According to Hindu mythology, the concept of Yugas refers to the cycles of time that the universe undergoes, and each Yuga has a different duration and characteristic features. There are four main Yugas:
Satya Yuga (also known as Krita Yuga): This is considered the Golden Age, where righteousness and virtue are at their highest. The duration of Satya Yuga is believed to be 1,728,000 years.
Treta Yuga: In this Yuga, virtue and righteousness decline slightly compared to the previous age. The duration of Treta Yuga is believed to be 1,296,000 years.
Dvapara Yuga: In Dvapara Yuga, the decline in virtue and righteousness becomes more pronounced. The duration of Dvapara Yuga is believed to be 864,000 years.
Kali Yuga: This is the current age, known as the Dark Age, where virtue and righteousness are at their lowest point. The duration of Kali Yuga is believed to be 432,000 years.
It is essential to understand that these Yugas are part of Hindu mythology and are not meant to be interpreted as literal historical periods. They represent cyclical patterns that are symbolic in nature and are not based on empirical evidence or scientific analysis.
In the context of these mythological Yugas, the average lifespan of humans is believed to have gradually decreased from thousands of years in the earlier Yugas (Satya and Treta) to a few hundred years in Dvapara Yuga and finally to around 100 years or less in the current Kali Yuga.
Again, it's important to emphasize that these timeframes and lifespans are part of Hindu mythology and are not considered historical or scientific facts. They hold religious and philosophical significance for followers of Hinduism and are not meant to be taken as literal descriptions of human history.