The Kali Yuga- The Age of Darkness before Light

Over the years, my friends and I have discussed this being dark times. I’ve lived in the US with some relative safety and privilege, a nice home, dharma wellness retreats and always thought, well things could get a whole lot worse. I never really thought I’d live to see the days, like my grandparents did, of war, loss of life and fear for our basic survival. Now the great Titan itself, the USA, NATO protector country of many, has fallen into the hands of a powerful foreign enemy power. The time to have the power to stop it, I regret to say has I believe has passed. The landslide toward darkness and chaos is upon us, which is known as the Kali Yuga. But it will not last forever.

Hindu Eras and Epochs

Similar to the Gregorian calendar used in the West, the Hindu Yuga lunisolar calendar tracks time based on the movement of the sun and follows a seven-day week. However, its system of measuring historical timelines differs significantly.

In the Western world, the Gregorian calendar sets its timeline around the birth of Jesus Christ, marking years as B.C.E. (Before Common Era) and C.E. (Common Era). For instance, the year 2025 C.E. represents 2,025 years after this reference point.

Hindu tradition, however, measures time in much larger, more complex cycles, known as Yugas, very long epochs that repeat in a four-stage sequence. Yuga (Sanskrit: युग), in this context, means “an age of the world.” These Yugas are:

• Satya Yuga (Golden Age)
• Treta Yuga
• Dvapara Yuga
• Kali Yuga (the present era)

According to Hindu calculations, Kali Yuga began in 3102 B.C.E., around the time of the Kurukshetra War, a central event in the the Vedic Text, The Mahabharata. Based on this system, the Hindu Yuga calendar places the current year, 2025 C.E., as 5127 in the Kali Yuga era. For added complexity, please note that is different than the current Vikram samvat calendar where it is the year 2082, 56.7 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar. And, as a side note, the Tibetan Calendar, this year is the year of the Wood Snake, 2152! So when you are looking at these calendars for predictive/equlavant times and dates, please do note that the Hindu Yuga calendar as of this year is 5127, that’s 3102 years later than the Gregorian. (Learn Religions)

Kali Yuga (Sanskrit: कलियुग, kaliyuga or kali-yuga) means “the age of Kali“, “the age of darkness”, “the age of vice and misery,” or “the age of quarrel and hypocrisy.”  I think we all can concur, it is an era of strife, discord, and spiritual decline. We are in the last of the four stages in the cycle of Yugas described in Sanskrit scriptures. Some modern pundits say that the Kali Yuga already ended in the 1900’s, but most concur that we are definitely still in it and will be for quite some time.

Parvati’s Transformation: The Wrathful Goddess Kali

Hindu mythology portrays Parvati the wife of Shiva, a gentle and nurturing goddess, in many powerful forms, including her fierce and untamed manifestation as Shakti. As the embodiment of raw energy, Shakti is wild, uncontrollable, and overwhelming in her intensity. When her rage reaches its peak, she transforms into Maha Kali, a terrifying figure with disheveled hair, a blood-soaked appearance, and a gaping mouth with an extended tongue, symbolizing destruction and the passage of time itself.

One well-known legend from the describes how Parvati takes on this fearsome form at Shiva’s request to annihilate the demon Daruka (also known as an asura or tenacious demonic, warring god that no other gods could defeat). In this Kali manifestation, she unleashes unparalleled fury, easily vanquishing the asura. However, even after achieving victory, her wrath remained unbridled, threatening cosmic balance. It is said that Shiva had to appear to her as a crying baby to trigger her maternal instinct, to quell her destructive wrath. This is where you see the image of Lord Shiva under her feet in submission.  (Wikipedia)

She is not evil, her power is essential in these dark times. Many scholars believe of course that “she” is not a physical goddess but a representation of powerful energy that emerges at the time when morality (Dharma), once stable on four legs, now stands on only one, signaling the darkest phase of human civilization. This synopsis of the current degenerate times of the Kali-Yuga, the age of destruction below is not meant to berate us into feeling afraid or bad about what we have become, but rather point out where we have fallen, with the hopes of someday, restoring our collective light. Indeed, nothing is permanent, even darkness.

“But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it’ll shine out the clearer.” Tolkien

---

The Kali Yuga: A Detailed Prediction

This is a Reposted Translation Originally Written in Sanskrit Thousands of Years Ago in the Vedas and Ancient Sutras, About the Time We Are Living Through, Here and Now

The Decline of Leadership and Society

• Rulers will become unreasonable, imposing unfair taxes.
• They will neglect their duty to promote spirituality and protect their subjects, becoming a danger to the world.
• People will migrate in search of lands where wheat and barley are staple foods.
• Avarice and wrath will be widespread, and animosity among humans will be openly displayed.
• Ignorance of Dharma (righteousness) will prevail.

