Practicing Bhakti as Kali Yuga progresses

Introduction:

On December 3, 2024, ISKCON Kolkata has advised its monks and followers in Bangladesh to practice their faith discreetly due to safety concerns amid rising violence against Hindu minorities. The organization's spokesperson, HG Radharamn Das, urged devotees to "avoid wearing saffron robes, tilak, and other visible religious symbols in public". This guidance comes in response to recent attacks on Hindu temples and gatherings in Bangladesh.

Bhakti in Kali Yuga

According to Vedic scriptures, Kali Yuga is characterized by spiritual degradation and increased difficulties for religious practice. However, bhakti (devotional service) is considered the most suitable and powerful spiritual path for this age. The Bhagavata Purana states:

O King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom."

Prabhupada and the End of Kali Yuga

According to the Srimad Bhagavatam, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), described the characteristics of the end of Kali Yuga as follows:

Characteristics of Kali Yuga

1. Religious principles will be neglected: People will become more and more irreligious, and the principles of religion will be neglected. (SB 12.2.1)
2. People will become more and more greedy: Kali Yuga is characterized by greed, and people will become more and more greedy as time goes on. (SB 12.2.2)
3. Lust and anger will increase: As Kali Yuga progresses, lust and anger will increase, and people will become more and more violent. (SB 12.2.3)
4. Truthfulness will decrease: Truthfulness will decrease, and people will become more and more dishonest. (SB 12.2.4)
5. Cleanliness will be neglected: Cleanliness will be neglected, and people will become more and more unclean. (SB 12.2.5)
6. Mercy will decrease: Mercy will decrease, and people will become more and more cruel. (SB 12.2.6)
7. Families will break up: Families will break up, and people will become more and more isolated. (SB 12.2.7)
8. Knowledge will be used for selfish purposes: Knowledge will be used for selfish purposes, and people will become more and more attached to material things. (SB 12.2.8)
9. Women will become more and more independent: Women will become more and more independent, and they will no longer be protected by their husbands and families. (SB 12.2.9)
10. The earth will produce less and less: The earth will produce less and less, and there will be more and more famine and scarcity. (SB 12.2.10)

Symptoms of the End of Kali Yuga

Srila Prabhupada also mentioned that the end of Kali Yuga is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Increased natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, and droughts
• Widespread disease and epidemics
• Increased violence and war
• Corruption and dishonesty among leaders and politicians
• A general decline in moral values and principles

It's worth noting that Prabhupada also mentioned that the end of Kali Yuga is a time of great spiritual opportunity where we can attain Love of Godhead simply by chanting Hare Krishna maha-mantra.

Conclusion:

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, taught that the current age of Kali Yuga is expected to last for 432,000 years, of which only about 5,000 years have passed. He emphasized the importance of sankirtana (congregational chanting of God's names) as the primary means of spiritual elevation in this age, regardless of external circumstances. The current situation in Bangladesh, where devotees are advised to practice discreetly, aligns with the challenges expected during Kali Yuga, but also highlights the enduring nature of bhakti even in adverse conditions. People in other parts of ther world should also be prepared to take their Bhakti 'Underground'