, The Holy Science: Kaivalya Darsanam. Self-Realization
Fellowship, Los Angeles, 1984. See pp. 7-20.
Summaries of Scientific Theory

Funk & Wagnall's New Encycopedia, 1986 revision. Various articles.
Rick Gore, "Extinctions," National Geographic, June 1989.
Email: irc_snr@yahoo.com, irc.snr@gmail.com, Website: http://www.science-nature-religion.com

Join: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/science_nature_religion, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/global_community_peace
The Yugas
In Greek mythology there is the story of Sisyphus, the King of Corinth, who, was condemned
to roll a huge stone up a hill over and over again. His crime was using trickery to obtain
immortality. He chained up Death who came to take him away. Unfortunately, for him the
powers that be are jealous of mortals who try to usurp their prerogatives.
Thus in Drawing One below, a stylalized version of the Graphs shown in Figures One and
Two we note a highlighted portion on the Ascending side of the "Mountain", this is where a
noted Yogic theorist believes the modern contemporary Life Cycle is located.
The Greek mythologists seemed to have had a very good grasp of the theory of Yugas.
In modern astronomy it is believe that the universe started with a Big Bang. Out of this, an
expanding universe is postulated. Is there really a beginning? Is there an end? Could the
universe eventually collapse on itself and become an finite dot, again! Only to explode again?
How many times has this happened?
Most religions believe life is eternal. It has no beginning and no end. What goes on in this
eternity?
In Hindu cosmology the life span of a whole universe is thought to be about

314,159,000,000,000 solar years, or "One Age of Brahma". A "Day of Creation" measures out
as about 4,300,560,000 years. Though, modern astronomy hasn't made a decision yet about
whether the universe as we know it will collapse on itself or whether it will continue to
expand until it evaporates, Hindu cosmology says that there are many universes and that they
do collapse and explode again.
Hindu cosmology goes on to say that "One Age of Brahma" is one cycle. It begins
immediately after a Destruction in a trough then describes a parabolic curve, ascending to a
Super Golden Age and again descending to destruction. Where upon, the whole cycle begins
again. See Figure 1:
Since the layers of Ages the universe progress' thru is hierarchical it is best represented
graphically as a vertical development. So when reading the graph, one notes that the solid line
represents an ascending arc and a descending arc of the "Age of Brahma" cycle. Both arcs
describe their trajectory through sub-ages and have corresponding states of mind that are
related to these ages. The Hindu Ages are called Yugas. There are four of these Yugas. Kali
Yuga, Dwapara Yuga, Treta Yuga and Satya Yuga. In western terms, these ages roughly
correspond to the Greek delineations, as the Iron Age, Bronze Age, Silver Age and Golden
Age. In Taoist terms: Earth, Fire, Water and Air.
The laws of the Hindu cosmology which I am using predominantly, though not exclusively, to
create the universe within which this book operates has "rate of vibration" as its building
block. One can equate this in very broad terms with "Circadian Rythmn" technology. The
lower the vibration the more dense and crude the thought processes. The higher the "rate of
vibration" the more refined the thought processes. Thus, each age has a corresponding state of
mind that is possible within it. The following table shows the relationship of the Age to the
state of mind and what attributes are turned on in each of these phases of mind:
TABLE I
HINDU GREEK STATE OF ATTRIBUTES

