Dvapara

Dvapara, in Hindu cosmology, most often refers to the Dvapara Yuga, the third of the four ages (yugas) that together compose a complete cycle called a Mahayuga. The name is commonly interpreted as indicating the “second age” in the sequence of the yugas, reflecting its position between Treta Yuga and Kali Yuga, though etymological explanations vary.

A Mahayuga lasts 4,320,000 years, divided among the four yugas as follows: Satya Yuga 1,728,000 years, Treta Yuga 1,296,000 years, Dvapara Yuga 864,000 years, and Kali Yuga 432,000 years. In successive yugas, the level of dharma (righteousness or virtue) declines: about 100% in Satya Yuga, 75% in Treta, 50% in Dvapara, and 25% in Kali.

Dvapara Yuga is characterized by a further rise in dualities and complexity compared to Treta, with ritualism and social disputation becoming more prominent while spiritual knowledge remains accessible to seekers. The era is closely associated with the events of the Mahabharata: the great war at Kurukshetra unfolds during this period, and the life of Krishna is set within it. The city of Dvārakā is said to flourish in this time, and Krishna’s departure marks the transition to Kali Yuga in many traditions.

In Hindu calendars and mythological narratives, Dvapara Yuga serves as a transitional phase between the more virtuous Treta Yuga and the more degraded Kali Yuga, setting the stage for the present epoch in traditional cosmology.