Post by snowdragon on Aug 3, 2007 6:13:37 GMT -5
The Creation, Death and Rebirth of the Universe
The Maha Yugas
The world is created, destroyed and recreated in a never ending series of cycles. The world continues from one Maha Yuga (great age) to the next. These great ages last for 4,320,000 years, and each Maha Yuga consists of four shorter yugas, each more morally decrepit then the previous age.
As reincarnation is a Hindu aspect, it should hold true that if a person can be reincarnated, so too can the earth. The two are not entirely the same thing, but basically, it is born, it grows and matures, it dies, and is reborn, the same as a human. The only difference is that ultimately it is society and man who bring about the destruction of the earth, and ultimately cause its death.
Vishnu, in his form of Brahma, the creator, created the god Dharma to personify the definitive pattern of righteous behavior dictated by a person’s position in society. Vishnu established Dharma as a way to preserve civilization. Without Dharma, society would disintegrate, war would result and civilization would bring destruction on itself.
Vishnu has three forms; Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva (Shiva-Rudra) the destroyer. It are these three forms that directs the life cycle of the universe. So, as the all mighty Trimurti, or the three gods deposited from the great egg, it is these three forms that preside over the various yugas in the Maha Yuga.
Now, let us discuss the ages to be found in the Maha Yuga. There are four of them, each of them lasting a shorter amount of time then the one that preceded it. As each Yugas comes and goes, the level of depravity and disintegration of human virtue is worse.
The first yuga of the Maha Yuga is called the Krita Yuga, the age of virtue and moral perfection, a bright and golden age. Vishnu, in his form of Brahma, the creator, presides over this age, which lasts 1,728,000 years. The God Dharma, ideal righteous behavior and moral duty, walks steadily and normally on all four legs.
This yuga is the ideal time period. Humans need no shelter, no matter where they live, such as in the mountains or on the beaches. Trees bear gifts of food, clothes and decorative items in heavy abundance. People are born good and live happy, content, unselfish and beautiful lives.
People are devoted to meditation, the highest virtue and spend their lives loyal to Dharma and what Dharma represents. Due to the fact that people work for pleasure, not for necessity and because they have dedicated their lives to being virtuous and morally perfect, such emotions like sorrow do not exist.
The second age of the Maha Yuga is Treta Yuga. Treta literraly means three, which represents the fact that Dharma now stands on only three of its four legs. The meaning behind Dharma on three legs is because it now walks unsteadily on three legs due to the fact that virtue and moral perfection do exist, but have decreased by ¼.
Vishnu, the preserver, is the god that presides over this yuga. People now become devoted to the pursuit of knowledge, which they now view as the highest virtue. The tree still bear gifts of food and clothing, until greedy people try to make them their own private property. When this occurs, the trees disappear and life becomes difficult for the very first time.
The weather changes now, making heavy rainfall, which makes rivers. Though it makes the soil rich and fertile, the trees that are grown are normal fruit baring tree, not the gift giving trees of old. People must now work out of necessity, not pleasure. Since the weather has changed and caused rain and snow and wind, people must now create shelters to live.
People become more passionate and greedy and are no longer happy with what they have. Dissatisfaction, resentment and anger replace satisfaction, peace and contentment in the hearts of humans. People begin to covet their neighbors’ goods. The stronger steal from the weak, everything from homes, lands and goods all the way to wives and families.
The third yuga in the Maha Yuga is called the Dvapara Yuga. Dva literally means two, and it refers to the fact that Dharma now totters precariously on two legs, shifting the balance between good and evil. Virtue and Moral perfection still exist, but has dropped to ½ of what it was during the Krita Yuga.
Vishnu is still the presiding god. People are now devoted to sacrifice, what they now consider the highest virtue. Disease, misfortune, suffering and death are now part of every day existence. People are more passionate, more greedy and war is a commonplace occurrence.
Religious doctrine are created during this time, in an attempt to guide human behavior back toward Dharma and virtue and moral perfection, but the gradual process of moral deterioration advances.
The fourth age in every Maha Yuga is called the Kali Yuga. This is the Dark age, Kali meaning quarrel and war. Dharma drags along on only one of its four legs. Virtue barely exists. This yuga is only ¼ of the length of the Krita Yuga and during the Kali Yuga, Moral perfection is almost incomparable to the Krita Yuga.
Vishnu, in his form of Shiva (Shiva-Rudra), the destroyer, presides over this yuga. People achieve noble rank because of money and land, not because of moral virtue. In this age, a person’s quality of virtue is measured by material wealth.
To be successful in life is to lie to get further, the only enjoyment and entertainment is sex. Fear of hunger, disease and death is every day, the poor are the only honest people left and the only virtue that remains is charity. To escape from greedy kings and leaders, people run away to live in poverty in the mountains, where food, clothing and shelter are scarce. Ultimately, people would rather risk death to live in the world they were in.
The end of 1,000 Maha Yugas brings about the age of destruction. Vishnu, in his form of Shiva (Shiva-Rudra) the destroyer, ushers in a night of 1,000 Maha Yugas, equal to the period of light that preceded it.