MIND
KALI IRON INSTINCTIVE Reactions to life is thru superstition, omens
YUGA AGE and rituals. A belief in Shamans, Witches,
Witch Doctors, Oracles and Medicine Men.*
* This is not to say that these things are false or are quackery in themselves. It means that
ordinary men in this state of mind are unable to differentiate between truth and falsehood.
They are at the mercy of the soundness of the original observer, in the case of superstition.
Or the integrity of the Shaman.
DWAPARA BRONZE REASON This is the next higher state of mind.It is
YUGA characterized by the ability to see the basis for
ideas. This state of mind demands
corroboration for things passed off as fact.
They had better be provable by
demonstration. Unfortunately, in this state of
mind finding correct answers is a long
laborious job and without canny inspiration it
is impossible.
TRETA SILVER INTUITIVE The intuitive phase of mind is very rarefied.
YUGA AGE The attributes are accurate and instantaneous
knowing. Though, not infallible, this state of
mind is canny, cunning and clever. This state
of mind is the source of inspiration which can
guide reason. It simply knows and asks no
demonstration of proof (many genius' are
impatient with lesser lights, because they do
not easily see the OBVIOUS).
SATYA GOLDEN SUPER- This is the state of mind in which the Third
YUGA AGE CONSCIOUS Eye* is completely open. All the chakras**
are in very excellent stages of development.
The Soul is operating through the body in the
physical plane; completely aware of its
relationship to God and Mammon.
* The Third Eye, in Yogic Physiology (Yoga is an esoteric branch of the Hindu religion.) -
(Anatomically, the Pineal Gland) the organ through which an awakened Soul makes direct
observation of the physical plane.
** Chakras are engines with very specific and diverse functions operating in the soul body
and corresponding to specific organs in the physical body. The soul uses these engines to
effect the physical plane.
NOTE:
Here is another way to view this table and the ages. The universe is a continuum. It vibrates
from great density (which may be described as low rates of vibration approaching zero) to the
ethereal (which may be described as very high rates of vibration approaching infinity). This
vibratory action creates a wave motion thru time. Roughly, dividing itself into four distinct
vibratory ranges called Ages.
Earlier, I gave the Greek delineation of the Ages concept. The Taoist delineation is a little
closer to the meaning we want to convey; but not quite. The Taoist stages are describing
human personality. Where Fire is the allegory for emotion, for example. Though, with the
Taoist concept it may be operating on a number of levels by design. While the Greek
metaphors suggests their mythologist had some idea that was roughly equivalent to the true
meaning of the Yuga concept.
What we want to describe, allegorically, is the expansion of consciousness And, we want that
expansion to mean the ability to manipulate more and more factors, meanings and
permutations to more powerfully judge truth.
Like the ripples in a pond, there are cycles within cycles. The "Day of Creation" has its own
cycles. Every part of creation has their own cycle, descending and ascending in a hierarchical
progression to the very smallest of creatures. We know this as being born; growing to
maturity and descending into death.
In Figure 1, you will note that there are wave motions within the great wave motion. An inset
is marked out and designated Figure 2, which represents the Universal Cycle of the Hindu
Scriptures, below. This cycle has a duration of four billion and three hundred million and five
hundred and sixty thousand solar years... i.e. ... 4, 300,560,000 years. And is called a "Day Of
Creation".
Now, in Figure 2, just as in Figure 1, you will note wave motions within the large single
cycle. And, an inset is marked out, designated Figure 3. Figure 3 describes One World Age,
whose duration is 24,000 solar years crest to crest. This is the cycle, which has the most direct
affect on Mankind and this planet and is the subject of my magnum opus.
Figure 3: (click to view)
For the human mind to encompass a time span like 3.14159 x 10 to the 14th power, is
daunting. Yet all these cycles within cycles have an effect on every other cycle they do not
operate independently from the whole, but are parts of the whole. In a great symphony they
function in harmonious relationship one to the other. At the human level, in the solar system
as we know it, the 24,000-year equinoctial cycle (See figure 3) or the "World Age" passes
thru all of the Yugas. This (24,000-year) cycle is also divided into an Ascending Arc and a
Descending Arc, each of 12,000 years. Within each Arc are the four Yugas or Ages, Kali,
Dwapara, Treta, and Satya.
To further clarify this concept the guru of Paramahansa Yogananda (see Autobiography of a
Yogi..p. 193), Sri Yukteswar (See The Holy Science for a full discussion of methodology),
calculated that the last Kali Yuga of the Ascending Arc, started about (See figure 3) A.D. 500.
The Kali Yuga, 1200 years in duration, is a span of barbaric superstitious instincts; it ended in
A.D. 1700. That year ushered in Dwapara Yuga, a 2400-year period of the reign of reason and
the development of the scientific method and particularly the ‘development of space-
annihilators like telegraphy, radio, airplanes, etc’. A 3600-year period called Treta Yuga will
start in A.D. 4100; ‘the age will be marked by common knowledge of telepathic
communications and other time-annihilators’. During the 4800 years of Satya Yuga, the final
age in the Ascending Arc, the intelligence of man will be highly developed; he will work in
harmony with the divine plan.
When I was researching this material I was struck by the opening portion of the Christian
Lord's prayer:
Our Father which art in heaven

Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.........
As it related to the coming 4800 year Satya Yuga or Age of the Superconscious awareness of
man in this final ascent to the crest of this age's parabolic curve.
If any of this is valid, then, predicting the end-of-the-world is a futile business. Especially, if
you call it on Mar 31, 1997. This planet will die in a number of ways. The Sun will burn out.
The earth will slow its rotation to a point where the atmosphere will flee into space. But, long
before the planet dies man will be extinct.
This novel is based on the foregoing cosmology. What if this cosmology is valid? Then it
would explain a lot. Every 24,000 years there is a Golden Age....Mu? And, then Atlantis? No
doubt there was something before Mu.... does the Mahabarata tell us and we don't yet have the
key to the symbolism which would allow us to look at the deeper meaning within those
texts.....we can keep asking the before question for some time into the past because modern
western paleontology calculates that the various races of earthmen were in their present form
to at least 100,000 years ago.
This is really a digression, but it is worth looking at momentarily. Just who were the
Lemurians. Just, who were the Atlanteans. The answer I've arrived at empirically will surprise
the seasoned veteran of the Mu/Atlantean myths. I believe the Lemurians and the Atlanteans
are one and the same phenomena. I'll explain later what I mean by phenomena. The Orientals
(the Tibetans seem to be the guardians of this...i.e. ... the Lemurian experience..... knowledge,
considering that in their vaults and libraries are millions of documents that might shed light on
these issues but have yet to be translated and/or discovered for study....much of it is hidden
and guarded.....not available) are the factotums for the Lemurians. Just as 24000 years later
the people we know of today as the Caucasian race were the factotums for the Atlanteans. In
all this I postulate a hidden hand. An Intergalactic Socio-politio-cultural order the magnitude
of which is almost unfathomable.
I realized this when I encountered the UFO abduction literature. It turns out that abductions
are not just casual random scientific studies (with humans as the subjects) but, deliberate,
purposeful and selective breeding programs. In the next essay , on the chakras or spiritual
anatomy, I will go over the technical reasons for this but for now just bear in mind that there
are roughly 6100 years to the beginning of the Satya Yuga (Superconscious Age). What if the
Extraterrestrials are breeding and perfecting a new race of beings, Superconscious humanoids,
who will at some point before the year 4100 A.D. make themselves known. These
Extraterrestrials can't function in our world as it is. They can bring us into their world. But,
the beings they are breeding WILL be able to function in our world.
I had to make that digression in order to bridge to the concept that man as we know him at
this moment cannot penetrate easily into the Superconscious realm without a lot of help and
these beings will be the vehicles thru which evolved beings who will be incarnating into the
Earth experience over the next two to three thousand years will need them to jump start them
to the next level of consciousness, IN HUMAN FORM, in Earth existence. Staying with
figure 1 you can then begin to see how the time line marches relentlessly toward the Great
Golden Age. At the same time, man's spiritual awareness becomes attuned to the higher
levels, if he is evolved to do so.... many, not so evolved will be caught in the updraft, while
lesser evolved beings will not be able to pass through those portals to the higher life and will
cease to exist in the new Earth consciousness.
The purpose of these harmonic cycles is always fulfilled. It is inexorable and relentless and is
never denied. What we examine when we look at the Earth cycle (entering at the Atlantean
experience) is a microcosm (which is macrocosm to other microcosms) of the greater "Day of
Creation" macrocosm. Which is itself a microcosm to the macrocosm of "One Age of

