Dvapara Yuga

''Dvapara Yuga'' (IAST: ''Dvāpara-yuga'') (Devanagari: द्वापर युग), in Hinduism, is the third and third-best of the four '' yugas'' (world ages) in a '' Yuga Cycle'', preceded by ''Treta Yuga'' and followed by '' Kali Yuga''. ''Dvapara Yuga'' lasts for 864,000 years (2,400 divine years).

According to the Puranas, this ''yuga'' ended when Krishna returned to his eternal abode of Vaikuntha. There are only two pillars of religion during the ''Dvapara Yuga'': compassion and truthfulness. Vishnu assumes the colour yellow and the Vedas are categorized into four parts: ''Rig Veda'', '' Sama Veda'', '' Yajur Veda'' and ''Atharva Veda''.

Etymology

'' Yuga'' (), in this context, means "an age of the world", where its archaic spelling is ''yug'', with other forms of ''yugam'', , and ''yuge'', derived from ''yuj'' (), believed to be derived from (Proto-Indo-European: 'to join or unite').

''Dvapara'' () is a sandhi of the two words ''dva (lit. two)'' and ''apara (lit. after)'' . Therefore ''Dvapara Yuga'' means "the age after the two", i.e. the third age. As per Bhagavata, During this age the ''Dharma'' bull, which symbolizes morality, stands on two legs; () and ().

''Dvapara Yuga'' is described in the ''Mahabharata'', ''Manusmriti'', ''Surya Siddhanta'', '' Vishnu Smriti'', and various Puranas.

Duration and structure

Hindu texts describe four '' yugas'' (world ages)⁠ in a '' Yuga Cycle'', where, starting in order from the first age of '' Krita (Satya) Yuga'', each ''yuga's'' length decreases by one-fourth (25%), giving proportions of 4:3:2:1. Each ''yuga'' is described as having a main period ( ''yuga'' proper) preceded by its (dawn) and followed by its (dusk)⁠, where each twilight (dawn/dusk) lasts for one-tenth (10%) of its main period. Lengths are given in divine years (years of the gods), each lasting for 360 solar (human) years.

''Dvapara Yuga'', the third age in a cycle, lasts for 864,000 years (2,400 divine years), where its main period lasts for 720,000 years (2,000 divine years) and its two twilights each lasts for 72,000 years (200 divine years). The current cycle's ''Dvapara Yuga'' has the following dates based on '' Kali Yuga'', the fourth and present age, starting in 3102BCE:

''Mahabharata'', Book 12 (Shanti Parva), Ch. 231:

''Manusmriti'', Ch. 1:

''Surya Siddhanta'', Ch. 1:

Characteristics

All people in the Dvapara Yuga are desirous of achievement of the scriptural dharma that is prescribed to each class, valiant, courageous and competitive by nature and are engaged only in penance and charity. They are kingly and pleasure-seeking. In this era, the divine intellect ceases to exist, and it is therefore seldom that anyone is wholly truthful. As a result of this life of deceit, people are plagued by ailments, diseases and various types of desires. After suffering from these ailments, people realize their misdeeds and perform penance. Some also organize ''yajnas'' (sacred fire rituals) for material benefits as well as for divinity.

See also

* Hindu units of time
** Kalpa (day of Brahma)
** Manvantara (age of Manu)
** Pralaya (period of dissolution)
** Yuga Cycle (four yuga ages): Satya (Krita), Treta, Dvapara, and Kali
* Itihasa (Hindu Tradition)
* List of numbers in Hindu scriptures
* Vedic-Puranic chronology

Explanatory notes

References

{{Brahmanda

Four Yugas
Shabda