Shiva enters the rays of the sun and for 100 years, he intensifies their power, evaporating away all water on the face of the earth. Fires break out and burn everything. All three worlds (Heaven, Earth and the Underworld) burn from the intense heat generated by Shiva.
The heat and fire create a drought and make the earth into a wasteland. If anyone survived the fires, famine swept across the world, wiping out all living creatures until not a single one lived.
Once the fires have consumed all life, Shiva will exhale storm clouds, that accompanied with thunder and lighting, would block the sun and cover the earth in a deafening blackness. Day and night for 100 years, a deluge of rain covers the world with a devastating flood.
Only Vishnu would live, as the fire and flood would kill the gods as well as all humans. While the flood engulfs the world, a large gold egg floats safely on top of the water, cradling the seeds of all life from the world inside of itself.
When the ocean covers all three worlds, Vishnu exhales a drying wind that lasts 100 years, dispersing the storm clouds. After all of this, Vishnu will sleep, as will the world, for the remainder of the night, that is to last 1,000 Maha Yugas. Thus is the death of the world.
At the end of the night of 1,000 Maha Yugas, Vishnu awakens. From his navel, a lotus flower appears. From this lotus flower, Vishnu emerges in the form of Brahma, the creator. On this lotus, Brahma will rest and will use the lotus as the foundation of the three worlds.
It is while resting that Brahma realizes that the flood has killed everything. He cracks open the golden egg that is floating on the ocean, beginning the cycle of rebirth. With initiating the rebirth of the world, Brahma ushers in the beginning of a new age of light, that is to last 1,000 Maha Yugas.
The image of the three worlds, with gods, demons and humans all ready exists in Brahma. First he brings forth water, fire, air, wind, sky and earth, with mountains and trees. Next he creates the forms of time to bring organization to the universe. Then he creates demons, gods and humans.
Demons he bring forth from his buttocks. He casts off his body to create the night, which belongs to the demons. He then takes another body and creates gods from his face. He then casts off his body to create the light, or day, which belongs to the gods. From successive bodies, Brahma brings forth humans and Rakshasas, snakes and birds.
Goats are brought forth from his mouth, sheep from his chest, cows from his stomach, antelope, buffalo, camels, donkeys, elephants and other animals from this arms and legs. Horses are brought forth from his feet and plant life is created from the hair of his body.
Then begins the cycle of the Maha Yugas, and the various yugas they contain for the next 1,000 Maha yugas. These never ending cycles will continue over and over again. Birth, destruction, rebirth.
The Maha Yugas
The world is created, destroyed and recreated in a never ending series of cycles. The world continues from one Maha Yuga (great age) to the next. These great ages last for 4,320,000 years, and each Maha Yuga consists of four shorter yugas, each more morally decrepit then the previous age.
As reincarnation is a Hindu aspect, it should hold true that if a person can be reincarnated, so too can the earth. The two are not entirely the same thing, but basically, it is born, it grows and matures, it dies, and is reborn, the same as a human. The only difference is that ultimately it is society and man who bring about the destruction of the earth, and ultimately cause its death.
Vishnu, in his form of Brahma, the creator, created the god Dharma to personify the definitive pattern of righteous behavior dictated by a person’s position in society. Vishnu established Dharma as a way to preserve civilization. Without Dharma, society would disintegrate, war would result and civilization would bring destruction on itself.
Vishnu has three forms; Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva (Shiva-Rudra) the destroyer. It are these three forms that directs the life cycle of the universe. So, as the all mighty Trimurti, or the three gods deposited from the great egg, it is these three forms that preside over the various yugas in the Maha Yuga.
Now, let us discuss the ages to be found in the Maha Yuga. There are four of them, each of them lasting a shorter amount of time then the one that preceded it. As each Yugas comes and goes, the level of depravity and disintegration of human virtue is worse.
The first yuga of the Maha Yuga is called the Krita Yuga, the age of virtue and moral perfection, a bright and golden age. Vishnu, in his form of Brahma, the creator, presides over this age, which lasts 1,728,000 years. The God Dharma, ideal righteous behavior and moral duty, walks steadily and normally on all four legs.
This yuga is the ideal time period. Humans need no shelter, no matter where they live, such as in the mountains or on the beaches. Trees bear gifts of food, clothes and decorative items in heavy abundance. People are born good and live happy, content, unselfish and beautiful lives.
People are devoted to meditation, the highest virtue and spend their lives loyal to Dharma and what Dharma represents. Due to the fact that people work for pleasure, not for necessity and because they have dedicated their lives to being virtuous and morally perfect, such emotions like sorrow do not exist.
The second age of the Maha Yuga is Treta Yuga. Treta literraly means three, which represents the fact that Dharma now stands on only three of its four legs. The meaning behind Dharma on three legs is because it now walks unsteadily on three legs due to the fact that virtue and moral perfection do exist, but have decreased by ¼.
