Hare Krsna,
While I was meditating on the times in the life of Brahma, I was reflecting upon the appearance of Lord Sri Krsna and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Their appearance is extremely rare.
A divya-yuga consists of the total duration of four yugas – Satya-yuga, Treta-yuga, Dvapara-yuga, and Kali-yuga. The four yugas multiplied by one thousand comprise one day on the planet of Brahmā. A similar period comprises a night of Brahmā, in which the creator of the universe goes to sleep. (SB 3.11.22)
The 24-hour day of Brahma is divided into day and night, only during the day do the one thousand Maha yugas exist. At night while Brahma sleeps there are no Maha yugas but rather a partial annihilation of the universe takes place.
Therefore 4,320,000,000 human years (4 billion 320 million years) equals the 12 hour “daytime period” of Brahma when all the 1000 Maha-yuga appear. Then another 4,320,000,000 (4 billion 320 million years) human years of Brahma’s “night-time period” that equals Brahma’s inactive night-time period when a partial annihilation of this material universe occurs.
A full 24-hour day of Brahma equals 8,640,000,000 human years. (8 billion 640 million human years).
A ”day-time” period made up of 1000 Maha yugas is called a kalpa, and a ”night-time” period of a partial annihilation of this universe (of Brahma’s day) with no Maha yugas, is also called a kalpa.
There are “two kalpas” in a “day and night” (24-hour period) of Brahma which together equals 8 billion 640 million human years.
Lord Krishna, in His original Form, appears at the end of just “one” Dvapara-yuga out of every 1000.
Lord Caitanya appears near the beginning of just “one” Kali-yuga with His Sankirtan Movement; He also appears just once out of every 1000 Kali-yugas.
SB 3.11.27: In each and every change of Manu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears by manifesting His internal potency in different incarnations, as Manu and others. Thus He maintains the universe by discovered power.
Lord Caitanya and Lord Krishna ‘s appearance is very, very rare.
They both only come “once” over that enormous period of time as Prabhupada has explained.
CC Adi 3.10: At the end of the Dvāpara-yuga of the twenty-eighth divya-yuga, Lord Kṛṣṇa appears on earth with the full paraphernalia of His eternal Vraja-dhāma.
“Now is the term of Vaivasvata Manu, during which Lord Caitanya appears. First Lord Kṛṣṇa appears at the close of the Dvāpara-yuga of the twenty-eighth divya-yuga, and then Lord Caitanya appears in the Kali-yuga of the same divya-yuga. Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Caitanya appear once in each day of Brahmā, or once in fourteen manv-antaras, each of seventy-one divya-yugas in duration.” (SP Purport to CC Adi 3.10)
“From the beginning of Brahmā’s day of 4,320,000,000 years, six Manus appear and disappear before Lord Kṛṣṇa appears. Thus 1,975,320,000 years of the day of Brahmā elapse before the appearance of Lord Kṛṣṇa. This is an astronomical calculation according to solar years.” (SP Purport to CC Adi 3.10)
In another conversation, Lord Prabhupada explained:
Devotee – “Śrīla Prabhupāda, does Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu also appear every day of Brahma?”
Srila Prabhupāda – “Yes, following Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa comes in the Dvāpara-yuga. There are four periods of each yuga: Satva, Tretā, Dvāpara, Kali. So Kṛṣṇa comes at the end of Dvāpara-yuga, and Caitanya Mahāprabhu comes in the Kali-yuga”. (Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 6 Chapter 1 Text 3 – Melbourne, May 22, 1975)
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Krishna’s appearance in this world is very, very rare.
We must consider ourselves very fortunate that we are living in that particular day of Brahma where Lord Caitanya’s sankirtan mission is going on. By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, we are able to participate in this divine mission. Unless we take full advantage of this rarest of rare opportunity where we can achieve love of Godhead simply by chanting the Holy Name of the Lord, our human life is wasted.
“A human being who does not develop a sense of responsibility before he dies is no better than the madman who tries to enjoy material life very happily without concern for the future. It is necessary that every human being be responsible in preparing himself for the next life, even if he has a duration of life like that of Brahmā, the greatest of all living creatures within the universe.” (SB 3.11. 33 P)
What is even more amazing is that this sankirtan movement will not exist for a long time.
Srila Prabhupada remarked in CC Antya 3.50 Purport: It is said that the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement will be prominent within the next ten thousand years, but after that people will all become mlecchas and yavanas. Thus at the end of the yuga, Kṛṣṇa will appear as the Kalki avatāra and kill them without consideration.
“Rather, this movement, as I have now began with my disciples, European, American boys, they’re… They are not very satisfied, the present politicians. They are not very satisfied. They don’t want. Everywhere this, more or less the same mentality, but it is our duty on behalf of Krsna to push on this movement. So we are doing, and we are getting response. It is not without response. It will increase. That is also stated, that for ten thousand years Krsna consciousness movement will increase. Yes.
Syamasundara: Ten thousand years.
Prabhupada: Within ten thousand years, if they become Krsna conscious, then life is successful. After ten thousand years, the gloomy picture of Kali-yuga will come. Still there is time. Ten thousand years is not small period. So we have passed five thousand years. So still ten thousand. We have got to the fifteen thousand years. Kali-yuga’s duration of life is four hundred thousand, four hundred and twenty-seven thousand.”
[S.P. Room Conversation, July 22, 1973, London]
Therefore, we should not waste our short human life in frivolous matters. We must utilize the time to chant the holy name of the Lord as much as possible. We should engage all our time in hearing, chanting, and remembering the Supreme Lord. From Lord Brahma’s perspective, the duration of human life is just the blink of an eye.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 