Kali Yuga, Golden Age, Swami's and Krishna's predictions

Light and Love
   
     (My article is devoted to Swami's 79th Birthday).
 
     In Sai literature and in sites dedicated to Swami have various explanations concern to the Golden Age, noted by Swami in His interviews, talks and discourses. Among the Vedic saints, also various opinions exist.
 
    The article shares some frames from this huge study. There are many references. Mainly they are as the sources for additional information for them, who is more deeply interested in this topic.  
 
     Probably Swami thinks under Golden Age not sudden becoming the age of global happiness and prosperity in the beginning of 21st Century, but something else. (There is nothing has to be gained by self-effort). Some of His explanations were pictorial as lessons for His devotees.

     Swami addresses the Golden Age as an age of better opportunity to humanity for the spiritual growth in the conditions of the Kali Yuga.  As Swami stresses many times, His Avatar's (the word "avatar" derivatives from Sanskrit root Avitr, i.e., to descend) incarnation is for the benefit of humanity to establish the righteousness (Dharma) and to direct His devotees towards anyone's inner golden age to study the art of discrimination. 
 
    "Many people are scared because they believe that the Kali Yuga in which we live will witness the ultimate Deluge. Others call it the Kalaha Yuga, the Age of Conflict, for it is now well-nigh omnipresent. No, no. This age is the Golden Age for the seekers of God, for earning and learning viveka." (Bhagavan Sathya Sai Baba, Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 15, Chapter 30). /Viveka -discrimination/.
 
     How is possible to obtain skill for discrimination?
     By Swami and Vedic wisdom, there are three stages: Dvaita, Vishishtadvaita and Advaita (Dualism, Trained, Qualified Dualism and Non-Dualism). By Dvaita individuals accept each other as separate from God. By Vishishtadvaita individuals accept themselves and the God as a real   person, very dear and close to them. They worship the image of God (Swami), feel His help, and support everywhere. The most devotees can tell many wonderful stories and experiences connected with faith to Swami, His image. Here still Swami is as a separate Divine incarnation and a devotee is the other person. By Advaita an individual realizes that the God is everywhere, in every atom and galaxy, in human being, and in fly...

     It is the third stage towards what Swami leads the humanity. It is His Divine Duty, purpose of His incarnation. When human beings have realized the third stage in practice, the Golden Age can arrive step-by-step inside the Kali Yuga as a beautiful flower in desert of ignorance.  

     In the light of the Vedic scriptures Swami's notes, predictions, sayings concern to the Golden Age is easy to understand.

     Ancient Vedic scriptures revealed a conception of cycles of the Yugas alias Cosmic Ages regulated by the Light of the Galactic Center. Cycles of cosmic creation (Sarga) and cosmic dissolution (Pralaya) dependent on the Brahma, the Creator, one cycle of His existence is a hundred years of Brahma. This concept is presented in the Mahabharata (III, 12, 826) and the Vishnu Purana (I, 8 and VI, 3). One Brahma's cycle is Maha Yuga or Divya Yuga which consists of four Yugas - Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali. One Maha Yuga is 12,000 years of the demigods (4,320,000 human years). At the end of a Maha Yuga after 4,320,000 years there is a universal cataclysm will happen when everything will destroy by the cosmic whirl of recreation, fire (1, 2).  A Brahma's day is followed by a Brahma's night of equal length. Then, a new cycle of Satya Yuga will develop out of the previous Kali Yuga. The ratio between the Yugas is as 4:3:2:1 by duration. 

     By Swami and Vedic literature, Kali Yuga began 20 December 3102 BC, on the day when Krishna attained mahasamadhi, 5106 years ago. 

     The period of existence the Yugas by Vedic scriptures are Satya Yuga or Krita Yuga - 1,728,000 years, Treta Yuga - 1,296,000 years, Dwapara Yuga - 864,000 years and Kali Yuga - 432,000 years. 
 
     According to the modern science, the Universe is expanding, after the 'Big Bang'. It will continue to expand until reaches a maximum stage when starts to collapse reaching eventually a zero size again, the 'Big Crunch' (3).  It is easy to notice that the 'Big Bang' theory is near to Vedic concept of beginning of creation (Sarga) of Maha Yuga. The 'Big Crunch' can be considered as the dissolution (Pralaya). Sarga and Pralaya are nothing more than a Divine play of Time. No one knows where Time began and where it ends, and it is Time only which plays with cosmic creation, maintenance and destruction of the material manifestation. 

    Bhagavad-Gita (9.10) confirms this conclusion as follows: “This material nature, which is one of My energies, is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, producing all moving and nonmoving beings. Under its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again.” 
 
     Swami Yuteswar and some other Vedic saints found the incorrect calculations of Yugas in Vedic scriptures. Yuteswar represented the other dates for Yugas with motivated explanations in his book "The Holy Science" (4).  According to his book, written in 1894, the Sun is a part of a binary system, orbiting another star, with an orbital period about 24, 000 years. (The modern astronomy has recently recognized that many stars are parts of stars gravitational/orbital systems, for proper study - www.binaryresearchinstitute.org). As the Sun moves through this orbit, our solar system is periodically closer and further from Center of Galaxy (called by the author 'Vishnunabhi'. This center is responsible for the creation of some kind mental, spiritual power Brahma. His Yuga Cycle ("Electric Cycle") is based on the movement light through declining and ascending cycles. From practical side such theory is closer to explain the opportunity to have a Golden Age within Kali Yuga. Some Vedic scholars propose that humanity is experiencing the 10,000-year period known as The Golden Age within Kali-Yuga. Present time is an upward cycle of Galactic Light. At that time, the Avatar has incarnated. Swami is with our generation. 
    
