The two words – Kaala and Kali – come from a single root. However, their meaning is vastly different. Is it possible for two words coming from the same root to have meanings so vastly different? We come across some peculiar situations in this creation. In order to point out the existence of such situations, Sanskrit language derives different and opposite meanings from the same root.

In the present context, the two words (Kaala and Kali) come from the root-word ‘kala’. It is said that this root is like a magic wand in the hands of poets (it means that many words can be derived from this root-word). How to determine the exact meaning? We need to keep in mind the context in which it has been used and we also need to examine the usage of the particular word through the ages.

The verb form of the root ‘kala’ is ‘kalayati’. The foremost noun form of this is ‘Kaala’. What is meant by ‘Kaala’? In the Bhagavad Gita, the Lord says "kaalah kalayataam aham". It means, "I am Time among reckoners of time", or, "among those who calculate, I am the Time". It means, among those who calculate, Time is also one and that It is the greatest among them all. This is the purport of the above statement of the Lord.

Who are those who calculate? How many are they? To know this, we should first think as to when the process of calculating began in this creation. Let us assume the situation when this Creation was not there, and all that there was, was only the Almighty. In other words, we are now saying that at that time there was the Almighty alone. Who is there to confirm that Almighty alone was there? If we accept that there was someone who observed that Almighty alone was there, does it not mean that the Creation had already begun? But we are discussing about the situation before the Creation took place.

Why not say that the Almighty reckoned to Himself as "I am alone now. I am without a second"? If we say that He calculated for Himself, we are implying that the Almighty is a doer. If a person or an object has to perform an activity, there must be some space. For example, if one wants to swing one’s arm, there must be free space around the arm. In other words, there must be an object other than one’s self, namely the space. In our present discussion, our premise was that there was Almighty alone everywhere, and there was nothing else. Therefore, it follows that He can not be active in that state. Therefore, it is not possible for Him to reckon to Himself!

When did reckoning or calculation begin? It started with the beginning of Creation. First, a certain Spandana (vibration, movement) took place in the Almighty. After this, the Creation took place, following a particular scheme with the origin of the Pancha Bhootas (five elements). Thus, the Spandana that took place in the Almighty is the first ever ‘thing’ to be created. That is the one which is second to the Almighty. This means that the process of reckoning or calculating began from this Spandana. Because calculating (= kalana in Sanskrit) began with it, it came to be called as Kaala. Everything else created after this, also engage in reckoning or calculating. However, because it was the first ever thing to be created, the Spandana (movement, vibration) came to be called as Kaala (Time).

Also, although the other things created in this Creation engage in calculating, all their calculations are dependent on time only.

Let us assume that time stops for a while. Will there be any calculation at that time? Or not? This is an uncomfortable question. It is not necessary to become uncomfortable. Everyday you experience a period when time becomes still. This stage is called as Sushupti (deep-sleep state). It is a dreamless sleep state. In that state, you will not experience the passage of time. Therefore, it is a period when time has stood still. Will there be calculation or reckoning during that period? Try to remember! You will admit with certainty that there was no calculation or reckoning then. It can therefore be postulated that when time stands still, there will be no calculation.

Calculation or reckoning begins with Time. Not only that, it is also based on time. Therefore, the Lord has proclaimed in the Bhagavad Gita as "Kaalah kalayataam aham". We have understood the meaning of this statement in the above discussion.

One who calculates always sees the things that one calculates as different from one’s self. Time, the first ‘thing’ to be born in this Creation also sees itself as different from the Almighty. To differentiate and see like this itself is the beginning of creation. As this phenomenon progresses, the differences also increase. Differences in whom? In those who calculate and in those which are calculated.

We have understood that all calculations are based on Time. Thus, we can say that it is Time that is doing all calculations. If so, what is the meaning of saying ‘differences increase in those who calculate’? In reality, to see difference where there is no difference itself is Srishti (Creation). This itself is the tricky contradiction found in each and every object of Creation.

The land is only one. Still, we see differences such as country, city, home etc. Life force is only one. Still, we see differences such as human beings, animals, plants etc.

Similarly, we see differences in Time, which is only one. We draw lines to denote past, present and future. The past is like the camphor, which has undergone sublimation. Future is like the unborn baby. We can not see either of these. The present, which we presume we can see, also slips in to the past even before we perceive. What then is the basis of our classification of Time?

The classification of Time (which in reality is only one) does not stop there. It has been classified as Kalpa (equivalent to one thousand Yugas), Yugas (four in number- Krita, Treta, Dvapara and Kali Yugas the combined duration of which is 4320000 years), Samvatsara (year), day, hour, minute and so on. Among such classification, the classification of time as Yugas is like a milestone in the process of Creation. Yugas are four in number.

Kalpa is a period spanning from the beginning to the end of Creation (including the period of time when the Creation exists).

When we delve in to the process of Creation, we can appreciate the classifications based on analysis. The first among the Yugas is the Krita Yuga. Krita literally means ‘that which is well done’. That period of time when the beings remain engaged in noble deeds is Krita Yuga. After this comes Treta Yuga (age of triads). The age in which men, who indulge in acts that help them to cross the triads live is called the Treta Yuga. After this comes the Dvapara Yuga. Dvapara means dual or differentiation or doubt. The period when men of such character live is called as Dvapara Yuga.

