*MORE PROPHECIES FROM THE GREAT SAGE MARKANDEYA* There are also a number of prophecies that are related to the great sage Markandeya. As recorded in the *Mahabharata*, King Yudhisthira asks the sage to explain the future of Kali-yuga. So Markandeya goes on to explain the conditions of the age. Markandeya also appears in a few of the *Puranas*, in which his prophecies are provided there as well. But many of the ones I use are taken from the *Mahabharata*, which appear throughout this book in the descriptions of Kali-yuga.
The story of how King Yudhisthira asked Markandeya about Kali-yuga appears in the Vana Parva section of the *Mahabharata*, Chapter 190, verses 1 through 10. Therein it is described: Vaishampayana said, “The son of Kunti, Yudhisthira again asked the great Rishi Markandeya about the future government of the earth.” Yudhisthira asked: “O rishi, O descendant of Bhrigu, O foremost of speakers, the account of the destruction and recreation of things at the end of the yuga which we have heard from you is highly wonderful. I am very curious to know what will happen in Kali-yuga, and what would remain when virtue will be destroyed. What will be the power of men then and what will be their food and what their amusements; what will be the lengthof their life, what will be their dress and what also will be the limit of time [the end of Kali-yuga], after attaining which the Krita (age) will again begin. O Rishi, tell me all this. All that you narrate is varied and delightful.” Vaishampayana said: “Having been thus addressed, that great Rishi again began to narrate, delighting that foremost of the Vrishni (Krishna) race and the Pandavas.” So Markandeya said: “O king, hear all that has been and heard by me and all that has been known to me by intuition through the grace of the Godof gods. O best of the Bharata race, hear as I narrate the account of the world when the sinful time would come. O best of the Bharata race, in the Krita age (also called Satya-yuga), everything was free from deceit and guile, avarice and covetousness. Virtue, like a bull, was among men with four legs complete. In the Treta, sin took away one of its legs; and virtue had then (only) three legs. In the Dvapara-yuga, sin and virtue are mixed half and half.” In this way, in Kali-yuga virtue stands on only one leg, which itself diminishes throughout the age, while sin and wickedness increases as the age progresses. So, as we proceed through this book, we will see what has been described by the sages of ancient times as they look into the future of this world, and how these descriptions are outlined in the Vedic texts that relate what is to be expected over the long term. *THE BASIC PATTERN OF EVENTS FOR THE FUTURE **IN KALI-YUGA* An important point to consider is that the Vedic prophecies do not outline a year-by-year schedule of events, nor do they indicate particular times to watch for worst case scenarios or disasters. They are not reallytime oriented. Nor do they predict some fearful apocalypse that will happen any time soon that will put an end to the world as we know it. The Vedic prophecies describe a more general flow of the deterioration in society’s general mass consciousness and the tell-tale signs of it that anyone can see.They describe the consequences, reactions and tendencies as the aggregate consciousness of society in this age of Kali-yuga reaches particular levels of uplifting thought or degradation. Such changes in consciousness are not necessarily predicted to happen at certain times, though there may be a general downward trend. Actually, the times for the symptoms or inclinations that can be seen in the habits of people, according to the changes in consciousness, may take place sooner or later. These may also be directed by society at large according to their interests and mental makeup. This depends on how spiritual or materialistic people become, which means that how Kaliyuga unfolds is basically up to us, at least to varying degrees. Psychics may predict events in the course of time, which may or may not always be accurate, whereas the timing of the Vedic prophecies may fluctuate with the flow of social development, either positive or negative. These prophecies apply not only for the next few decades, but over the course of the next hundreds of thousands of years, until the very end of Kali-yuga, which is predicted to continue for another 427,000 years. In other words, if you think things are bad now, you have not seen anything yet. After that, things will be better again. Nonetheless, the *Kalki Purana *does contain predictions of what will happen over a basic time frame within the age of Kali-yuga, much of which you can see already happening. It breaks the yuga into four periods of time. In describing the characteristics of people in the first part of Kali-yuga, the first chapter of the *Kalki Purana *describes the lack of spiritual interest in the people in general. It says, “The people in Kali-yuga will be accustomed to quarreling and fighting amongst themselves. They will go to great lengths to groom their hair, wear the best clothes, and decorate themselves with