Moral and Ethical Corruption

• People will entertain thoughts of murder without justification and see nothing wrong with it.
• Lust will be socially accepted, and sexual intercourse will be seen as the central requirement of life.
• Sin will increase exponentially, while virtue will fade and cease to flourish.
• People will take vows and break them soon after.
• Addiction to intoxicating drinks and drugs will become rampant.
• Men will die around 50, and few will live beyond 100 years.

The Fall of Spirituality and Religious Values

• Gurus will no longer be respected, and students will attempt to harm them.
• Their teachings will be insulted, and followers of Kama (the lord of desire) will control human minds.
• Religion, truthfulness, cleanliness, tolerance, mercy, longevity, physical strength, and memory will diminish due to the powerful influence of the age of Kali.
• Wealth alone will define a man’s worth, determining his social status, behavior, and qualities.
• Law and justice will be applied based solely on power.

Degradation of Relationships and Social Norms

• Men and women will live together merely due to superficial attraction.
• Success in business will depend on deceit.
• Womanliness and manliness will be judged by sexual expertise.
• A man will be considered a Brahmana simply by wearing a thread.
• Spiritual status will be judged by external symbols, and people will change their religious orders based on appearance.
• A person’s worth will be questioned if they do not earn a good living.
• Those skilled in wordplay will be considered learned scholars.

Hypocrisy and Superficiality in Daily Life

• A person without wealth will be judged as unholy, while hypocrisy will be seen as a virtue.
• Marriages will be arranged simply by verbal agreement.
• Taking a bath will be considered enough preparation to appear in public.
• Sacred places will be reduced to mere reservoirs of water at a distance.
• Beauty will be judged by hairstyle.
• Filling the belly will become the goal of life.
• Audacity will be mistaken for truthfulness.
• Maintaining a family will be seen as a sign of intelligence.
• Religious principles will be followed only for reputation.

Corruption and Suffering in Society

• The strongest and most corrupt individuals will rise to political power.
• People will suffer from famine, excessive taxation, and a lack of basic resources.
• Droughts will cause widespread devastation.
• Citizens will endure extreme cold, wind, heat, rain, and snow.
• Hunger, thirst, disease, anxiety, and constant quarrels will torment people.

The Breakdown of Family and Tradition

• Men will no longer protect their elderly parents.
• People will develop hatred over mere coins, forsaking friendships and even killing their own relatives.
• Uncultured men will accept charity in the Lord’s name while exploiting religion for personal gain.
• Ignorant individuals will claim positions of religious authority.
• Servants will abandon masters who lose wealth, even if they are saintly.
• Masters will discard incapacitated servants, regardless of their years of service.
• Cows will be abandoned or slaughtered once they stop giving milk.
• The elderly will be locked away and forgotten.

The Decline of Vedic Practices and the Exploitation of Animals

• Beef is forbidden in the scriptures, and cows are given special protection in the Vedas. However, in Kali Yuga, people will exploit and slaughter bulls and cows.
• Sacrificial rituals will cease, despite their importance in material and spiritual prosperity.
• The mlecchas (impious people) will abandon sacrifices and focus on industrialization, slaughterhouses, and factory-based food production.

Neglect of Women, Children, and the Weak

• Women, children, Brahmanas, and cows will be neglected and left unprotected.
• Women will try to become independent due to societal neglect, and marriages will become mere formal agreements.
• Children will not receive proper care.
• Social and moral decay will lead to an increase in illicit relationships and abandoned families.

The Influence of Materialism and Immorality

• People will indulge in life’s necessities—eating, sleeping, mating, and defending—without following moral or social regulations.
• Fathers and guardians will be unhappy with their children’s behavior.
• Innocent children will be corrupted by bad influences from the media and society.
• Cinema and entertainment will promote sex indulgence.

The Final Stage of Kali Yuga

• By the end of Kali Yuga, human bodies will shrink in size.
• The principles of varnasrama (the social order) will be ruined.
• The path of the Vedas will be forgotten, and so-called religion will be mostly atheistic.
• Kings will become thieves, and the main occupations will be stealing, lying, and unnecessary violence.
• All social classes will degrade into the lowest level of sudras.
• Cows will become like goats, spiritual hermitages will lose their sanctity, and family ties will weaken to only immediate relations.
• Plants and herbs will be small, trees will resemble dwarf sami trees, and homes will lack piety.
• Humans will become like beasts.

