In Hindu philosophy the cycle of evolution of life is divided into four yugas (epochs or eras): Satya Yuga or Krita Yuga Treta Yuga Dwapara Yuga Kali Yuga Yuga - The spiritual states of civilization in each yuga. In Hindu tradition, the world goes through a continuous cycle of these epochs. Each ascending phase of the cycle from Kali Yuga to Satya Yuga is followed by a descending phase back to Kali Yuga, then another ascending phase and so on. Alt ...

Including:

• Yuga - The spiritual states of civilization in each yuga
• Yuga - References
• Yuga - Sri Yukteswar's teachings on the yugas
• Yuga - Patrizia Norelli-Bachelet's teachings on the yugas
• Yuga - Yugas in Ayyavazhi
• Yuga - References

Read more here: » Yuga: Encyclopedia - Yuga

See also:

Yuga, Yuga - The spiritual states of civilization in each yuga, Yuga - References, Yuga - Sri Yukteswar's teachings on the yugas, Yuga - Patrizia Norelli-Bachelet's teachings on the yugas, Yuga - Yugas in Ayyavazhi, Yuga - References

Read more here: » Yuga: Encyclopedia II - Yuga - Yugas in Ayyavazhi

Yuga:

A sanskrit term meaning Era or Age. There is a cycle of four yugas: Kritha, Thretha, Dhvapara and Kali. Together the four yugas comprise 4,320,000 years. The present age is the Kali-yuga.

(See also: Yuga, Body Mind and Soul)

Hindu mythology of creation talks about how the universe is created each time the Creator Brahma blinks! Millions of human years, called yuga, pass by between each blink of the Creator.

Sages of ancient India measured time through the concept of kshana. Kshana is not chronological time. It was not measured as the amplitude of a pendulum or the frequency of an electronic chip. Kshana was not generic time, but individual time. Kshana is the time between two thoughts. My kshana and your kshana are different.

(See also: Metaphysics, Metaphysical Principles, Definition of Metaphysics, Metaphysical Techniques, Miracles, Creating Miracles Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, Peace of Mind, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

We have gotten into the habit of blaming all our ills on the times in which we live. We often exclaim: "This is Kaliyuga, so what else do you expect?" Kaliyuga has come to personify all that is bad and undesirable. We feel accursed and we envy the blessed ones who were born in the Sat, Treta or Dwapar yugas . We attribute our misfortune to karma and resign ourselves to our fate. This attitude leads to low self-esteem which in turn can do enormous damage

(See also: Kaliyuga, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

The Brahmakumaris practise Raja Yoga, particularly the trataka form of meditation in order to achieve union with God. It involves keeping your eyes open and fixing your gaze on a tiny red spot with total attention. Raja Yoga gives knowledge of self and enables one to attain peace, purity and harmony.

Dawn is preceded by the darkest hour of the night. The Brahmakumaris consider the present time as the most critical period. This will be followed by a new age - the dawn in the great cycle of time. The agent of transition may be the person possessing knowledge of the true self, of a positive soul. One who reaches the highest stage of this knowledge becomes Brahma. The supreme divine being is Shiva, who is an embodiment of knowledge, peace, purity and harmony.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

In Satya-Yuga or the golden age there was a different set of Dharmas or laws; in Treta, they changed into another form; in Dvapara, the Dharmas were different from the Dharmas of other Yugas; and in Kali-Yuga, they assumed still another form. The Dharma changes according to the changes of the cycles. Man is undergoing change. His nature gets transformed through experiences. Hence, his external form of Dharmas also should change.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Dharma: Yuga Dharma

In Hindu tradition, the world goes through a continuous cycle of these epochs. Each ascending phase of the cycle from Kali Yuga to Satya Yuga is followed by a descending phase back to Kali Yuga, then another ascending phase and so on. Alternatively, it is sometimes supposed that at the end of the descending Kali Yuga, the world will return to the Satya Yuga, and begin a new decline. The descent from Satya to Kali is associated with progressively deterioration of Dharma (righteousness) manifested as decrease in length of human life and quality of human moral standards. ...

See also:

Yuga, Yuga - The spiritual states of civilization in each yuga, Yuga - References, Yuga - Sri Yukteswar's teachings on the yugas, Yuga - Patrizia Norelli-Bachelet's teachings on the yugas, Yuga - Yugas in Ayyavazhi, Yuga - References

Read more here: » Yuga: Encyclopedia II - Yuga - The spiritual states of civilization in each yuga

yuga: (Sanskrit) "Period, age."

One of four ages which chart the duration of the world according to Hindu thought. They are:

-       Satya Yuga (or Krita),

-       Treta Yuga,

-       Dvapara Yuga

-       Kali Yuga

In the first period, dharma reigns supreme, but as the ages revolve, virtue diminishes and ignorance and injustice increases. At the end of the Kali Yuga, which we are in now, the cycle begins again with a new Satya Yuga.

