ਇਸੁ ਕਲਿਜੁਗ ਮਹਿ ਕਰਮ ਧਰਮੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ॥
eis kalijug mehi karam dhharam n koee ||
In this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, no one is interested in good karma, or Dharmic faith.

ਕਲੀ ਕਾ ਜਨਮੁ ਚੰਡਾਲ ਕੈ ਘਰਿ ਹੋਈ ॥
kalee kaa janam chanddaal kai ghar hoee ||
This Dark Age was born in the house of evil.

ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਕੋ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥੪॥੧੦॥੩੦॥
naanak naam binaa ko mukath n hoee ||4||10||30||
O Nanak, without the Naam, the Name of the Lord, no one is liberated. ||4||10||30||
~Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji p. 161

ਕਲਿ ਕਾਤੀ ਰਾਜੇ ਕਾਸਾਈ ਧਰਮੁ ਪੰਖ ਕਰਿ ਉਡਰਿਆ ॥
kal kaathee raajae kaasaaee dhharam pankh kar ouddariaa ||
The Dark Age of Kali Yuga is the knife, and the kings are butchers; righteousness has sprouted wings and flown away.

ਕੂੜੁ ਅਮਾਵਸ ਸਚੁ ਚੰਦ੍ਰਮਾ ਦੀਸੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਹ ਚੜਿਆ ॥
koorr amaavas sach chandhramaa dheesai naahee keh charriaa ||
In this dark night of falsehood, the moon of Truth is not visible anywhere.

ਹਉ ਭਾਲਿ ਵਿਕੁੰਨੀ ਹੋਈ ॥ਆਧੇਰੈ ਰਾਹੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ॥
ho bhaal vikunnee hoee || aadhhaerai raahu n koee ||
I have searched in vain, and I am so confused; in this darkness, I cannot find the path.
~Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji p. 145

ਸਤਜੁਗੁ ਤ੍ਰੇਤਾ ਦੁਆਪਰੁ ਭਣੀਐ ਕਲਿਜੁਗੁ ਊਤਮੋ ਜੁਗਾ ਮਾਹਿ ॥
sathajug thraethaa dhuaapar bhaneeai kalijug oothamo jugaa maahi ||
The Golden Age of Sat Yuga, the Silver Age of Trayta Yuga, and the Brass Age of Dwaapar Yuga are good; but the best is the Dark Age, the Iron Age, of Kali Yuga.

ਅਹਿ ਕਰੁ ਕਰੇ ਸੁ ਅਹਿ ਕਰੁ ਪਾਏ ਕੋਈ ਨ ਪਕੜੀਐ ਕਿਸੈ ਥਾਇ ॥੩॥
ahi kar karae s ahi kar paaeae koee n pakarreeai kisai thhaae ||3||
As we act, so are the rewards we receive; no one can take the place of another. ||3||
~Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji p. 406

ਕਲਿਜੁਗੁ ਹਰਿ ਕੀਆ ਪਗ ਤ੍ਰੈ ਖਿਸਕੀਆ ਪਗੁ ਚਉਥਾ ਟਿਕੈ ਟਿਕਾਇ ਜੀਉ ॥
kalijug har keeaa pag thrai khisakeeaa pag chouthhaa ttikai ttikaae jeeo ||
The Lord ushered in the Dark Age, the Iron Age of Kali Yuga; three legs of religion were lost, and only the fourth leg remained intact.
~Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji p. 446

ਸਚਿ ਕਾਲੁ ਕੂੜੁ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਕਲਿ ਕਾਲਖ ਬੇਤਾਲ ॥
sach kaal koorr varathiaa kal kaalakh baethaal ||
There is a famine of Truth; falsehood prevails, and the blackness of the Dark Age of Kali Yuga has turned men into demons.
~Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji p. 468

ਜੁਗੁ ਜੁਗੁ ਫੇਰਿ ਵਟਾਈਅਹਿ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਬੁਝਹਿ ਤਾਹਿ ॥
jug jug faer vattaaeeahi giaanee bujhehi thaahi ||
In age after age they change; the spiritually wise understand this.

ਸਤਜੁਗਿ ਰਥੁ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਕਾ ਧਰਮੁ ਅਗੈ ਰਥਵਾਹੁ ॥
sathajug rathh santhokh kaa dhharam agai rathhavaahu ||
In the Golden Age of Sat Yuga, contentment was the chariot and righteousness the charioteer.

ਤ੍ਰੇਤੈ ਰਥੁ ਜਤੈ ਕਾ ਜੋਰੁ ਅਗੈ ਰਥਵਾਹੁ ॥
thraethai rathh jathai kaa jor agai rathhavaahu ||
In the Silver Age of Traytaa Yuga, celibacy was the chariot and power the charioteer.

