HINDU COSMOS

Hindu Cosmology– Many Paths to One God

Hinduism is a collective term for the diverse philosophical and religious traditions native to India. It has no specific moment of origin or single founder, instead considering itself timeless and eternal, encapsulated in the term Sanatana Dharma ("The Eternal Teaching"). 

Hinduism is complex, encompassing numerous interrelated doctrines and practices without a unified system of beliefs. It includes major sects and countless subsects with local or regional variations. These sects can be seen as distinct traditions with specific theologies and rituals but also as different paths to a common goal.

Hinduism is typically divided into four major sects:

- Shaiva: Devotees of the god Shiva.

- Vaishnava: Devotees of the god Vishnu.

- Shakta: Devotees of the goddess.

- Smarta: Those who view the ultimate form of the divine as the abstract, all-encompassing Brahman.

Hindus believe that the world undergoes an eternal cycle of creation, destruction, and re-creation. According to Hindu cosmology, a universe lasts for about 4.32 billion years, which is one day of Brahma (Kalpa), followed by its destruction by fire or water. Afterward, Brahma rests for an equally long night. This cycle, called pralaya, repeats for 100 years of Brahma's life.

After Brahma's "death," another 100 of his years must pass before he is reborn and creation starts anew, continuing this process indefinitely. Brahma's life is divided into 1,000 Maha Yugas (Great Years), each lasting 4.32 million years. A Maha Yuga is further divided into 71 cycles of 14 Manvantaras, each representing Manu's cycle, who governs human existence.

Each Maha Yuga is composed of four progressively deteriorating yugas (ages), both morally and in duration. The sequence of these yugas marks the appearance and disappearance of the human race in each cycle.

Krita or Satya Yuga

Krita Yuga, also known as Satya Yuga, is the first and most virtuous age in a Maha Yuga. It is often referred to as the golden age on Earth, marked by moral perfection and virtue. During this time, the great god Vishnu, in his form as Brahma, the creator of the world, presides, and dharma (righteous behavior and moral duty) stands firmly on all four feet.

Duration: The Satya Yuga lasts for 1,728,000 years.

Characteristics of Krita Yuga:

1. Abundance and Contentment:           Human beings do not need shelter and face no shortages of food. Gift-giving trees provide an abundant supply of food, clothing, and decorative objects.

2. Moral Perfection:                 Everyone is born good, leading happy, contented, unselfish, and beautiful lives.

3. Devotion to Meditation:           People are devoted to meditation, which is considered the highest virtue, and remain loyal to dharma throughout their lives.

4. Joyful Work: Work is done for the pleasure of it, not out of necessity.        

5. Absence of Sorrow:        Sorrow does not exist in this age, and people live in a state of perpetual happiness and fulfillment.

In summary, Krita Yuga represents an era of unparalleled virtue, prosperity, and spiritual devotion, where life is idyllic and free from suffering.

Treta Yuga

Treta Yuga is the second age in each Maha Yuga. The term "Treta" means three, indicating that during this period, dharma (righteousness) stands on three of its four feet, reflecting a decline in virtue and moral perfection by one-fourth. This age lasts for 1,296,000 years.

Presiding Devta: Vishnu, the preserver of life on Earth, is the presiding god during Treta Yuga.

Characteristics of Treta Yuga: 1. Pursuit of Knowledge:  People consider the pursuit of knowledge the highest virtue and are devoted to it.

2. Gift-Giving Trees:  Initially, trees that provide abundant food and clothing exist, but greedy individuals attempt to claim them as private property, causing these special trees to disappear.

3. Emergence of Ordinary Trees:      With the disappearance of gift-giving trees, new trees that require hard work to harvest grow, marking the beginning of human labor for sustenance.

4. Weather Changes and Shelters:    Heavy rainfall creates rivers and fertile soil, leading to the need for constructing houses for shelter due to severe weather changes.

5. Moral Decline:   People become more passionate and greedy, leading to dissatisfaction, resentment, and anger. Covetousness and the desire for neighbors' possessions increase.

6. Social Strife:    The strong begin to seize land from the weak to amass more food and wealth. This age also sees an increase in infidelity and moral corruption.

In summary, Treta Yuga marks a decline from the idyllic Krita Yuga, with the onset of greed, labor, and social strife, reflecting a significant shift in human behavior and societal values.

Dvapara Yuga

Dvapara Yuga is the third age in each Maha Yuga. As the name "Dva" (meaning two) suggests, eternal dharma (righteousness) balances precariously on two of its four feet, indicating a further decline in virtue and moral perfection to half of what it was in Krita Yuga. This age lasts for 864,000 years.

Presiding Devta:   Vishnu, the preserver of life on Earth, continues to be the presiding god during Dvapara Yuga.

Characteristics of Dvapara Yuga:   1. Balance of Good and Evil: There is a precarious balance between good and evil, with virtue and moral perfection reduced significantly.

2. Duration: The age lasts for half the duration of Krita Yuga.

3. Devotion to Sacrifice:       People consider sacrifice the highest virtue and devote themselves to it.

1. Emergence of Disease and Suffering:     Disease, misfortune, suffering, and death become a part of everyone's existence.

2. Increase in Passion and Greed:   People become more passionate and greedy, leading to widespread war and conflict.

3. Development of Religious Doctrines:   Religious doctrines are developed to guide human behavior towards dharma, though moral deterioration continues.

In summary, Dvapara Yuga is characterized by a significant decline in virtue and an increase in suffering, passion, and greed, with a constant struggle to maintain a balance between good and evil.

Kali Yuga

Kali Yuga is the fourth and final age in each Maha Yuga. The name "Kali" means quarrel and war, signifying this dark age. During this period, dharma (righteousness) stands on only one of its four feet, and virtue barely exists. The duration of Kali Yuga is 432,000 years, one-fourth the length of Krita Yuga.

Presiding Devta:   Vishnu continues as the presiding god, taking the form of Shiva-Rudra, the destroyer of life on Earth.

Characteristics of Kali Yuga:

1. Moral Decline:   Virtue is almost entirely lost, and dharma is barely upheld.

2. Duration: The age lasts for 432,000 years.

3. Materialism:    People achieve high social status based on wealth and property rather than moral virtue. Material wealth becomes the measure of virtue.

1. Marital Relations:   Marriages are held together solely by sexual passion.

2. Deception:  Success in life is often achieved through deceit and lies, with sex being the primary source of enjoyment.

3. Fear and Suffering:   Continuous fear of hunger, disease, and death prevails.

4. Honesty and Charity:  Only the poor remain honest, and charity is the sole remaining virtue.

5. Harsh Conditions:  Harsh weather and primitive living conditions lead to devastating illnesses. Reaching the age of twenty-three is considered very old.

In summary, Kali Yuga is marked by severe moral decay, materialism, deceit, and pervasive fear and suffering, with only the virtues of honesty among the poor and charity remaining.

 
· Hindu cosmology: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

· See here for a complete list of Gods and Goddesses