Sanskrit Prakrit Jain Vyakaran aur Kosh ki Parampara

Author(s): Chandanmalmuni, Nathmalmuni, Others
Publisher: Kalugani Janma Shatabdi Samaroha Samiti Chapar

Page 561

SEMANTIC CHANGES IN KRTA, TRETA,
DVAPAR AND KALI
DR RAM PRAKASH PODDAR
The words Kita, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kalı denote the four consecutive ages Viz Kệtayuga, Tretāyuga, Dvāparayuga and Kalı yuga According to the Pauranic reckonings Kitayuga consists of 1728000 years, Tretā of 1296000 years, Dvāpara of 864000 years and Kalı of 432000 years The present age is Kalı which began on 18th February 3102 BC
In early references to these ages the periods assigned to them are respectively 4000, 3000, 2000 and 1000 years To these main periods are added mornings and evenings each comprising of 400 years in case of Kita, 300 years in case of Tretā, 200 years in case of Dvāpara and 100 years in case of Kali Thus together with their mornings and evenings the four ages extended respectively to 4800 years, 3600 years 2400 years and 1200 years, the whole cycle was complete in a period of 12000 years
Dr. Fleetassumes that the mornings and evenings are latter additions to convert the decimal system of the earlier reckoning into the duodecimal one for astronomical purposes He further suggests that the extension of the periods from 4800 years etc. to 1728000 years etc pertains to the astronomical period viz 4th century A D. when the astronomers reckoned a coincidence of the planets about 3500 years back and took it as the beginning point of the current yuga viz kalı Dr Fleets contention is further corroborated by the retrograde nature of dating as evinced by the some what vague etymology of these words Kali may be associated with the v kal=to count, and may be interpreted as the initial point of counting viz one Dvāpara