Pralaya () is a concept in Hindu eschatology. Generally referring to four different phenomena, it is most commonly used to indicate the event of the dissolution of the entire universe that follows a kalpa (a period of 4.32 billion years) called the Brahmapralaya.
Pralaya also refers to Nityapralaya, the continuous destruction of all animate and inanimate beings that occurs on a daily basis, Prakritapralaya, the great flood produced by Prakriti (Nature) that ends all of creation after the completion of 1,000 Chaturyuga (four-age) cycles, and Atyantikapralaya, the dissolution of one's Atman (Self) due to its union with Brahman (Ultimate Reality). A concept that has been referenced in literature since the Upanishads, the concept of pralaya has been widely discussed in Hindu cosmology as well as philosophy.
Description
Hindu cosmology posits an endless cycle of the periodic creation and destruction of the universe.
Nityapralaya
Nityapralaya refers to constant dissolution, the phenomenon that describes the daily entropy of the mind and the body of all living and non-living beings. Being created, all matter is subject to constant decay and destruction, and is often described to be a personal experience, leading to a temporary earthly death. The Skanda Purana describes the Nityapralaya to be the various negative experiences and losses that a human being experiences, such as being robbed, having one's wife stolen, the arrival of one's enemy, the onset of fever, as well as blight, all of which culminates in death, the most painful experience. Such mental anguish is stated to be the result of one's own karma. One's karma is also stated to determine one's rebirth as various lesser beasts, the actions of the being during such births in turn determining one's karma.
Brahmapralaya
The Bhagavata Purana states that one kalpa (age), which consists of a thousand revolutions of the four ages, the Satya, Treta, Dvapara, and the Kali, and the reign of fourteen Manus, is one day in the life of the creator deity, Brahma. A pralaya is described to be an equal length of time, referred to as a night in the life of the deity. This form of the dissolution is caused by the sleep of Brahma, and is hence named after him. It is also called naimittika, which means, 'occasional'. During this period, Narayana withdraws the universe within him, and also rests upon his serpent mount, Shesha.
The Agni Purana describes that the resources of the earth are depleted by the end of the four-age cycle, leading to a severe drought for a century. All beings perish on earth during this period. The waters that are present in the three worlds are dried up due to their consumption by Vishnu. The seven rays of the sun become seven suns, and burn the three worlds, as well as the netherworld. The earth is described to resemble a tortoise during this event. A fire of dissolution, a manifestation of Rudra, along with the breath of Shesha, burn the netherworld. The inhabitants of the three worlds first travel to Maharloka, and then to Janaloka. Vishnu causes a century of rain upon the worlds to douse the fire. He returns to his yogic sleep for an age, and waking up in his form of Brahma, he creates the universe once more. The universe is stated to remain in a non-manifested state for two parārdhas (311.04 trillion years).
The term Mahapralaya stands for "Great Dissolution", and is synonymous with the Brahmapralaya. According to the Shiva Purana, the lower ten realms (lokas) are destroyed during this phenomenon, while the higher four realms called the Satyaloka, Tapa-loka, Jana-loka, and Mahar-loka, are preserved. During each Mahapralaya, all 14 realms are destroyed.