     By the Bhavishya Purana global changes and tribulations will begin around the year 2000 AD alongside a continuous upswing in spiritual consciousness due to the influence of the Golden Age of Kali Yuga, which began around the year 1500 AD. (The Bhavishya Purana is said to be one of the oldest and reliable Vedic scriptures on prediction and accurately predicted the coming of Jesus, Mohammed and Buddha). This lesser cycle of light within a greater cycle of darkness will only last for 10,000 years and then the full effects of Kali Yuga will ensue. The Golden Age that we are now experiencing is considered a very important time for humanity’s spiritual growth and evolution. Stephen Knapp the author of “The Vedic Prophecies” writes, “During the period within the Golden Age of Kali-Yuga, the spiritual opportunity for people increases, although we can plainly see that the standards for moral and spiritual principles also continue to decrease at the same time amongst most people, but not quite as rapidly.”
 
     The predictions to the 10, 000 years of Golden Age inside Kali Yuga are represented in Brahma-vaivarta Purana* Part 4, Krishna-janma-khanda. Chapter 129 is called Golokarohanam, because it describes how Krishna returns to His abode. There is a specific dialogue is between Lord Krishna and Mother Ganga. Verse 49 is a question by Ganga, Verses 50-60 are Krishna's answers. (*When "Purana" is used alone it refers to Bhagavata Purana. Otherwise, it will specify Skanda Purana, Visnu Purana, etc.).

     Below are the Verses in short, without original text. For me seems that these verses are very important, they serves as an additional explanation to Swami's predictions concern to the Golden Age. The verses consists the advices for devotees who are the roots of the Golden Age in the middle of the Kali Yuga.  

     Verse 49. "Ganges said: O protector, Supreme enjoyer, on your departure for the perfect abode, Goloka, thereafter what will be my situation in the age of Kali?"

     Verse 50. "The Supreme Personality of Godhead (Lord Krishna - R.P.) said: On the earth 5,000 years of Kali will be sinful and sinners will deposit their sins in you by bathing."

     Verse 51. "Thereafter by the sight and touch of those who worship Me by My mantra, all those sins will be burnt."

     Verse 52. "There will be chanting of the name of Hari and reading of the (Bhagavata) Purana. Reaching such a place, attentively hear.
     Verse 53. "Sinful reactions including the killing of a brahmana can be nullified be hearing the Purana and chanting of the names of Hari in the manner of devotees."

     Verse 54. "Just as dry grass is burnt by fire, by the embrace of Vaisnavas all sins are burnt."

     Verse 55. "O Ganges, the whole planet will become a pilgrimage sight by the presence of Vaisnavas, even though it had been sinful."

      Verse 56. "In the body of My devotees remains eternally [the purifier]. Mother Earth becomes pure by the dust of the feet of My devotees."
     Verse 57. "It will be the same in the case of pilgrimage sites and the whole world. Those intelligent worshipers of My mantra who partake My remnants will purify everything."

     Verse 58. "They are more dear to Me than My life, who everyday meditate only on Me. Those intelligent worshipers of My mantra who partake My remnants will purify everything."

     Verse 59. "For 10,000 years of Kali such devotees of Mine will fill the whole planet. After the departure of My devotees there will be only one varna (outcaste)."

     Verse 60. "Devoid of My devotees, the earth will be shackled by Kali. Saying this, Krsna (Krishna -R.P.) departed."

     As a conclusion to of these verses by the words from Padma Purana, Svarga Khanda 61.5 that in the Kali Yuga, a person should accept only one process, which is devotional service. 

     More clearly, Swami says the same: 
     "Though the evil is thickest in this Kali Age, the remedy is the simplest." (Bhagavan Sathya Sai Baba, Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 8, Chapter 22).

     As predicted several millennia ago in the By Bhagavata Purana, written thousands years ago, the present Dark Age of Kali is the time of increasing destruction, disorder and decline. The most people are aware only of the physical aspect of existence, the predominant emphasis of living is material survival, and power is mostly in the hands of men. According to the Vedic scriptures, Kali Yuga, is the age of total spiritual darkness and violence.  

     Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 12.2 tells that during the 432,000-year age of Kali, humanity deteriorates and falls into barbarism. Humans begin to kill animals for food. They fall under the spell of intoxication. They lose all sexual restraint. Families break up. Women and children are abused and abandoned.

     The Vedic saints and sages of ancient India describe the people of this age as greedy, ill behaved, and merciless. By Srimad-Bhagavatam in this age merely possessing wealth is considered a sign of good birth, proper behavior, and fine qualities. Law and justice are determined by one's prestige and power. Marriage ceases to exist as a holy union - men and women simply live together on the basis of bodily attraction and verbal agreement, and only for sexual pleasure.

     Women wander from one man to another. Men no longer look after their parents in their old age, and fail to provide for their own children. Filling the belly is said to be the only purpose in life. Cows are killed once their milk production drops. Atheism flourishes.

     The new leaders emerge from the laborer class and begin to persecute religious people, saints, teachers, intellectuals, and philosophers. Children are killed in the wombs of their mothers. Women who have relations with several men are numerous. The Linga Purana says that in Kali Yuga, young women freely abandon their virginity. Women, children, and cows - always protected in an enlightened society - are abused and killed during the Iron Age. Thieves are numerous and rapes are frequent. There are many beggars, and widespread unemployment. Merchants operate corrupt businesses. Diseases, rates, and foul substances plague the populace. Water is lacking, fruits are scarce. People in this age eat their food without washing beforehand. Water is scarce. Many people watch the skies, praying for rain. No rain comes. The fields become barren. Men are without virtues, purity or decency. (Visnu Purana 6.1).

     The men of Kali Yuga seek only money. Only the richest have power. People without money are their slaves. Farmers abandon living close to nature. They become unskilled laborers in congested cities.