Mahabharata Quiz - 19

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Question – 19

What is ‘Pushya Yuga’? Is it part of the Catur Maha yuga or 5-year Yuga?

Answer:

Pushya Yuga appears as the name of Kali Yuga in Valmiki Ramayana and Mahabharata.

In Valmiki Ramayana, Mālyavān, the maternal grandfather of Ravana while advising Ravana to send back Sita tells him that when Dharma swallows Adharma, there is Krita Yuga, when Adharma swallows Dharma there is Tishya Yuga referring to Kali Yuga. (6-35-14)

Tishya refers to Pushya, the star which signifies nourishment, growth etc.

The same view of expressing Pushya in the place of Kali is found in the Mahabharata.

When Sanjaya explained the geography of the world and classification of Time to king Dhritarashtra, he uses the name Pushya instead of Kali. (Mahabharata: 6-11-7) The age of Kali was yet to come. Kali means quarrel, darkness etc. That era was due to appear after the time of Mahabharata. Perhaps not wishing to say the age of darkness is going come, Sanjaya could have picked out the word Pushya.

Another reason is that the Rishi-s had said that the new age of Kali would appear in Pushya.

In a dialogue between Sauti and Saunaka in Mahabharata on a discussion between Brahman and Devas in times of yore, there is the mention of a new era in Pushya. It starts as follows.

“idaṃ kṛtayugaṃ nāma kālaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ pravartate” (Mahabharata: 12- 327 -73)

From Idam Krita Yugam it is known that the discussion had happened in Krita Yuga. Whatever is referenced here can be taken as the earliest. The description of the Yugas ends with Kali Yuga as follows: (Mahabharata: 12- 327 – 76)

“tatas tiṣye 'tha saṃprāpte yuge kalipuraskṛte

     ekapādasthito dharmo yatra tatra bhaviṣyati”

Ganguli’s translation: “(Upon the expiration of Dvapara) the Yuga that will set in will be called Kali yuga which will come under the influence of Tisya constellation. Dharma will lose full three quarters. Only a quarter thereof will exist in all places.”

The reference to one part of Dharma in this verse is a clear indicator of the Dharma Yuga cycle.

Therefore, the Pushya Yuga refers to the beginning of Kali Dharma Yuga in Pushya star. This date was 575 BCE as per Srimad Bhagavatam. However the name 'Pushya' was no longer used may be because there is no 'pushya' in this period but only 'kali'. 

The rishis of yore have known the Kali nature of this period and preferred to call it 'Pushya' perhaps to infuse positivity. 

On another note, time changed forever after the fall of a comet on Pushya star before the Mahabharata war. This change could have been perceived by ancient rishis through their yogic powers and they referred to it in their prophesies. In reality it was 'kali' all the way which Vyasa recorded in Srimad Bhagavadam at the fall of Krishna. In the final analysis it is found the reference to Pushya Yuga ceased to exist. But the context where it appears is about Kali Yuga dharma and not computational Kali Yuga of lakhs of years.

The Pushya Yuga based on amount of Dharma is not used for calendar purpose. Only the computational Kali Yuga that started at the exit of Krishna is used for calendars and in the inscriptions.

This is not part of 5-year Yuga. When the 5-year Yuga was in use, this yuga did not start at all.

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