costly ornaments. “In Kali-yuga, a person with a lot of money will naturally be respected who are not] earns his livelihood by lending money on interest, he will be considered a pillar of society. Those [impure] Sannyasis of Kali-yuga will be attached to home and property, and householders will become devoid of all power of discrimination. In Kali-yuga, people will blaspheme a spiritual master or other elderly person without hesitation. Indeed, people in general will simply become hypocrites, liars and cheaters.” (*Kalki Purana *1.28-29)In regard to crime, it says, “In Kali-yuga, Shudras will accept charity from others, or else plunder [and rob] others’ wealth without discrimination.”Then in relation to marriage between two people, it relates that “Mutual agreement will become the sole criteria for solemnizing the marriage of a boy and a girl… Many married women will behave little better than prostitutes because they have practically no attachment for their husbands. In this way, they will become promiscuous, so that they will be easily abandoned by their husbands [and, thus, go from man to man].” A special problem will be the lack of spiritual depth in anyone. They will be more concerned with appearance and reputation, which becomes all that a person is judged by, as it says, “People will show sympathy and magnanimity, but it will simply be a form of duplicity [and self-promotion]. Forgiveness will be granted only when a person is unable to harm the offending party. In a society of ‘might makes right,’ people will easily become annoyed with those in a weaker position. Even fools will be very talkative in an attempt to prove that they are learned. People will engage in religious ceremonies, but simply to acquire a reputation. If one has got wealth, he will be considered to be a saint. Simply by putting on a sacred thread, one will be recognized as a Brahmana [a twice-born or religious priest]. Simply by carrying a staff, one will be recognized as a Sannyasi [renounced monk].” About problems with the environment, the *Kalki Purana *relates that, “The earth will restrict the production of food grains. The currents of rivers will flow very rapidly. Clouds will rain very irregularly, and the land will not yield sufficient crops.” In regard to the characteristics of rulers as Kali-yuga moves forward, it says, “Kings will whimsically torture and kill their subjects, and burden them with excessive taxes. Such unfortunate subjects will finally take their family and belongings to the shelter of mountains and dense forests [in will sustain their lives by eating flesh, honey, fruits, and roots without discrimination. Almost everyone will take pleasure in blaspheming the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna. These are some of the symptoms that will manifest at the beginning of Kali-yuga.” (*Kalki Purana *1.30-37) Then it goes on to explain a few symptoms of the following parts of Kali-yuga. “In the second quarter of Kali-yuga, people will no longer chant the holy names of Lord Krishna [by then the names will be forgotten]. In the third quarter of Kali-yuga, there will be an upsurge of unwanted population [the planet hardly able to support all of its people and their misguided aims of life], and in the final quarter of Kali-yuga, there will be only one class of human being, because God consciousness will have been long forgotten [meaning that no one will have any spiritual knowledge].”(*Kalki Purana * 1.38) “When the study of the *Vedas*, performance of sacrifice [religious rituals], chanting of mantras, and other religious practices thus disappear from this world during Kali-yuga, the demigods, being afflicted due to not receiving their share of sacrificial [ritualistic] offerings, will take shelter of Lord Brahma, the grandfather of the universe, who was born from the universal lotus flower.” (*Kalki Purana *1.39) In other words, the Devas or demigods, our higher spiritual guides and well-wishers, will turn away from this world due to neglect from the general populace.This last verse is in reference to when things get especially difficult and the demigods led by Brahma therefore approach Lord Vishnu in His spiritual abode to pray for a solution to the problems. Thereafter, Lord Vishnu explains that He will appear as Lord Kalki in the village of Shambhala to rectify the situation by annihilating all evil kings and cheaters from the face of the world, and bring in the age of Satya-yuga. Thus, the start of the next cycle of the four yugas is initiated. These points that are mentioned in the *Kalki Purana *and many others are more thoroughly explained in the next chapter. However, in considering some of the statements given above, anyone can look around and see this basic pattern and trend of events unfolding as the age of Kali-yuga progresses by looking at any newspaper. The patterns become quite evident simply by understanding the above descriptions of the economic arrangements and the increasing presence of the principles of quarrel and confusion and irreligion brought by the age of Kali. Kali-yuga ( *tama-guna*), which causes people to become further disconnected