Kṛtayuga, the Cosmic Being
In the Kalki Purāṇa, Kṛtayuga is the age of full dharma. The text also shows him as a living being. He is a radiant brahmacārī (a celibate student and wanderer) who comes to Haridvāra to see the glory of Bhagavān Kalki’s avatāra with his own eyes.
Kṛtayuga then takes part in Kalki’s Digvijaya (the conquest of the directions). He fights beside Dharma Puruṣa in the battle against Kali. After the conquest, he wanders the earth freely, without enemies, and keeps saddharma (true dharma) alive.
The appearance at Haridvāra
Kṛtayuga first appears in this form at Haridvāra. Bhagavān Kalki has met Maru, Devāpi and the great ṛṣis (seers) there. As Kalki finishes giving his commands to Maru and Devāpi, a figure arrives and holds everyone’s attention.
He looks like a wandering brahmacārī. He carries a daṇḍa (a staff) and wears the dress of an ascetic. His body shines like molten gold (taptakāñcana-prabha), and his eyes are like lotus petals. The text calls him lokātīta, one who is beyond the ordinary world. It also says: “by the mere touch of his body, accumulated adharma was destroyed.” Everyone present rises to receive him.
Bhagavān Kalki himself rises and welcomes him with pādya (water for the feet), arghya (the offering of water) and ācamana (water for sipping). Kalki asks: “Who are you? By my great good fortune you have come here. Tell me your name.”
The Kalki Purāṇa gives this scene in Tritīyāmśa, Chapter 5.
His introduction and his teaching on time
The brahmacārī answers: “O Śrīnātha! I am Kṛtayuga, the one who obeys your command. I have come to see the glory of your avatāra in person.”
He then teaches the whole structure of cosmic time: the yugas, the manvantaras and the day of Brahmā.
Length of the yugas (in deva-years)
- Kṛtayuga: 4,000 years
- Tretāyuga: 3,000 years
- Dvāparayuga: 2,000 years
- Kali Yuga: 1,000 years
- Each yuga has a pūrvasandhyā (the dawn period before it) that is one tenth of the yuga, counted in hundreds of years. It also has a paścātsandhyā (the dusk period after it) of the same length.
The manvantaras
- One Manu rules for 71 yugas.
- The fourteen Manus together make one day of Brahmā.
- An equal length of time makes the night of Brahmā.
The fourteen Manus
Svāyambhuva, Svārociṣa, Uttama, Tāmasa, Raivata, Cākṣuṣa, Vaivasvata, Sāvarṇi, Dakṣasāvarṇi, Brahmasāvarṇi, Dharmasāvarṇi, Rudrasāvarṇi, Vedasāvarṇi and Indrasāvarṇi.
The life of Brahmā
Brahmā lives for 100 years made of these days and nights. At the end, everything dissolves back into Bhagavān Viṣṇu, who then creates Brahmā again from his lotus-navel.
Kṛtayuga ends his teaching with these words: “I am the age that maintains saddharma. In my age, people fulfil their dharma and become kṛtakṛtya (completely accomplished). For this reason I am called Kṛtayuga.”
The Kalki Purāṇa gives this teaching in Tritīyāmśa, Chapter 5.
In the battle against Kali
Kṛtayuga is more than a witness. He takes an active part in the Digvijaya. In the battle against Kali himself, Dharma and Kṛtayuga together face Kali directly.
Kali has set out from Viśasana pura on his chariot, which carries the ulūka-dhvaja (the owl banner). Dharma and Kṛtayuga attack him with great force. Their arrows are made of sacred speech and Vedic tejas (radiant power). They break his chariot, make his body bleed and drive him from the field.
Dambha, a companion of Kali, is struck by arrows and falls in confusion. Kali himself is defeated and bleeding. He flees the battlefield and hides in a house ruled by women. This is the kind of place where Kali’s corruption is at home. In the end he flees alone into an unseen exile.
The Kalki Purāṇa tells this in Tritīyāmśa, Chapters 6 and 7.
At Bhallāṭanagara
In the Battle of Bhallāṭanagara, Dharma and Kṛtayuga appear together on the battlefield after Śaśidhvaja has struck Kalki unconscious. Śaśidhvaja carries the unconscious Kalki under one arm and both Dharma and Kṛtayuga under the other arm. He takes them to his palace.
In the palace assembly, Suśānta’s stotra (hymn of praise) wakes Kalki, and an exchange of devotion takes place. Then Kṛtayuga speaks to Kalki: “O Jagadīśvara! I was guilty. I fought you with kāma (desire) and krodha (anger) in my heart. I have committed an offence. Punish me as you will.” Kalki smiles and reassures him.
The Kalki Purāṇa tells this in Tritīyāmśa, Chapters 9 and 10.
After Kalki’s departure
Kalki ascends to Vaikuṇṭha. The Kalki Purāṇa records that Dharma and Kṛtayuga then wander the earth together for a long age, freely and without obstacle. The earth that Kalki has set right stays in their joint care, and Kṛtayuga continues in full sway.
The Kalki Purāṇa gives this in Tritīyāmśa, Chapter 19.
Sources
- Kalki Purāṇa, Tritīyāmśa, Chapters 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 19