ਦੁਆਪੁਰਿ ਰਥੁ ਤਪੈ ਕਾ ਸਤੁ ਅਗੈ ਰਥਵਾਹੁ ॥
dhuaapur rathh thapai kaa sath agai rathhavaahu ||
In the Brass Age of Dwaapar Yuga, penance was the chariot and truth the charioteer.

ਕਲਜੁਗਿ ਰਥੁ ਅਗਨਿ ਕਾ ਕੂੜੁ ਅਗੈ ਰਥਵਾਹੁ ॥੧॥
kalajug rathh agan kaa koorr agai rathhavaahu ||1||
In the Iron Age of Kali Yuga, fire is the chariot and falsehood the charioteer. ||1||
~Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji p. 470

ਕਲਿ ਕਲਵਾਲੀ ਕਾਮੁ ਮਦੁ ਮਨੂਆ ਪੀਵਣਹਾਰੁ ॥
kal kalavaalee kaam madh manooaa peevanehaar ||
The Dark Age of Kali Yuga is the vessel, filled with the wine of sexual desire; the mind is the drunkard.

ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਕਟੋਰੀ ਮੋਹਿ ਭਰੀ ਪੀਲਾਵਾ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੁ ॥
krodhh kattoree mohi bharee peelaavaa ahankaar ||
Anger is the cup, filled with emotional attachment, and egotism is the server.
~Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji p. 553

ਕਲੀ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਜਿੰਨਾਂ ਦਾ ਅਉਤਾਰੁ ॥
kalee andhar naanakaa jinnaan dhaa aouthaar ||
In this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, O Nanak, the demons have taken birth.

ਪੁਤੁ ਜਿਨੂਰਾ ਧੀਅ ਜਿੰਨੂਰੀ ਜੋਰੂ ਜਿੰਨਾ ਦਾ ਸਿਕਦਾਰੁ ॥੧॥
puth jinooraa dhheea jinnooree joroo jinnaa dhaa sikadhaar ||1||
The son is a demon, and the daughter is a demon; the wife is the chief of the demons. ||1||
~Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji p. 556

ਹੋਵੈ ਪਰਵਾਣਾ ਕਰਹਿ ਧਿਙਾਣਾ ਕਲਿ ਲਖਣ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
hovai paravaanaa karehi dhhin(g)aanaa kal lakhan veechaar ||1|| rehaao ||
Those who act like tyrants are accepted and approved - recognize that this is the sign of the Dark Age of Kali Yuga. ||1||Pause||

ਕਿਤੈ ਦੇਸਿ ਨ ਆਇਆ ਸੁਣੀਐ ਤੀਰਥ ਪਾਸਿ ਨ ਬੈਠਾ ॥
kithai dhaes n aaeiaa suneeai theerathh paas n baithaa ||
Kali Yuga has not been heard to have come to any country, or to be sitting at any sacred shrine.

ਦਾਤਾ ਦਾਨੁ ਕਰੇ ਤਹ ਨਾਹੀ ਮਹਲ ਉਸਾਰਿ ਨ ਬੈਠਾ ॥੨॥
dhaathaa dhaan karae theh naahee mehal ousaar n baithaa ||2||
It is not where the generous person gives to charities, nor seated in the mansion he has built. ||2||

ਜੇ ਕੋ ਸਤੁ ਕਰੇ ਸੋ ਛੀਜੈ ਤਪ ਘਰਿ ਤਪੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥
jae ko sath karae so shheejai thap ghar thap n hoee ||
If someone practices Truth, he is frustrated; prosperity does not come to the home of the sincere.

ਜੇ ਕੋ ਨਾਉ ਲਏ ਬਦਨਾਵੀ ਕਲਿ ਕੇ ਲਖਣ ਏਈ ॥੩॥
jae ko naao leae badhanaavee kal kae lakhan eaeee ||3||
If someone chants the Lord's Name, he is scorned. These are the signs of Kali Yuga. ||3||

ਜਿਸੁ ਸਿਕਦਾਰੀ ਤਿਸਹਿ ਖੁਆਰੀ ਚਾਕਰ ਕੇਹੇ ਡਰਣਾ ॥
jis sikadhaaree thisehi khuaaree chaakar kaehae ddaranaa ||
Whoever is in charge, is humiliated. Why should the servant be afraid,

ਜਾ ਸਿਕਦਾਰੈ ਪਵੈ ਜੰਜੀਰੀ ਤਾ ਚਾਕਰ ਹਥਹੁ ਮਰਣਾ ॥੪॥
jaa sikadhaarai pavai janjeeree thaa chaakar hathhahu maranaa ||4||
when the master is put in chains? He dies at the hands of his servant. ||4||
~Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji p. 902

ਕਲਿ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ਕਤੇਬ ਕੁਰਾਣੁ ॥
kal paravaan kathaeb kuraan ||
In Kali Yuga, the Koran and the Bible have become famous.

