FIVE GREAT DELUGES

The End is Not the End but a New Origin

Dr. R. Lambotharan MD

Saiva Siddhanata Peedam, Canada

www.knowingourroots.com

 

The End is not the End but a new Origin. Everything comes back in the same order it dissolved before with the next cycle of creation. 

Hindu scriptures generally describe one or two types of world dissolution, known as praLaya or deluge. However, Saiva scriptures uniquely elaborate on five types of deluges or ends of the world(s) and their respective timelines with vivid descriptions. Here is a detailed account of these dissolutions:

1. Regular Dissolution / Naimitya PraLaya

• Description:
  Regular dissolution affects three worlds: Poolōga (our Milky Way galaxy), Puvar lōga (our neighboring Andromeda galaxy), and Swar lōga (our second-nearest galaxy, Triangula). This dissolution occurs at the end of each manvantara, a timeline consisting of 71 catur-yugas. We are currently in the 28th catur-yuga.                                                       
• Structure of a Catur-Yuga:
  Each catur-yuga consists of four successive yugas as follows:
  1. Satya Yuga or Krita Yuga: 1,728,000 years
  2. Tretā Yuga: 1,296,000 years
  3. Dvāpara Yuga: 864,000 years
  4. Kali Yuga: 432,000 years
     (We are currently in the Kali Yuga, which began on February 17, 3102 BCE)

Quote (in Tamil and English translation):
கிருத யுகம் எழுக மாதோ

Kirutha Yugam Ezhuka Māthō

“Rise the mighty time of Krita Yuga again.”

• Bhārathi’s Song on the Russian Revolution

• Total Duration:
  A complete catur-yuga spans 4,320,000 years.
  Seventy-one successive catur-yugas form one manvantara, which lasts 306,720,000 years.                                                                                     
• Process of Dissolution:
  During the regular dissolution, the three cosmic worlds undergo dissolution for a period equivalent to one Krita Yuga (1,728,000 years). At the end of this period, Lord Brahmā recreates the galaxies as they were, signaling the start of a new manvantara. The current manvantara is the Vaivasvata manvantara, which began around 120,531,100 years ago (1.2 billion B.C.).

Quote (in Tamil and English translation):
பசும்பொன் உலகமும் மண்ணும் பாழ்பட விசும்பில் ஊழி ஊழூழ் செல்ல…

Pasum Pon Ulakamum MaNNum Pāz Pada Visumpil Ūzh Ūzhūz Sella…

“The golden heavens and earth all get destroyed and dissolve into space at the dissolution.”

• Paripādal, Sāngam Tamil Literature, Song 2

 

• Daily Dissolution / Nitya PraLaya                                                        
• Description:
  Daily dissolution affects all six galaxies under the jurisdiction of Brahmā. Collectively, these galaxies are referred to as Brahmānda. The dissolution occurs at the end of each day of Brahmā, a time period known as a kalpa, which consists of 1,000 catur-yugas, totaling 4,320,000,000 years.                                                                                          
• Duration of Dissolution:
  This dissolution endures for the entire nighttime of Brahmā, which is also equivalent to 1,000 catur-yugas. At the conclusion of this period, Brahmā recreates these three universes at the start of the next kalpa.     
• Current Kalpa:
  The kalpa presently ongoing is the Swēta Varāha Kalpa, which began approximately 1,980,851,100 years ago (19.8 billion BCE).

Note: According to contemporary scientific data, the birth of our universe—the Big Bang—occurred around 13.7 billion years ago. This indicates that our current kalpa predates the origin of our universe and suggests that other universes may have existed before ours.

• Mid Dissolution / Madyama PraLaya                                               
• Description:
  Mid dissolution involves all 164 galaxies within the prakriti māyā, including the six galaxies of the Brahmānda. This dissolution exists beyond the realm of calculable time, rendering its timeline immeasurable. These galaxies, along with those governed by Brahmā within the Brahmānda, are under the rule of Sri KāNda Rudrā, who resides in one of the universes in the vidya tatva (impure māyā) worlds.                                                                                                                      
• Sri KāNda Rudrā’s Role:
  Sri KāNda Rudrā bears the form and name of Siva, similar to any other Rudrās. He resides on Mount Kailāsh within his cosmic world in the arāha tatva. He oversees the dissolution of all prakriti māyā cosmic worlds, including Brahmā-lōka (the abode of Brahmā) and Vaikunta (the abode of Vishnu), which are key realms within the Hindu Trinity.                                                                                                        
• Significance in Saiva Tradition:
  Sri KāNda Rudrā is regarded as the hero of various PurāNa stories and is identified with Siva. All of his acts are considered acts of Siva. One of the four Saiva Samāya Āchāryās, Saint Sundarar, was believed to have served him before being born into this world during the 8th century CE.                                                                                                             
• Penultimate Dissolution / Avāntara PraLaya                                 
• Description:
  The vidyā tatva galaxies, which exist beyond the natural laws of physics, chemistry, and biology that govern our prakriti realm, are subject to this dissolution. Sri KāNda Rudrā resides within these vidyā tatva galaxies, which are ultimately dissolved by Anatēswara, a superior representative of Siva. Anatēswara resides in one of the suddha (pure māyā) worlds.

 

• Timing:
  The timing of this dissolution is beyond our grasp, as it lies beyond our element of time tatva, thus beyond our conventional understanding of time.                                                                                                                          
• Ultimate Dissolution / Mahā PraLaya                                                   
• Description:
  The final dissolution involves the 31 multiverses of pure māyā, beyond any calculable or speculative realms. This ultimate dissolution is carried out by the Almighty Siva Himself.                                                          
• The End and the Ashes:
  In this state, nothing remains; the entire world becomes a crematorium. No place is left even for the remnant ashes and bones, as these are smeared and adorned by Siva, the Ultimate Destroyer. This act symbolizes why Siva wears ashes, bones, and skulls. From Him, life begins anew with the next cycle of creation.                                                   
• Cosmic Convergence:
  All existential worlds and objects converge into their primordial matter, māyā, at the end. Māyā further converges into Sakthi. Sakthi then witnesses Samhāra ThāNdava—the Ultimate Dissolutional Dance of Siva—before merging with Him.                                                                   
• Siva’s Supremacy:
  Siva is the Everlasting, Ultimate One who remains after all five dissolutions. He transcends time, embodying the essence of being Kaala Kaalan (the Destroyer of Time). Everything returns from Him through His five cosmic functions, manifesting in a similar order, with the creation and empowerment of respective Gods, Goddesses, and celestial beings.

Quote (in Tamil and English translation):
பஞ்சப் பிரளயத்து மிஞ்சி இருப்பானடி
நஞ்சு பொதிமிடற்றான் நயனத் தழல்விழியான்

Pancha PiraLayaththum Minjchi Iruppānadi
Nanjchu Pothi Midattrān Nayanathathu Azhal Vizhiyān

“Blue-throated, fiery-eyed Siva is the One Everlasting Beyond the five dissolutions.”

• Mystic Saint Paddinattār’s Song