-       It is said in the Mahabharata that during the Satya Yuga all are brahmins, and the color of this yuga is white.

-       In the Treta Yuga, righteousness decreases by one-fourth and men seek reward for their rites and gifts; the color is red and the consciousness of the kshatriya, sovereignty, prevails.

-       In the Dvapara Yuga, the four varnas come fully into existence. The color is yellow.

-       In the Kali Yuga, the color is black. Righteousness is one-tenth that of the Satya Yuga. True worship and sacrifice cease, and base, or shudra, consciousness is prominent. Calamities, disease, fatigue and faults such as anger and fear prevail. People decline and their motives grow weak.

See: cosmic cycle, mahapralaya, pralaya.

(See also: Yuga, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

The Satya Yuga, also called Sat Yuga, Krta Yuga and Krita Yuga in Hinduism, is the "Yuga (Age or Era) of Truth", when humankind is governed by gods, and every manifestation or work is close to the purest ideal and mankind will allow intrinsic goodness to rule supreme. It is sometimes referred to as the "Golden Age." Satya Yuga - The cycle. The yugas are said to succeed each other almost endlessly. After the perfect Satya Yuga, a decline marks the Treta Yuga. Further declin ...

Including:

• Satya Yuga - The cycle
• Satya Yuga - The Satya Yuga according to some holy texts
• Satya Yuga - In Ayyavazhi

Read more here: » Satya Yuga: Encyclopedia - Satya Yuga

Dharma or spiritual tradition has two aspects: 1.The Sanatan Dharma (sruti), tradition eternal which is not subject to change. 2. The Yuga Dharma (smritis), tradition valid for only an epoch or an age responding to the urge for change. Yuga Dharma are limited, temporary and relative in their scope and authority. The detailed workings, the minute points which have been worked out through centuries of social necessity, little ratiocinations about manners and customs and social well-being, do not rightly find a place in the ...

Read more here: » Yuga Dharma: Encyclopedia - Yuga Dharma

Please remove this notice after the article has been expanded. Details are on this talk page or at Wikipedia:Requests for expansion. Treta Yuga is the second out of four yugas, or epochs, in the religion of Hinduism, following Satya Yuga and preceding Dwapar Yuga. The most famous event in this yuga was Vishnu's sixth incarnation of Rama. Shruti (primary scriptures): Vedas | Upanishads | Bhagavad Gita | Itihasa (Ramayana & Mahabha

Read more here: » Treta Yuga: Encyclopedia - Treta Yuga

Dwapar Yuga is the third out of four yugas, or ages, in the religion of Hinduism. This yuga comes after Treta Yuga and is followed by Kali Yuga. During this yuga, Shri Vishnu incarnates as Lord Krishna and the yuga ends with his death. There are only two pillars left of religion in the Dwapar Yuga. Bhagwan Vishnu assumes the color yellow and the Vedas are categorized into four parts that is Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva. During these times the Brahmins are knowledgeable of two, sometimes three Vedas, but rarely have st ...

Including:

• Dwapar Yuga - The Roles of the Castes
• Dwapar Yuga - The Role of the Brahmin
• Dwapar Yuga - The Role of the Kshatriya
• Dwapar Yuga - The Role of the Vaishya
• Dwapar Yuga - The Role of the Shudra
• Dwapar Yuga - The Decline of Life

Read more here: » Dwapar Yuga: Encyclopedia - Dwapar Yuga

According to most interpretations of Hindu scriptures, including the Vedas, the Kali Yuga (lit. Age of Kali , also known as Iron Age) began at the end of Krishna's bodily lifespan (approximately 5100 years ago, 3102 BCE) and will last exactly 432,000 years — placing its conclusion in the year 428,899 CE (it began with a year 0). Kalki, the 10th and final avatar of Vishnu, is expected to appear at this time, riding a white horse and wielding a fla ...

Including:

• Kali Yuga - Problems that arise
• Kali Yuga - Warfare
• Kali Yuga - Nobility/respect
• Kali Yuga - Changes in the people
• Kali Yuga - Changes in men
• Kali Yuga - Changes in women
• Kali Yuga - Lives of each of the castes
• Kali Yuga - Life of the Brahmin
• Kali Yuga - Life of the Kshatriya
• Kali Yuga - Life of the Vaishya
• Kali Yuga - Life of the Shudra
• Kali Yuga - Exception
• Kali Yuga - Other Views of Kali Yuga

Read more here: » Kali Yuga: Encyclopedia - Kali Yuga

Please remove this notice after the article has been expanded. Details are on this talk page or at Wikipedia:Requests for expansion. The Hindu Astronomy is one of the ancient astronomical systems of the world. It is sometimes considered a controversial subject, because some scholars argue that it shows a higher antiquity of the Vedic culture as generally assumed. The astronomy and the astrology of India are based upon sidereal calculations. The sidereal astronomy is based upon the stars and the sidereal pe ...

