Q: What are the yugas? Is the traditional conception about them correct? How should such matters be studied? Was Sri Yuktesvara correct that we are now in dwapara yuga? Is this important?

First of all, let me say that kali yuga is upon us now. It is the time when consciousness is the most dim. In fact consciousness is even dimmer today than in medieval times, but only by a small degree, because that time also was a part of kali yuga. Today it is only more densified. Kali yuga has been in existence for approximately 5000 years. Before that dwapara yuga reigned for another 15,000 years, more or less.

Today we are at the end of kali yuga on this planet. Today we are facing the turn of the yugas, and that is why there will be such a dramatic shift in human consciousness. Human awareness will alter altogether because satya yuga will come into play, and its forces are very different, very different indeed. The potentiality of human consciousness will be greatly expanded in satya yuga. Knowledge will grow immensely. But today, kali yuga dominates, though the influence of satya yuga is beginning to pierce the darkness of kali yuga. This will grow in coming years, for the cycle is very near its end. Satya yuga will exist on this planet for thousands of years, and the human race may not undergo this cycle again.

These cycles are not universal, but are adjusted to the astrological and astronomical conditions of a particular heavenly body. The yugas will continue to emit certain forces in this region, and certain expressions related to those forces will manifest. But in other regions, in other parts of the universe, different yugas exist. So it is not in one flow.

Shrii Yuktesvar was correct in that astrological influences are variables in the yugas. But he was not correct in his understanding of their length and breadth.

As for importance, they are very important, for what may be expressed with ease is very much influenced by the yuga at hand.

[January 2, 1996]