The last is the Kali Yuga. The word Kali comes from the root-word ‘kala’. This root-word has several meanings and the correct meaning has to be elicited with reference to the context. Kaala (Time) was born from the Almighty. Time itself made the beings to engage in noble activities in the beginning. Later, it subjected the beings to the triad. Subsequently, it pushed men to duality and doubts. What happens when there is difference and doubt? It makes way to Kalaha (quarrel). This Kalaha itself is Kali. From where does this come? It comes from Time, which was born from the Almighty. This is the paradox of Creation. To symbolically represent this contradiction, the last Yuga has been termed ‘Kali Yuga’. Being derived from the same root-word ‘kala’, the two terms – ‘Kaala’ and ‘Kali’ have demonstrated the contradiction very clearly.

First, we classified time as past, present and future. Because Time is only one, these three merged in one another despite our classification. We can easily appreciate this fact. We can not prevent the future from becoming one with the past.

Similarly, even the cycle of Yugas rotate everyday and become one with the other.

Everyday, we become tired and go to sleep in the night. We sleep and merge in darkness. In fact, we do not like to be in darkness. Therefore, there is a constant struggle in us. We always try to fight darkness. This is Kali Yuga.

After sometime, we wake up. However, it is not complete awareness. We have not come out of the bed yet. There is laziness in the body. The mind, on the other hand is coaxing us to get up. This is duality. This is Dvapara Yuga.

After a while, we get up. We remember all our duties. The body becomes active. We experience pain and pleasure. This is Treta Yuga.

Afterwards, we start moving from here to there. We engage ourselves in innumerable activities. In other words, we become fully active. This is Krita Yuga.

Thus, everyday, every being experiences the cycle of the four Yugas. Similarly, the four Yugas also appear in the four seasons of the year (autumn, winter, rainy season and summer). Also, in each Yuga, the aspects of other Yugas also manifest themselves in cyclic fashion.

Thus, Time follows a cyclic pattern (as Krita, Treta, Dvapara and Kali Yugas) and on the one hand, it displays multitude while on the other hand it displays oneness. The beginning of this cycle is Kaala. The end is Kali. This is the difference. This is the oneness too. This has been symbolically stated in the Rig-Veda:

Kalishshayaano bhavati sanjihaanastu dvaaparah
Uttishthan tretaa bhavati kritassampadyate charan

It means, sleeping is Kali, awaking is Dvapara, arising is Treta and moving around is Krita. If we analyse this properly, we can appreciate that our discussion is reflected in it.

Kaala (Time) descended and became Kali. Man’s intellect deteriorated and took to Kalaha (quarrel). We are now in such a period of time. It is clear from the above description that because Time followed a downward movement, our intellect became prey to vices like lust and anger. What should we do now? The answer to this is hidden in the following Sookti.

Vaatyeva noonam kali devataishaa
Balaat samaakarshati buddhi vrikshaan
Tasmaad guhaayaam hridaye shayaanam
Harim bhajasvaatra na kaala vaatyaa

The Kali Devata (God of Kali) is like a terrible hurricane. It will uproot the tree called human intellect with great force. Therefore, serve Lord Sri Hari, who is dwelling in your heart. Here, there is no hurricane of time. This is the purport of the above Sookti.

Of course, the means prescribed in the above Sookti is quite clear. But the difficulty lies in believing it. In the previous Sookti (Oct-99), while describing about the attitude of human beings in different Yugas, it was stated that the human intellect behaved differently in different Yugas and that by following the particular Dharma pertaining to that Yuga, man could reach divinity. The example of the wind driving the clouds to some place and causing rains to feed the trees in that area, was given there. In this month’s Sookti, it is said that the Almighty resides in the heart and there is no influence of time there. Is not the heart a part of Creation? Why then is it spared from the effect of time? Also, the fact that the Almighty resides in the heart is common to people of all Yugas. Why is it specially mentioned that men of Kali Yuga should serve the Lord residing in their hearts? These questions caste some shadows of doubt on the above Sookti.

Note that the Sookti is not saying that there is no influence of Time on the heart. It is only saying that there is no effect of Kala (Time) on the Almighty dwelling in the heart. Thus, there is no contradiction here.

It is because the influence of Time is present in the heart, the previous month’s Sookti has advised us to follow the Dharma relevant and pertinent to that particular Yuga. Dhyana (Meditation), Satkarma (Noble deeds) and Bhakti (devotion) have disappeared with the first three Yugas. What Dharma should human beings follow? The above Sookti is providing the answer.

It is true that the Almighty dwells in the hearts of beings of all Yugas. There is no doubt in this. The beings of the previous three Yugas either gave up other activities or reduced other activities and focussed their attention on ways and means to reach divinity. This is not possible in the present Kali Yuga. Therefore, men of Kali Yuga should continue to do what they want to do and should simultaneously serve (Bhajasva) the Lord dwelling in the heart.

Human beings of the first three Yugas had to strive so much to reach the Almighty. How is it that in Kali Yuga it can be achieved with relative ease? Will such simple methods yield the desired result? Yes indeed. The above Sookti has called the present time as Kali Devata. Devata means compassionate divine energy. In this age, although the influence of time drives man towards unrighteous deeds, it also shows abundant compassion. Therefore, in this age of Kali, it is enough if one follows the advice of the above Sookti. One can reach the domain of the Almighty. This is the message hidden in the Sookti.

May the devotees develop the practice of serving the Lord residing in their hearts, even as they are engaged in their mundane activities.

Jaya Guru Datta.

Sri Swamiji