| The
Story of the Rise and Fall of human souls
We will understand this lesson with the
help of the adjoining picture. It is a wonderful story
of how the souls, who once were deities became the devotees
and very ordinary human beings. It also explains how they
lost the divine virtues, spiritual and moral values and
developed devilish tendencies. The illustration shows
that originally, human souls had complete purity, peace
and prosperity and that they became defiled and peaceless
later. Now it is time to again inculcate those lost virtues.
First of all is shown the Golden Age or the Satyuga, which
is completely righteous. Shri Lakshmi and Shri Narayana
and their dynasty rule the world free from disease, sorrow,
worry or vice. The people then had truly virtuous nature
and outlook. During this period of 1250 years, the average
age was 150 years. In this epoch, there are high souled,
excellent persons who are completely viceless and are
invested with all good qualities and live under Divine
Law. These people are considered to be class of deities.
Next comes Silver Age. In this epoch of 1250 years, average
age of a person varies from 100 to 125 years. All are
happy in this period as well. They have the rank of what
are called Kshatriyas because they are not as pure as
their predecessors – the deities.
Then in the Copper Age, they become body-conscious and
are led to vices. So they have a fall, from a deity’s
position which is worship-worthy exalted position to be
just supplicant men or poor worshippers. Their rank is
of middle class or Rajopradhana type. Their position is
that of ‘Vaishyas’ –mediocre.
After this comes the Iron Age (Kaliyuga). The picture
represents how in this epoch, Maya which symbolizes the
vices, has grown in power over the world. In Iron Age,
tamoguna, the basest form in man – is pre-dominant.
All the persons are ranked as Shudras. In this epoch of
1250 years, there are 42 births. In this era, we see disputes
and strifes, based on want of respect for authority and
differences in ideology, religion, states and languages.
People do not look upon one another as spiritual brothers
and are thus turned away from God, who is the Supreme
Father.
At present, we are in the Confluence Age – the confluence
of the fag end of the Kaliyuga and the dawn of Satyuga
or the Golden Age. This is the time to receive Divine
Knowledge from God and practise spiritual discipline and
easy Raja Yoga and re-acquire deity status. When the Iron
Age is very near it’s end, unrighteousness and the
wicked people are eliminated to make room for Righteousness(Dharma)
and the deity-world. With this comes the Golden Age.
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