The Dominance of Ignorance and Immorality

• The age will be characterized by deception, lying, laziness, sleepiness, violence, depression, lamentation, fear, and poverty.
• Men will be ruled by women, abandoning their fathers, brothers, and relatives, while associating with the families of their wives.
• Friendships will be based purely on sexual ties.
• Women will frequently change partners, and men will neglect their parents and children.
• Divine guidance will be absent, and sacred texts will be disregarded.
• False doctrines and misleading religions will spread across the world.
• Infanticide will be common, and promiscuity will be widespread.

The Collapse of Civilization

• Young women will freely abandon their virginity.
• Women, children, and cows—once protected in enlightened societies—will be abused and killed.
• Thieves will be numerous, and rapes will be frequent.
• Beggars and unemployment will increase.
• Merchants will run corrupt businesses.
• Disease, pests, and pollution will afflict people.
• Water and fruit will be scarce, and vulgar language will be the norm.

The Rise of Tyranny and Greed

• Kings will become thieves, seizing property rather than protecting citizens.
• Wealth will be the sole determinant of power.
• The poor will be enslaved by the rich.
• Leaders will no longer protect people but will plunder them through excessive taxation.
• Farmers will abandon traditional ways of life and become unskilled laborers in crowded cities.
• Many will live in rags, suffer unemployment, and sleep on the streets.

The Final Suffering of Humanity

• People will eat without washing their hands.
• Monks will break their vows of celibacy.
• Cows will be kept alive only for milk production.
• Droughts will be severe, and people will pray for rain in vain.
• Many will attempt to migrate to lands with more food.
• Joy and pleasure will disappear, leading many to suicide.
• Atheistic doctrines will mislead people.
• Family, caste, and virtue will become meaningless.

The Prophesied Arrival of Kalki Avatar- The Warrior of the End Times

After this dark age or apocalypse, like other traditions that speak of a future savior or “second coming,” Hindu and the Tibetan Kalachakra Tantra scriptures speak of a future enlightened being called the Kalki King or Avatar. He is destined to appear at the end of this Kali Yuga. According to ancient texts, the Kalki will be the final incarnation of Lord Vishnu, descending to restore righteousness (dharma) and bring an end to this devastating age of corruption. May this positive trajectory happen soon!

Symbolic Meaning

• The white horse represents purity, speed, and divine energy.
• The flaming sword signifies the power of truth, justice, and retribution.
• His warrior form reflects his duty to destroy evil and protect the virtuous.

Kalki is depicted as a powerful warrior riding a white horse named Devadatta, wielding a flaming sword that represents divine justice and destruction of evil. His radiant form symbolizes purity, strength, and the force of cosmic renewal. Kalki’s mission is to eradicate our sin and corruption, vanquish these forces of darkness, and quell the destructive manifestation/actions of Kali. He will purge the world of unrighteousness and thankfully usher in a Satya Yuga (Golden Age), thereby resetting the cosmic cycle. It is said by some scholars, that of course, once again, a real god will not appear, but these are symbolic representations of a new age of transformation and peace.

Some say that we have always been in dark times, humans have a propensity toward the exploitation of the earth’s resources, each other and animals, as well as greed, conflict and war. I live by the adage of the Serenity Prayer which says do what you can to help, and accept what you can not change. If we develop inner fortitude, we can withstand these changing times as humans have done since time immemorial.

All we can do is out best, be as clear minded, loving and decent as we can be. Respond with whatever skill is of natural benefit- in Tibetan Tantra we talk about the four karmic enlightened actions– first we try to pacify obstacles, then, enrich, magnetize and if all else fails, we must use wrathful action to subjugate or destroy. Keep you heart full of hope for the future, connect to joy and beauty, and know that everything you see is a the result of our collective karma unfolding and will not last. Be a beacon of light in a time of darkness.

---

Sources: 

https://www.suyashpachauri.com/post/when-will-the-kalki-avatar-of-kali-yuga-be-born-at-what-date-time-and-place

Image of Kali, AI Generated by Dawn Boiani from https://www.artguru.ai/

https://www.learnreligions.com/hindu-months-days-eras-and-epochs-1770056#:~:text=The%20complete%20cycle%20consists%20of,you%20with%20the%20Hindu%20calendar?

https://devimahatmya.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/DEVI-MAHATMYA-FULL.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parvati

-https://mythologyandvaishbhat.wordpress.com/2021/03/11/how-did-parvati-meet-shiva/