Sat Yuga

''Satya Yuga'' ( ''Krita Yuga'', IAST: ''Kṛta-yuga''), in Hinduism, is the first and best of the four ''yugas'' (world ages) in a '' Yuga Cycle'', preceded by ''Kali Yuga'' of the previous cycle and followed by ''Treta Yuga''. ''Satya Yuga'' lasts for 1,728,000 years (4,800 divine years).

''Satya Yuga'' is known as the age of truth, when humanity is governed by gods, and every manifestation or work is close to the purest ideal and humanity will allow intrinsic goodness to rule supreme. It is sometimes referred to as the "Golden Age". ''Dharma'' (depicted in the form of a bull) symbolizes morality and stood on all four legs during this period; the legs of ''Dharma'' reduce by one in each ''yuga'' that follows. As per Bhagavata Purana, the four legs of Dharma are , (or ), and .

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 derived from (Proto-Indo-European: 'to join or unite').

''Satya Yuga'' () means "the age of truth or sincerity", sometimes abbreviated as ''Sat Yuga'' or ''Satyuga''.

''Krita Yuga'' (), a synonym for ''Satya Yuga'', means "the accomplished or completed age" or "the age of righteous or action", a time when people perform pious (righteous) actions, and is sometimes referred to as the "Golden Age".

''Krita 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.

''Krita Yuga'', the first age in a cycle, lasts for 1,728,000 years (4,800 divine years), where its main period lasts for 1,440,000 years (4,000 divine years) and its two twilights each lasts for 144,000 years (400 divine years). The current cycle's ''Krita 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

Among the four eras, the ''Satya Yuga'' is the first and the most significant one. Knowledge, meditation, and penance hold special importance in this era.

The ''Mahabharata'', a Hindu epic, describes ''Krita Yuga'' as such:
Additionally, in Vaishnava dharma, the ''Satya Yuga'' was characterised by the worship of one god, with the Supreme Godhead Narayana being the only object of worship; thus, demigods were reportedly not worshipped during this period and the world was united under the worship of one mantra-- praṇava. Furthermore, there was only one Veda, with the Atharva Veda being divided into four parts later on, shortly before the beginning of the ''Kali Yuga.''

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
Eight Yugas