ਪੋਥੀ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਰਹੇ ਪੁਰਾਣ ॥
pothhee panddith rehae puraan ||
The Pandit's scriptures and the Puraanas are not respected.
~Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji p. 903

ਆਤਮੁ ਜਿਤਾ ਗੁਰਮਤੀ ਆਗੰਜਤ ਪਾਗਾ ॥
aatham jithaa guramathee aaganjath paagaa ||
He conquers his soul, following the Guru's Teachings, and attains the Imperishable Lord.

ਜਿਸਹਿ ਧਿਆਇਆ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਸੋ ਕਲਿ ਮਹਿ ਤਾਗਾ ॥
jisehi dhhiaaeiaa paarabreham so kal mehi thaagaa ||
He alone keeps up in this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, who meditates on the Supreme Lord God.
~Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji p. 965

Naming the Kalyug is an indication that this is a dark age for spiritual light to shine, and it is an era of corruption as this is what Gurbani says, the legs of religion have fallen down, demons have been born, righteous Dharam is unseated, the kings become butchers. It says nothing about not bearing karmic responsibility for one's actions or blaming an external factor. Kalyug is the karam of the whole world. Gurbani calls it the dark age because the Jyot of Vaheguru is very dim in this era.


As to assigning blame, let's not lose sight of what Gurbani really teaches. All this creation, including duality, the three gunas and Maya are God's play. It is the formless uncreated One who is hiding behind all forms and causing them to dance. You're a scientific type. Surely you know that science has proven mathematically that outside these 3 dimensions of space and fourth dimension of Time, that Time itself does not exist? And this implies philosophically, that outside of the perceivable dimension of human experience, the acorn is already the oak tree, the baby is already grown old and died, the opposites of sinner and saint unite. Hidden behind all the forms, including Hindu devas, demons and human beings is the One incomprehensible form and ultimately all will reunite and merge completely.

ਬਡ ਪਰਤਾਪੁ ਸੁਨਿਓ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਰੋ ਕੋਟਿ ਅਘਾ ਤੇਰੋ ਨਾਮ ਹਰਨ ॥੧॥
badd parathaap suniou prabh thumharo kott aghaa thaero naam haran ||1||
Your glorious radiance is great! So I have heard, O God. Millions of sins are destroyed by Your Name. ||1||

ਹਮਰੋ ਸਹਾਉ ਸਦਾ ਸਦ ਭੂਲਨ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਰੋ ਬਿਰਦੁ ਪਤਿਤ ਉਧਰਨ ॥
hamaro sehaao sadhaa sadh bhoolan thumharo biradh pathith oudhharan ||
It is my nature to make mistakes, forever and ever; it is Your Natural Way to save sinners.
~Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji p. 828

ਦੀਨਾ ਨਾਥ ਦੈਆਲ ਦੇਵ ਪਤਿਤ ਉਧਾਰਣਹਾਰੁ ॥
dheenaa naathh dhaiaal dhaev pathith oudhhaaranehaar ||
He is the Patron of the poor, the Merciful, Luminous Lord, the Redeemer of sinners.

ਆਦਿ ਜੁਗਾਦੀ ਰਖਦਾ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾਰੁ ॥
aadh jugaadhee rakhadhaa sach naam karathaar ||
From the very beginning, and throughout the ages, the True Name of the Creator has been our Saving Grace.
~Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji p. 137

ਆਪਨ ਖੇਲੁ ਆਪਿ ਵਰਤੀਜਾ ॥
aapan khael aap varatheejaa ||
He Himself has staged His own drama;

ਨਾਨਕ ਕਰਨੈਹਾਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ॥੧॥
naanak karanaihaar n dhoojaa ||1||
O Nanak, there is no other Creator. ||1||

ਜਬ ਹੋਵਤ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੇਵਲ ਧਨੀ ॥
jab hovath prabh kaeval dhhanee ||
When there was only God the Master,

ਤਬ ਬੰਧ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਕਹੁ ਕਿਸ ਕਉ ਗਨੀ ॥
thab bandhh mukath kahu kis ko ganee ||
then who was called bound or liberated?

ਜਬ ਏਕਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਅਗਮ ਅਪਾਰ ॥
jab eaekehi har agam apaar ||
When there was only the Lord, Unfathomable and Infinite,

ਤਬ ਨਰਕ ਸੁਰਗ ਕਹੁ ਕਉਨ ਅਉਤਾਰ ॥
thab narak surag kahu koun aouthaar ||
then who entered hell, and who entered heaven?

ਜਬ ਨਿਰਗੁਨ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸਹਜ ਸੁਭਾਇ ॥
jab niragun prabh sehaj subhaae ||
When God was without attributes, in absolute poise,

ਤਬ ਸਿਵ ਸਕਤਿ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਿਤੁ ਠਾਇ ॥
thab siv sakath kehahu kith thaae ||
then where was mind and where was matter - where was Shiva and Shakti?
~Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji p. 291

~Bhul chak maaf karni ji