from their real identity as spiritual beings. The more that happens, the more the general moral standards are given up or even deliberately discarded. Then basic selfishness increases and society gives up its values of consideration for others, not to mention the lack of regard it has for the environment and anything else. As that escalates, governments become increasingly intolerant of uncooperative people and will demand more control and tougher laws, which also provokes groups to revolt and create uprisings against it. There will not be wars merely between countries, but within the nations themselves. As time goes on and the modes of passion and ignorance increase, there will be no peace anywhere. Even the history of when the world new a little peace will seem like it was a luxury in itself. People will want to leave the cities to live in the hillsides and mountains, and not merely to find peace, but for the meager chance of basic survival.Gradually, as the age moves on it, will become one of increasing chaos and madness on all levels. Kali-yuga is also a time when there is widespread struggle for economic development. As Kali-yuga moves forward, people of all classes will be struggling to maintain themselves by any means, good or bad. People will become extremely greedy due to the ignorant notions that this earthly life is all there is, and that satisfying the mind and body is the primary goal of life. In this way, advancement in society will be centered around economic development, which is the standard of the mode of passion (*raja-guna*). The accumulation of goods, great production, great endeavor and enterprises, engagements for profit, fame and adoration, etc., are all considered developments in the mode of passion. Before the age of Kali, advancement was focused on the mode of goodness (*sattva-guna*)—stability, balance, endurance, maintenance, preservation, and harmony with God and nature. In goodness, not a lot seems to happen or change, except within oneself in terms of the development of spiritual progress and wisdom. This type of advancement is real evolutionary development, not simply technological improvement which may bring about many comforts and facilities, but at the cost of using up all of our natural resources, and destroying the earth and society with its pollutants. The development of huge cities is another sign of advancement of civilization in the mode of passion. Constructing as many highways, vehicles, planes, and buildings as possible is the American dream; the dream to make lots of money through such development. This is the standard of the mode of passion. But with this is also an accumulation of the mode of ignorance, which is a problem. This manifests when our endeavors in the mode of passion cause unwanted results in the mode of ignorance. A prime example of this is the business of oil production, which is enormously profitable (in the mode of passion), but results in exhaust fumes and oil spills that do so much environmental damage (in the mode of darkness or ignorance). Remember, when Kali-yuga begins, matter or material things lose their potency. For example, food is no longer as full of nutrients as it used to be. There is a decreasing amount of nutrient rich soil, which is incapable of growing plants and eatables. Plus, countries that become wealthy often switch to a diet which requires more beef, poultry like chicken, and also pork and fish, which requires more grain for animal feed that could have provided humans more food. Thus, not only is there a decrease in nutritious food, but fewer people get fed, and food prices go up. People then become so greedy for money that they use anything to get more food production from the soil. This endeavor in the mode of passion leads to the use of chemical fertilizers which may help to produce morefood in the short-term, but ultimately destroys the soil and causes diseases. This produces food that is even less helpful for our physical and mental development. Thus, the process of losing the ability to produce good food is perpetuated, causing problems to only worsen. Then you have the side effect or result in the mode of ignorance, that everyone becomes affected because of the pollution in the soil, air, and water, and the food lacks the proper nutrients to develop the brain and body to its fullest capacity. In essence, people and animals become brain damaged, even deformed, depending on whether they can get proper nutrients in their food or not, and the degree to which they are exposed to the pollutants that gradually seem to spread everywhere. Thus, people’s level of intelligence goes down as Kali-yuga progresses. And as more pollutants enter the soil and atmosphere, or as mad scientists try to change the food we grow by genetic modifications, additional problems, diseases and deformities affect more animals and people and the environment. More specific examples of what happens in the future of Kali-yuga will be. Bhavishya purana by Stephen Knapp K RAJARAM IRS 8426 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZornBfwRh3S5Ey2gtP1tDCKbV42QvF9Av40S7ZJkPKGA_Q%40mail.gmail.com.
