KALIYUGA, in Hindu chronology, the fourth or last of the periods contained in a malifiyuga or great yoga (q v.). It may be compared to the iron age of classical myth ology. it consists, according to native imagination, of 432,0u0 solar-sidereal years, and begins 3,101 years before the Christian era. The relation cif the four yugas being marked by a successive physical and moral decrement of created beings, the kaliyuga is the worst of all. "In the kri'ta (or first) age," Mann says, "the (genius of) truth and tight (in the form of a bull) stands firm on his four feet, nor does any advantage accrue to men from iniquity. But in the following ages, by reason of unjust gains, he is deprived successively of one foot; and even just emoluments, through the prevalence of theft, falsehood, and fraud, arc gradually diminished by one foot (i.e., by a fourth part)," The estimate in which this kaliyuga, our present age, is held by the modern Hindus may be gathered from one of their most celebrated Puranas, the Padma-Puran'a. in the last chapter of the Kri yilyogasiira of this Purr na the following account is given of it " In the kaliyuga (the genus of) right will have but one foot; every one will delight in evil. The four castes will be devoted to wickedness, and deprived of the nourish ment which is ftt for them. The Brahmans will neglect the Vedas, hanker after pres ents, be lustful and cruel. They will despise the scriptures, gamble, steal, and desire intercourse with widows For the sake of a livelihood, some Brahmans will becothe arrant rogues. . . . The SOdras will endeavor to lead the life of the Brahmans;
and out of friendship people will bear false witness; . . . they will injure the wives of others, and their speech. will be that of falsehood. Greedy of the wealth of others, they will entertain a guest according to the behest of the scriptures, but afterwards kill him out of covetousness; they are indeed worthy of hell. The twice-born (i. e., the first three castes) will live upon debts, sell the produce of cows, and even their daughters. In this yoga men will be under the sway of women, and women will be excessively fickle In the kaliyuga, the earth will bear but little corn; the clouds will shed lint little rain, and that, too, out of season. The cows will feed on ordure, and give little milk, and the milk will yield nO butter; there is no doubt of that Trees, even, will wither iu twelve years, and the age of mankind will not exceed sixteen years; people, moreover, will become gray-haired in their youth; women will bear children in their fifth or sixth year, and men will become troubled with a great number of children. In the kaliyuga the foreigners will become kings bent upon evil; and those living in foreign countries all of one caste, and out of lust take to themselves many wives. In the first twilight of the kaliyuga people will disregard Vish'nu, and in the middle of it no one will even mention his name."