Including:

• Hindu Astronomy - Literature

Read more here: » Hindu Astronomy: Encyclopedia - Hindu Astronomy

Ayyavazhi mythology is the mythology of the growing South Indian religious faith and officially an offshoot of Hinduism known as Ayyavazhi. The main source of Ayyavazhi mythology is the Ayyavazhi scripture, Akilattirattu Ammanai, and its supplement, Arul Nool. The Akilattirattu Ammanai is a recitation by Mayon (the Tamil name for Vishnu, or Lord Narayana) to his consort Lakshmi. It is divided into three sections: pre-incarnational e ...

Including:

• Ayyavazhi mythology - Pre-incarnational events
• Ayyavazhi mythology - The first six Yugas
• Ayyavazhi mythology - The Santror
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Kalineesan Kali Yuga and Kalimayai
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Thirumal in Thiruvananthapuram
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Incarnational events
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Preparing for incarnation
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Mayon — on the identity of his people
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Final admonition through Thiruvasakam
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Deciding to incarnate as Vaikundar
• Ayyavazhi mythology - The incarnation
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Post-incarnational events
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Vaikundar's emergence out of the sea
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Vaikundar's journey to Detchanam
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Tavam
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Burning of the demons
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Seizing the power of magic witchcraft sorcery trickery etc.
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Exhortations
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Vaikundar's trial
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Thuvayal Thavasu
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Marriage with the Seven Virgins
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Festivals and celebrations
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Vaikundar as the Reigning King
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Marriage with the Deities
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Ascending to Vaikundam the abode of Thirumal
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Dharma Yukam [The final victory]

Read more here: » Ayyavazhi mythology: Encyclopedia - Ayyavazhi mythology

Vallabhacharya (1479 - 1531) was the founder of the Vallabha sect in Indian philosophy. He called his system of thought Shuddhadvaita (pure monism). Vallabhacharya - Everything is Krishna's Leela. According to the version of Vaishnava Theology he espoused; the glorious Krishna in His sat-chid-ananda form is the Absolute Brahman. He is permanently playing out His sport (leela) from His seat in the goloka which is even beyond the divine Vaikuntha, the abode of Vishnu and Satya-loka, the abode of Brahma ...

Including:

• Vallabhacharya - Everything is Krishna's Leela
• Vallabhacharya - Grace the only path in Kali yuga
• Vallabhacharya - Atma-nivedana
• Vallabhacharya - Ashta-chaap

Read more here: » Vallabhacharya: Encyclopedia - Vallabhacharya

Old Indian measures are still in use today, primarily for religious purposes in Hinduism and Jainism. They also are employed in the teachings of Surat Shabda Yoga. Hindu units of measurement - Time. The Hindu metrics of time (Kaala Vyavahara) can be summarized as below. Hindu units of measurement - Sidereal metrics. a paramanu is the normal interval of blinking in humans, or approximately 4 seconds a vighati is 6 paramaanus, or approxim ...

Including:

• Hindu units of measurement - Time
• Hindu units of measurement - Sidereal metrics
• Hindu units of measurement - Lunar metrics
• Hindu units of measurement - Tropical metrics
• Hindu units of measurement - Yugas

Read more here: » Hindu units of measurement: Encyclopedia - Hindu units of measurement

According to Hindu mythology, the universe is cyclically created and destroyed. The life span of Brahma, the creator, is 120 divine years (Mahakalpamu). Everyday Brahma creates 14 Manus one after the other, who in turn create and regulate the world. Thus, there are fourteen generations of Manu in one day (Kalpamu) of Brahma. Each Manu’s life (Manvantaramu) consists of 71 quartets of eras. Each quartet is composed of four eras: Krita, Treta, Dvapara and Kali. The span of Krita era is 1,728,000 human years, Treta era is 1,296,000 human years ...

Including:

• Vedic Timeline - The four Yugas Ages of Hinduism
• Vedic Timeline - Six Shaka-karte kings of Kaliyuga
• Vedic Timeline - Some calendars in use in India

Read more here: » Vedic Timeline: Encyclopedia - Vedic Timeline

Utopianism refers to the many various social and political movements, and a significant body of religious and secular literature, based upon the idea of paradise on earth. See Utopia. Utopianism - Various conceptions of past and future paradise. In many cultures and societies, there is some myth or memory of a distant past when humankind lived in a primitive and simple state, but at the same time one of perfect happiness and fulfillment. In those days, the various myths tell us, there was an instinctive har ...

Including:

• Utopianism - Various conceptions of past and future paradise
• Utopianism - Krita Yuga
• Utopianism - Golden Age
• Utopianism - Arcadia
• Utopianism - The Bibilical Garden of Eden
• Utopianism - The Land of Cokaygne
• Utopianism - Finding utopia

Read more here: » Utopianism: Encyclopedia - Utopianism