an age of the world. The Vedas describe four yugas that proceed in a cycle: Krta or Satya, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali. The duration of each yuga is respectively 1,728,000, 1,296,000, 864,000 and 432,000 years. The descending numbers represent the physical and spiritual deterioration of humanity in each age. The four yugas form an aggregate of 4,320,000 years and constitute a maha-yuga, or great yuga