According to the four era (chaturyuga) cycle, the first era is – Satyayuga, the second one is Tretayuga, the third one is- Dwaparayuga and finally the fourth Kaliyuga arrives. At present, the entire time period of Kali Yuga has ended, and transition time (Yuga Sandhya) is going on. The transition time between the end of any era and the beginning of a new era is called ‘Yuga Sandhya’ or ‘Sangam Yuga’. The total timespan of Kali Yuga is considered to be 4,32,000 years on the basis of Manusmriti (Laws of Manu). Due to the evil sinful deeds done by human beings, it is described that 4,27,200 years will be deducted and only 4,800 years will be the total Kaliyuga time span. According to Manusmriti, the following verses mentions the same –
“चत्त्वार्य्जाहु सहस्राणि बर्षाणां तत्क्रृतम् युगम्,
तस्य ताबछ्छती संध्या संध्यांशश्च तथाबिधः“
The meaning of the above verse quoted from Manusmriti is – after four thousand years, Satyayuga comes. The period of Paramayu and its transition period (Sandhya) of that four thousand year is one tenth year of the total Paramayu. That is –
Age of Kali Yuga = 4000 years
Two transition period at the beginning of Kali Yuga and the end of Dwapara Yuga = 400X2 = 800 years
Total sum of 4,800 years has been mentioned as the age of Kaliyuga.
In the course of time, one of the Panchasakhas, Mahapurush Achyutanand Das Ji Maharaj (who was incarnation of Param Sakha “Sudama” the dearest friend of Lord Vishnu), by the instructions of Nirakar Ji (the formless supreme God), modified the age of Kaliyuga from 4,800 years mentioned in Manusmriti to 5,000 years in Bhavishyamalika.
“चारि लक्ष जे बतिश सहस्त्र, कलियुग र अटइ आयुष ।
पाप भारा रे कलि तुटि जिब, पांच सस्र कलि भोग होइब।“
In the verse written above, Achyutanand Das Ji Maharaj says that – The age of Kali Yuga is 4,32,000 years. But due to the sinful deeds done by mankind, its age will be deducted and only 5,000 years will be the total time span. At present, according to Maa Birja Panjika, Jagannath Panjika, Kohinoor Panjika etc., 5125 years of Bhog (time period) is going on till date from the beginning of Kali Yuga. This means that the Kali Yuga is completely over, and we have entered the Sandhya Yuga or the Sangam Yuga. That’s why in the present time, there is an urgent need of Bhavishya Malika Granth for the welfare of the human society. Again, Mahapurush Achyutanand Das ji says in Bhavishya Malika that –
“संसार मध्यरे केमंत जाणिबे नर अंगे देह बहि
गत आगत जे युग र ब्यबस्था समस्तन्कु जणा नाहीं“
(Shiv Kalp Navkhand Neerghant)
Mahapurush Achyutanand Das Ji Maharaj has described in “Malika Granth” – Shiv Kalpa Navkhand Nirghant that humans will not be able to realize the change of era or the start of transition period and calamities by getting surrounded by illusions. Even people with great knowledge will also get misguided and confused and they will keep saying that the Kaliyuga is in its early age (childhood).
“उदयति: यदि भानु पश्चिम दिग बिभागे, बिकशति यदि पद्म पर्वतानां शिखाग्रे।
प्रचलति यदि मेरु शितो तापती बन्ही, नटलतिं खडू बाक्य सज्जनानां कदाचित।“
Meaning – In the coming time, the Sun may rise in the west, lotus might bloom in the mountain peak, North or South Meru might change direction, fire may provide coolness or ice might also provide heat, but the speech of Mahapurush Achyutanand Das ji mentioned in Malika Granth cannot change.
“Jai Jagannath”