The Four Yugas — Cycles of Time

Literal 12,000-year Yuga cycle compared with proposed dates for Rama, the Mahabharata War, Mahabharata composition, and Dwarka — Literal-year comparison: Kṛta/Satya 4,800 years, Tretā 3,600, Dvāpara 2,400, and Kali 1,200. Kali is anchored here to 5,525 BCE solely for comparison with Nilesh Oak's proposed chronology.

Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga and Kali Yuga in traditional Hindu (Sanatan Dharma) cosmology.

What Is a Yuga?

Many Hindu cosmological traditions describe time through recurring cycles. A sequence of four Yugas is known as a Mahayuga or Chaturyuga.

The Four Yugas

Satya Yuga: traditionally 1,728,000 human years and associated with the greatest strength of Dharma.

Treta Yuga: traditionally 1,296,000 human years.

Dvapara Yuga: traditionally 864,000 human years.

Kali Yuga: traditionally 432,000 human years and described as the current Yuga in the traditional chronology.

One Mahayuga

The traditional durations follow the ratio 4:3:2:1 and total 4,320,000 human years.

The Yugas Form a Repeating Cycle

Cyclical
Time

Satya

Treta

Dvapara

Kali

➜

Satya → Treta → Dvapara → Kali → Satya. Hindu cosmological time is traditionally described through recurring cycles.

These durations belong to traditional Hindu cosmology. They should not be presented as measurements established by modern astronomy, archaeology, or geology.