Brahma".
Sisyphus continues to push that stone up the mountain. Who is Sisyphus? Look in the mirror
and you will see him.
Timings of the Four Yugas
By Stephen Knapp
When describing the length of the yugas or ages, and which yuga we are in and how far
along we are in it, there is sometimes confusion about how to calculate them. Some people think
we are already in the next Satya-yuga, known as the Golden Age. The problem is when the
yugas are figured only according to the years in earth’s time, in which case any calculations will
never be accurate. They are described in the Vedic literature according to the celestial years, or
years of the devas, not according to the time we experience here on earth. This is where we have
to make adjustments. Nonetheless, there are specific references in the Vedic texts which make it
clear how to calculate them. For starters, the Mahabharata (Shanti Parva, 231.12-20) explains it
in detail:
“The rishis, measuring time, have given particular names to particular portions [of time].
Five and ten winks of the eye make what is called a Kastha. Thirty Kasthas make what is called
a Kala. Thirty Kalas, with the tenth part of a Kala, make a Muhurta. Thirty Muhurtas make one
day and night. Thirty days and nights form a month, and twelve months form a year. Persons
well-read in mathematical science say that a year is made up of two solar motions, meaning the
northern and southern. The sun makes the day and night for men. The night is for the sleep of all
living creatures, and the day is for work. A month of human beings is equal to a day and night of
the departed manes [ancestors who have gone on to the subtle worlds]. That division consists in
this: the light half of the month is their day which is for work; and the dark fortnight is their
night for sleep. A year (of men) is equal to a day and night to the gods [devas or celestials]. This
division consists in this: the half year for which the sun travels from the vernal to the autumnal
equinox is the day of the gods, and the half year for which the sun moves from the latter to the
former is their night. [Thus, an earth year is but a day for the devas.] Calculating by the days and
nights of human beings about which I have told you, I shall speak of the day and night of
Brahma and his years also. I shall, in their order, tell you the number of years, that are for
different purposes calculated differently, in the Krita, the Treta, the Dvapara, and the Kali
Yugas. Four thousand celestial years is the duration of the first or Krita age. The morning of that
cycle consists of four hundred years and its evening is of four hundred years. [Note: This says
celestial years, or years of the demigods on the higher planets. Such years are much longer than
those of planet earth. So 4000 celestial years, with the morning or Sandhya of 400 celestial years
and the evening or Sandhyansa, or intermediate period, of another 400 years, equals 4800
celestial years or 1,728,000 human years.]
“Regarding the other cycles, the duration of each gradually decreases by a quarter in
respect of both the principal period with the minor portion and the conjoining portion itself.
These periods always keep up the never-ending and eternal worlds. They who know Brahma, O
child, regard this as Immutable Brahma.” (Mb, Shanti Parva, Chap.231, Text 21-22)
This means that as each age appears, from the Krita, Treta, Dvapara to Kali, each yuga
decreases by a quarter of the previous yuga, in addition to the conjoining Sandhya and
Sandhyansa periods with each yuga. In this way, it is roughly calculated that a whole cycle of the
four yugas, namely Krita, Treta, Dvapara and Kali-yuga together, total about 12,000 celestial
years in length.
The Mahabharata (Shanti Parva, 231.29-32) continues: “The learned say that these
12,000 celestial years form what is called a cycle. A thousand such cycles form a single day of
Brahma. The same is the duration of Brahma's night. With the beginning of Brahma's day the
universal entities come into being. During the period of universal dissolution the Creator sleeps
in Yoga-meditation. When the period of sleep expires, He awakes. What is Brahma’s day covers
a thousand such cycles. His night also covers a thousand similar cycles. They who know this are
said to know the day and the night. On the expiry of His night, Brahma, waking up, modifies the
indestructible intelligence by causing it to be overlaid with ignorance. He then causes
Consciousness to spring up, whence it originates Mind which is at one with the Manifest.”
In calculating the duration of the different yugas, there are a few differences between the
Puranas. The Brahmanda Purana (1.2.29.31-34) specifically states that Krita or Satya-yuga is
1,440,000 human years in length, Treta-yuga is 1,080,000 years, Dvapara-yuga is 720,000 years,
and Kali-yuga is 360,000 years in length. The Linga Purana (4.24-35) also agrees with this
except for Treta-yuga, which it says is 1,800,000 years in length.
However, when explaining the various measurements of time, the Vishnu Purana (Book
One, Chapter Three) and the Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.11.19), along with the Bhagavad-gita
(8.17) and the Vayu Purana (Chapter 57) and others, such as the Mahabharata as quoted above,
all agree on the measurements of the durations of the yugas, as explained below.
In the explanations of the measurements of time found therein, one cycle of the four
yugas together is 12,000 years of the demigods, called divine years. Each of these years is
composed of 360 days, and each of their days is equal to one human year. So Krita-yuga is 4000
divine years in length, Treta-yuga is 3000 divine years in length, Dvapara-yuga is 2000 divine
years in length, and Kali-yuga is 1000 divine years long, with the addition of the conjoining
portions of the Sandhya and Sandhyansa.
In this way, each yuga is preceded by a period called a Sandhya, which is as many
hundred years in length as there are thousands of years in that particular yuga. Each yuga is also
followed by a period of time known as a Sandhyansa, which is also as many hundreds of years in
length as there are thousands of years in the yuga. In between these periods of time is the actual
yuga. Therefore, we have:
Krita-yuga = 4000 divine years, Sandhya = 400 divine years, Sandhyansa = 400 divine
years. Total = 4800 divine years x 360 days = 1,728,000 human years.
Treta-yuga = 3000 divine years, Sandhya = 300 divine years, Sandhyansa = 300 divine
years. Total = 3600 divine years x 360 days = 1,296,000 human years.
Dvapara-yuga = 2000 divine years, Sandhya = 200 divine years, Sandhyansa = 200
divine years. Total = 2400 divine years x 360 days = 864,000 human years.
Kali-yuga = 1000 divine years, Sandhya = 100 divine years, Sandhyansa = 100 divine
years. Total = 1200 divine years x 360 days = 432,000 human years.
This equals 4,320,000 human years in one cycle of the four yugas together, and 1000
cycles of these yugas equals 12,000 divine years and 4,320,000,000 human years in a day of
Brahma.
It is also explained that Kali-yuga began with the disappearance of Lord Krishna from
the planet. This has been calculated to be 3102 B.C.. Since Kali-yuga is described as being
432,000 earth years in length, with 5,000 years and more already passed, then the age of Kali-
yuga has approximately 426,000 more years to go. I hope this has clarified what is sometimes a
confusing issue.

