In this post, we’ll unpack all you need to know about the Yugas, defining exactly what they are, their characteristics, identifying which Yuga we are currently in, how to leverage them and more.
What Are The Yugas?
The Yugas describe the cycles of human development. Each Yuga corresponds with certain characteristics that define mankind at that particular time.
We can describe the evolution of mankind, through the Yugas, as the evolution of consciousness. As mankind evolves, so too does its level of awareness. The gift of being human is that we can consciously accelerate our spiritual evolution with the ultimate goal of self-realisation.
The 4 Yugas
According to Indian cosmology, there are 4 distinct Yugas. The order of the four Yugas, progressing toward greater consciousness, is Kali Yuga, Dwapara Yuga, Treta Yuga and Satya Yuga. Each Yuga has transition periods (known as sandhis) from and to the next Yuga. The transitions are 1/10th of each Yuga’s length.
When adding together the duration of each Yuga and its transition periods, we see that the ascending arc of the Yuga cycle requires 12,000 years to reach the peak of mankind’s development. Then mankind’s consciousness begins to decline and the Yugas pass through the descending arc in reverse order and another span of 12,000 years. Together, the ascending arc and descending arc, which form one complete cycle of the Yugas, takes 24,000 years to complete.
The Characteristics Of The 4 Yugas
Below we’ll unpack the defining characteristics of the four Yugas.
- Kali Yuga
Kali Yuga is the age of materialism. It lasts 1,000 years in addition to transition periods of 100 years before and 100 years after.
In Kali Yuga, mankind comprehends matter, its primary motivation is conquest and its perception is guided by a dull mind.
- Dwapara Yuga
Dwapara Yuga is the age of energy. It lasts 2,000 years in addition to transition periods of 200 years before and 200 years after.
In Dwapara Yuga, mankind comprehends energy, its primary motivation is self-interest (individualism) and its perception is guided by reason.
- Treta Yuga
Treta Yuga is the age of thought. It lasts 3,000 years in addition to transition periods of 300 years before and 300 years after.
In Treta Yuga, mankind comprehends thought, its primary motivation is self-mastery and its perception is guided by intuition.
- Satya Yuga
Satya Yuga lasts 4,000 years and is the age of spirit. It lasts 4,000 years in addition to transition periods of 400 years before and 400 years after.
In Satya Yuga, mankind comprehends consciousness, its primary motivation is self-realisation and its perception is guided by direct experience with Truth.
The Yugas Table Summary
Below is a table summarising the 4 Yugas and their qualities.
| Kali | Dwapara | Treta | Satya | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 1,000 Years | 2,000 Years | 3,000 Years | 4,000 Years |
| Comprehension | Matter | Energy | Thought | Consciousness |
| Motivation | Conquest | Self-Interest | Self-Mastery | Self-Realisation |
| Perception | Dull | Reason | Intuition | Direct |
Equivalent Systems
Throughout history, numerous spiritual and religious cultures around the world have conceived frameworks to explain the cyclical nature of time and human existence.
Much like the four Yugas in Hinduism, these frameworks depict a series of ages or epochs, each characterised by specific qualities and stages of human development.
Below is a table summarising equivalent systems from different cultures.
| Culture | 1st Age | 2nd Age | 3rd Age | 4th Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hinduism | Kali | Dwapara | Treta | Satya |
| Ancient Greece | Iron | Bronze | Silver | Gold |
| Ancient Egypt | Age of Horus | Age of Osiris | Age of Ra | Zep Tepi |
| Zoroastrianism | Age Of Destruction | Age Of Mixture | Age Of Good & Evil | Age Of Perfection |
| Chinese Myhtology | Age of the Three Kingdoms | Age of the Five Emperors | Age of the Great Flood | Age of the Yellow Emperor |
| Buddhism | Future Age | Age of Destruction | Age of Deterioration | Golden Age |
Which Yuga Are We Currently In?
According to Indian monk, yogi and astrologer Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, we are currently in ascending Dwapara Yuga which began in 1,700AD.
How To Leverage The Yugas
Understanding the Yugas gives us an unmatched insight into the past, present and future development of mankind.
Therefore, the key to leveraging the Yugas is to firstly identify which Yuga we are currently in, understand the the defining characteristics of that Yuga and then use that knowledge to navigate the physical and moral challenges of that Yuga.
Summary
The Yugas describe the cyclical ages of time that mankind goes through. Each Yuga corresponds with certain characteristics that define mankind at that particular time. The four Yugas are Kali Yuga, Dwapara Yuga, Treta Yuga and Satya Yuga.
The key to leveraging the Yugas is to understand the defining characteristics of the current Yuga we are in and then to use this knowledge to more effectively navigate the physical and moral challenges of that Yuga.
