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Question - 18
If the 4-Yuga concept used in the Mahabharata period was determined in terms of Dharma, what is the measure for Dharma? Is there any evidence for the existence of such computation of Yuga on Dharmic scale available?
Answer:
The Yuga classification based on Dharma is narrated in Vayu and Brahmanda Purana. The measurement of Dharma is expressed in many ways. Let me cite just two here:
Dominance of a Guna determines a Yuga.
Sattva Guna is dominant in Kṛta yuga in this scale.
Rajasa Guna is dominant in Treta yuga.
A mix of Rajasa and Tamasa in Dwapara yuga.
Only Tamasa Guna prevails in Kali yuga.
The second way to express these Yugas is by means of food-procurement.
In Krita yuga, people ate what was available in nature. No efforts needed to get food.
In Treta yuga they sprinkled seeds on the ground and the land produced crops. So, some efforts were needed to make food.
In Dwapara yuga, the land was ploughed to grow plants for food. More efforts were needed to prepare food.
In Kali yuga, even if strenuous efforts were made, the produce is less.
The course of this kind of food (plant) production started only after the ice Age ended and Holocene started. The Purana-s state that only after the first arrival of rains in Bharatavarsha, Treta yuga started. Before that Krita yuga was prevailing. In that period Vaivasvata Manu was pushed by the first flood in the Arabian sea coming from south at the end of Ice age. Manu and his people were pushed into River Saraswati, by which they could settle down in upper reaches of Saraswati and Drishadvati. The region between the two rivers was known as Brahmavarta.
As per studies, there was no rain during the Ice age before 12,000 years. There was no monsoon and no peninsular rivers were running then. River Ganga also was not yet born then because the Himalayas was heavily glaciated.
The onset of first monsoon rains from South West Monsoon was recorded 11,500 years ago as per studies. This coincided with the increase in solar heat with the onset of the current age of Holocene. At a time monsoon became regular, the Himalayan glaciers also broke away causing the flow of Ganga. Treta Yuga ended with that.
This was followed by Dwapara yuga which had seen ploughing activities and increase in Tamasa. It's sandhi period (overlapping period with Kali yuga) had seen the war of the Mahabharata.
As per Vyasa in Srimad Bhagavatam, this sandhi period extended till the time of Nanda Dynasty coming to power. A date also has been given (check my book for derivations) and it was 575 BCE. Since then Kali Dharma (adharma) is on the increase.
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Regarding the 2nd question on evidence, check the Tiruvalangadu inscriptions HERE
This Chola inscription which traces the lineage from Manu and Ikshvaku, gives certain cut-off dates for the yugas.
Refer Verse 23 - Krita yuga ended with Chandrajit who came after the popular kings such as Muchukunda and Prithulaksha.
Refer Verse 38 - Treta yuga ended with Narendrapati, few generations before whom Bhagirata brought River Ganga. River Kaviri also was brought before the end of this yuga. There are several cross references in Tamil texts and Valmiki Ramayana that sage Agastya brought Kaviri to Pumpukar and Rama lived during this period. Just before him Parashurama annihilated the kshatriyas in Samantapanchaka in Treta - Dwapara Sandhi (Question - 16).
Refer Verse 40 - Dvapara yuga ended quickly after the end of Treta yuga indicating a short span for Dvapara yuga. Visvajit was born then.
Following verse 40, the kings were from Kali yuga. The name Perunarkilli appears first in this period, followed by Karikaal Chola who lived only 2000 years ago.
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The chronology of Dharma Yuga cycle derived from the Rainfall features is given in a nutshell.
The flood at the time of Vaivasvata Manu
Krita Yuga - Until 9,500 BCE
Treta Yuga (Beginning of rainfall) - Started around 9,500 BCE
Dandaka Forest formation - From 8000 BCE onwards.
Rain-fed rivers - from 8000 BCE onwards.
Birth of River Ganga - Between 8,000 and 7,500 BCE
End of Treta Yuga Sandhya and Sandhyamsa - 6th millennium BCE
Dvapara Yuga started - Early 5th millennium BCE
Dvapara Sandhya - Late 4th millennium BCE
Kali Maha Yuga Started - 3101 BCE (Dvapara Sandhi in Dharma Yuga) (to be discussed in another question)
Dvapara Sandhyamsa - Till 575 BCE
Kali Yuga - 575 BCE onwards
Whenever we come across Yuga Dharma in a passage, we must assess the context to decide if it is about Dharma based Yuga. In the Dharma based Yuga, the Sandhya and Sandhyamsa offer hints on the extent of the degradation of virtue to gauge the probable onset of the next Yuga.
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