Vishnu, the preserver, is the god that presides over this yuga. People now become devoted to the pursuit of knowledge, which they now view as the highest virtue. The tree still bear gifts of food and clothing, until greedy people try to make them their own private property. When this occurs, the trees disappear and life becomes difficult for the very first time.
The weather changes now, making heavy rainfall, which makes rivers. Though it makes the soil rich and fertile, the trees that are grown are normal fruit baring tree, not the gift giving trees of old. People must now work out of necessity, not pleasure. Since the weather has changed and caused rain and snow and wind, people must now create shelters to live.
People become more passionate and greedy and are no longer happy with what they have. Dissatisfaction, resentment and anger replace satisfaction, peace and contentment in the hearts of humans. People begin to covet their neighbors’ goods. The stronger steal from the weak, everything from homes, lands and goods all the way to wives and families.
The third yuga in the Maha Yuga is called the Dvapara Yuga. Dva literally means two, and it refers to the fact that Dharma now totters precariously on two legs, shifting the balance between good and evil. Virtue and Moral perfection still exist, but has dropped to ½ of what it was during the Krita Yuga.
Vishnu is still the presiding god. People are now devoted to sacrifice, what they now consider the highest virtue. Disease, misfortune, suffering and death are now part of every day existence. People are more passionate, more greedy and war is a commonplace occurrence.
Religious doctrine are created during this time, in an attempt to guide human behavior back toward Dharma and virtue and moral perfection, but the gradual process of moral deterioration advances.
The fourth age in every Maha Yuga is called the Kali Yuga. This is the Dark age, Kali meaning quarrel and war. Dharma drags along on only one of its four legs. Virtue barely exists. This yuga is only ¼ of the length of the Krita Yuga and during the Kali Yuga, Moral perfection is almost incomparable to the Krita Yuga.
Vishnu, in his form of Shiva (Shiva-Rudra), the destroyer, presides over this yuga. People achieve noble rank because of money and land, not because of moral virtue. In this age, a person’s quality of virtue is measured by material wealth.
To be successful in life is to lie to get further, the only enjoyment and entertainment is sex. Fear of hunger, disease and death is every day, the poor are the only honest people left and the only virtue that remains is charity. To escape from greedy kings and leaders, people run away to live in poverty in the mountains, where food, clothing and shelter are scarce. Ultimately, people would rather risk death to live in the world they were in.
The end of 1,000 Maha Yugas brings about the age of destruction. Vishnu, in his form of Shiva (Shiva-Rudra) the destroyer, ushers in a night of 1,000 Maha Yugas, equal to the period of light that preceded it.
Shiva enters the rays of the sun and for 100 years, he intensifies their power, evaporating away all water on the face of the earth. Fires break out and burn everything. All three worlds (Heaven, Earth and the Underworld) burn from the intense heat generated by Shiva.
The heat and fire create a drought and make the earth into a wasteland. If anyone survived the fires, famine swept across the world, wiping out all living creatures until not a single one lived.
Once the fires have consumed all life, Shiva will exhale storm clouds, that accompanied with thunder and lighting, would block the sun and cover the earth in a deafening blackness. Day and night for 100 years, a deluge of rain covers the world with a devastating flood.
Only Vishnu would live, as the fire and flood would kill the gods as well as all humans. While the flood engulfs the world, a large gold egg floats safely on top of the water, cradling the seeds of all life from the world inside of itself.
When the ocean covers all three worlds, Vishnu exhales a drying wind that lasts 100 years, dispersing the storm clouds. After all of this, Vishnu will sleep, as will the world, for the remainder of the night, that is to last 1,000 Maha Yugas. Thus is the death of the world.
At the end of the night of 1,000 Maha Yugas, Vishnu awakens. From his navel, a lotus flower appears. From this lotus flower, Vishnu emerges in the form of Brahma, the creator. On this lotus, Brahma will rest and will use the lotus as the foundation of the three worlds.
It is while resting that Brahma realizes that the flood has killed everything. He cracks open the golden egg that is floating on the ocean, beginning the cycle of rebirth. With initiating the rebirth of the world, Brahma ushers in the beginning of a new age of light, that is to last 1,000 Maha Yugas.
The image of the three worlds, with gods, demons and humans all ready exists in Brahma. First he brings forth water, fire, air, wind, sky and earth, with mountains and trees. Next he creates the forms of time to bring organization to the universe. Then he creates demons, gods and humans.
Demons he bring forth from his buttocks. He casts off his body to create the night, which belongs to the demons. He then takes another body and creates gods from his face. He then casts off his body to create the light, or day, which belongs to the gods. From successive bodies, Brahma brings forth humans and Rakshasas, snakes and birds.
Goats are brought forth from his mouth, sheep from his chest, cows from his stomach, antelope, buffalo, camels, donkeys, elephants and other animals from this arms and legs. Horses are brought forth from his feet and plant life is created from the hair of his body.
Then begins the cycle of the Maha Yugas, and the various yugas they contain for the next 1,000 Maha yugas. These never ending cycles will continue over and over again. Birth, destruction, rebirth.