(Kalki and his horse, Devadatta.)

Fourth in the cycle of four eras, our present age, the dark, evil age; characterized by discord and wrong action. See Yuga. (Glossary for the Vahinis)

In this age of Kali, when the evil forces are rampant and destroying all good people, when even devotees of God are going down to these bad evils, the name of God alone can save anyone. Tell everyone to take this ‘Sai’ Mantra and live with it throughout their lives. It is the name that will guide and save.

These days we are unfortunately witnessing before our own eyes all the evils of the Kali age being very freely practised by men and women everywhere, thus inviting the consequent inevitable sufferings upon themselves and others. To counteract the evil forces that are gaining ground, the only way prescribed is the chanting of Sai’s name, the glory of which has been extolled again and again. All devotees and well wishers of humanity should now wholeheartedly take to the chanting of the name of Sai (their Mantra) for longer hours daily with faith and devotion and thus contribute their mite towards bringing in peace and happiness, in this present day world of strife, turmoil and unhappiness. (PD, pp. 68-69)

Though the evil is thickest in this Kali Age, the remedy is simplest. What is needed today to save oneself from anxiety and fear, now and in the future, is dedication and devotion to divert one’s mind towards God. If this done, then the pain of the physical body and pangs of the senses will not affect the mind. (SSS Vol.11)

The Kali Yuga started in 3102 B.C. That was the day when Lord Krishna left His mortal coil in Prabhasa, near Dwaraka. That was the day when the entire clan of the Yadavas perished due to infighting and ill-will amongst themselves, as per the saying ‘Vinash Kale vipreet Buddhi’ (when the time for total annihilation approaches, people will have extremely wicked thoughts). (Beacons of Divine Wisdom Part 2, p. 57)

That day, on which Krishna was born, according to these calculations will come to be the 20th July 3228 years before the advent of Christ. If this has to be put in our calendar, it will be in the year Srimukha, the month by the name Shravana, fortnight by the name Bahula (Krishna paksham) and the day of Ashtami. The Star will be Rohini and the time will be three a.m. after midnight. If we count backwards from today, the day on which Krishna gave up his mortal body will work out at 5078 years. That is also the time when Krishna gave up his life and that is also the day when Kali age commenced. This day is also the first day of Kali Yuga and we call it Ugadi. But then Kali Yuga started in the year Pramadi and so it appears that this Yuga is full of danger and harm. Truly, instead of calling this Yuga as the Kali Yuga, it is right and appropriate to call it the Kalaha Yuga or the age of quarrels. Wherever we see whether you go to a house, a village or a country we see quarrels. Young people of today should do such tings by which the name of Kalaha Yuga or the age of quarrels is changed to an age of prosperity by living up to the ideals of Krishna. (SSB 1976, p. 90)

Before the Kali Yuga ends, there is a space in between. The situation is similar to the motion of a fan. When the fan is started, there is an interval before it picks up speed and when the switch is turned off, the fan continues to run for a time. The world is also turning round like the fan. Even if the Kali Yuga stops, it still has a few more revolutions to go before the final ending.

The situation is somewhat as found with the string of light poles. There is a distance of about a furlong between each pole. The light from a pole extends half way to the next pole and at some point the light of the next pole is faintly there also. There are four Yugas. The sequence is circular, and when the last is finished, the whole cycle starts all over again. Kali Yuga still has 5320 years before ending, as at 1968. (CWBSSB, p. 26)

In this Kali Yuga, the principle of prema is not in evidence. It is smothered in jealousy, conceit, hatred, fear, falsehood and greed. That is why it is best referred to as the Kalahayuga, the age of faction, marked by fights between mother and daughter, father and son, teacher and pupil, Guru and Guru, brother and brother. The recitation of the name of Krishna is the best method for cleansing the mind of all these evil impulses.

You may ask, ‘If we engage ourselves in this pastime, how can we earn our livelihood?’ Well, let me assure you, if you have pure and steady faith in the Lord, He will provide for you, not merely food, but the nectar of immortality. You have that mighty potentiality in you, Co discover the Lord within and compel Him to grant you that nectar. (SSS Vol.4, p. 48)

Nasti Nasti Maha bhaga Kali kalasama yugam

Smarnath Uccharanaatheva prapnoti paramaamgati

This Kali Yuga is praised in the Scriptures as incomparably conducive to the salvation of man, for he can now ‘attain the Highest through the mere thought of God and remembering His name. So, of all ‘the Yugas; this Yuga is described as the most holy, the most beneficient. Dhyana was prescribed as the’ means of liberation for men in the Krita Yuga; Tapas as the means during the Treta Yuga and Archana (Ritual worship) for Dwapara Yuga. But, for people of this Yuga, the simple remedy prescribed is just Namasmarana, the constant awareness of the Name: In spite of this, it is a pity that men do not care for this easy path and so render their lives barren and blighted. (DD on 03.10.81)

The present age is described in the Shastras as very conducive to liberation for; while in past ages, rigorous penance was prescribed as the means; the Kali age in which you are; requires only Namasmarana to win liberation; when the name of the Lord is remembered with all the glory that is associated with it, a great flood of ananda wells up within the mind. Vyasa himself knew this, for same, sages once went to him to find out which Yuga was the most conducive to success in man’s efforts for liberation. Vyasa anticipated their question and repeated to himself aloud, ‘O how fortunate are those destined to be born in Kali Yuga’; It is so easy in this Kali age to win the grace of the Lord. (SSS Vol.4, p. 83)