There are lot of misconception regarding hackneyed phase refering to kali yuga. Such use of term without proper understanding not only undermines the supreme science but also ridicule the hindu civilization.
By observing day and night in 24 hours period due to rotation of earth and change of season in a year due to revolution of earth one can observe the cyclic nature of time. However cyclic phenomenons which our beyond lifespan of humans are not very obvious.
Hence before going into the theory of yugas which coming from the word yugal meaning couple we shall first understand precession of Equinox which is the 3rd type of movement of the earth.
Precession of Equinox
Earth’s axis of rotation with a period of 25,772 years. Precession was the third-discovered motion of Earth, after the far more obvious daily rotation and annual revolution. Precession is caused by the gravitational influence of the Sun and the Moon acting on Earth’s equatorial bulge.
This period of precession as per our ancient hindu knowledge was 24000 years consisting of 2 couples one ascending and other descending each with a 12000 year period.
The theory of yugas
The seers experienced a cyclic process just like seasons effecting human consciousness. An ascension of knowledge and descension of knowledge was observed and divided the couple/yugal into 4:3:2:1 parts.
Diagram of yugas
The 4 divisions are as follows:
- Satya Yug : Satya means full where man can perceive his soul and the 3 bodies physical astral causal. It was given 4 parts a total of 4800 years including 2 sandhi of 400 years.
- Treta Yug : Tre means three where man can perceive his physical as well as astral (light electricity magnetism) bodies as well as causal ( thoughts ) body. It was given 3 parts a total of 3600 years including 2 sandhi of 300 years.
- Dwapara Yug : Dwa means two where man can perceive his physical as well as astral (light electricity magnetism) bodies. It was given 2 parts a total of 2400 years including 2 sandhi of 200 years.
- Kali Yug : kali means single petal where man can perceive only his 3 bodies. It was given 1 parts a total of 1200 years including 2 sandhi of 100 years.
The current period is not kali yuga but is dwapara. Since 3 centuries humans have discovered the fine particles i.e electricity and atomic particles.