Science of 4 Yugas

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INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER

Science of 4 Yugas - Earth Lifecycle - Time-Periods, Symbolism, Incarnations

1. Satya-yuga  2. Tretaa-yuga  3. Dwaapara-yuga  Universal Flood  4. Kali-

Yuga-Quality 3 Sub- Hierarchy of bhoutika- Yuga Symbolism (Quality, Color, Animal/s)

1. Sattva guna Yuga Quality: Gold: Sattva-guna

1. Raja guna Yuga Quality: Silver: Raja-guna (Passion) is

1. Raja guna Yuga Quality: Copper: Raja-guna is predomina

1. Tama guna Yuga Quality: Iron-in-mud (all qualities decay)

Science of 4 Yugas-Periods - Incarnations of God

Yuga Yuga/Purna-avataar Amsa-avataar Sakti-aavesa-avataars (Empowered Incarnation

Dwaapara- Yuga-End: Supreme [to be updated in next version]

THE HINDU THEORY OF WORLD CYCLES

Traditional Puranic Model

Satya Yuga (also called Krita Yuga)

Brahma Days (Kalpas)

Our Position in History

Variant Interpretations of Hindu Chronology

• A cycle of four yugas takes 24,000 years instead of 4,320,000.

In describing the greater cycle, Frawley states

• Satya (or Krita) Yuga: 24,195 human years.

Unfortunately, he does not expand on this concept any further.

Rishi Singh Gerwal

In the Introduction, Gerwal gives the following numbers:

1 kalpa = 22 septillion, 394 sextillion, 880 quadtillion human years.

1 kalpa = 2 manvantaras (traditionally this would be 14 manvantaras)

1 manvantara = 71 maha yugas (this is the same as the traditional reckoning)

Yugas and Science

Great Culture Preceded Us

A number of periodic catastrophes are described in the Hindu scriptures:

• At the Ordovician/Silurian transition, about 425 million years ago.

• The main pattern in the Hindu theory is one of cycles.

Traditional Puranic Chronology

(Anonymous), Introduction to Kashmir Shaivism. S.Y.D.A. Foundation, Oakland, California,

Variant Interpretations of Hindu Chronology

Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi. Self-Realization Fellowship, Los Angeles,

Summaries of Scientific Theory

Funk & Wagnall's New Encycopedia, 1986 revision. Various articles.

Rick Gore, "Extinctions," National Geographic, June 1989.

Email: irc_snr@yahoo.com, irc.snr@gmail.com, Website: http://www.science-nature-religion.com

In Hindu cosmology the life span of a whole universe is thought to be about

HINDU GREEK STATE OF ATTRIBUTES

vibratory ranges called Ages.

Figure 3: (click to view)

Our Father which art in heaven

Creation" macrocosm. Which is itself a microcosm to the macrocosm of "One Age of

Timings of the Four Yugas

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