Kalki Purana

The Kalki Purana (Sanskrit: कल्कि पुराण Kalki purāṇa) is a prophetic work in Sanskrit that details the life and times of Kalki, the tenth and final Dashavatara (the ten Avatars) of the Hindu deity Lord Vishnu. The narrative is set in the distant 4,320th century, near the end of the Kali Yuga or Dark Age, as revealed by the storyteller Suta.

Although it is considered an Upapurana or 'Lesser Purana', it is derived from passages taken directly from the 18 'Major' Puranas, including the Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata Purana ascribed to Vyasa. It is believed that the Kalki Purana existed prior to the 16th century CE as parts of it were referenced to in the Avadhi Sufi romance Padmavat (1540), written by the Sufi poet Malik Mohammad Jayasi.

The extant text comprises three aṃśas (sections) consisting 7, 7 and 21 chapters respectively.

Significance

As a prophetic work, the Kalki Purana writes details about events believed by Hindus to occur in the future. The work is essentially a derivation of passages collected from various Puranas describing the same subject. The work primarily describes the onset and exponential increase of evil and sin on the earth during the Kali Yuga, and the life of Kalki, who is said to bring an end to the darkness of the Kali Yuga, destroying evil and sin, and beginning a new yuga (age) of sinlessness and peace known as the Satya Yuga.

As per ancient texts, Lord Kalki will move with a ‘great speed’, on a ‘Big’ ‘White’ ‘horse’ with a ‘sword’ in his hand. In a first look this may sound like a fictitious description but actually the ancient writers have engulfed serious astrological facts about the planetary positions about the birth of Lord Kalki, in this description.

“Great speed”, is only associated with Dhanishtha nakshatra, moon being the fastest moving planet, the writers have secretly foretold that at the birth of Lord kalki, Moon will be present in Dhanishtha Nakshatra. Aquarius is the only Rashi which is associated with “great speed” of thoughts or mind; hence moon would be present in the 3rd or 4th quarter of Dhanishtha nakshatra in Aquarius sign.

“Sword”, is only associated with Swati Nakshatra and Libra sign, hence after Moon, seers have indicated that the sun would be present in the swati nakshatra at the birth of Lord Kalki.

Ancient Astrologers used to give maximum importance to the Moon (Mind Significator), Sun (Soul Significator), Jupiter (body Significator) and Ascendant Lord (body Significator), hence have given clues w.r.t nakshatra positions of these touch points in a particular sequence with the help of a symbolic representation.

The seers knew that by indicating the nakshatra of moon and sun, they are actually giving the Date and month of the lord kalki’s birth, since sun changes its sign in 1 month and moon changes its sign in 2-1/4 days.

Since ascendant Lord Nakshatra could give the hour, Jupiter position could finally fix the year (Jupiter changes its sign in every 1 year). So therefore with the term “Horse” they have also given the planetary position of Ascendant lord and Jupiter

Sagittarius is the only sign which have maximum association with horse (symbol -3 quarters of horse and 1 quarter of man); Horses since the ancient time are associated with wars and speed. Purva Ashadha nakshatra of Sagittarius sign signify the “invincible one” or “the early victory”, or horse rider would become invincible or victorious. Therefore ancient seers have indirectly declared that ascendant lord and Jupiter would be present in Purva ashadha nakshatra at the birth of Lord Kalki through symbolic representation.

Since Lord Kalki’s main purpose of the birth would be to do Justice, so Saturn has to be exalted, i.e. in Libra at the birth of Lord Kalki. This is again indicated by the word “sword”, which is associated with Libra sign only.

In addition, Ketu is the only planet associated with “Horse”, Ketu rules the Ashwini Nakshatra (represent horse headed twin Ashwini kumars) and mentioning that horse would be “big” and “White”, seers have indicated that Ketu would be exalted at the birth of Lord Kalki.

In short at the birth of Lord Kalki, Moon would be in Dhanishtha nakshatra (Aquarius sign), Sun would be in swati nakshatra (in Libra), Jupiter would be in Purva Ashadha nakshatra (in Sagittarius), ascendant Lord would again be in Purva ashadha Nakshatra (in Sagittarius), Saturn would be in Libra and Ketu would be in Scorpio.

Events Depicted in the Kalki Purana

Kali Yuga

Kalki and his horse, Devadatta.

Chronologically Krishna is described as the eighth Avatar of Lord Vishnu. This happens in Dvapara Yuga. According to Kalki Purana, Kali demon will rule the earth and bring sin and misery to the people. When the first stage of the Kali Yuga begins, the varna system will deteriorate. Soon after this, the second, third, and fourth stages of the Kali Yuga begin. During the second and third portions Men will forget the name of God and no longer offer Yagna to the Devas. During the fourth portion, Canibalism will be virtually universal among the humans. To solve this problem the pious Devas will gather before Brahma for a solution. Near the end of this yuga, the Devas will then journey to Vaikunta to seek help from Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu will then descend to Earth to fix these problems of the Kali Yuga.

Kalki Comes to Earth

Lord Vishnu comes to earth in the home of Sumati, the wife of the Brahmin Vishnuyasha. Kalki will be born on "a bright fortnight of the lunar month of Vaishakha, on the twelfth lunar tithi (Dvadashi)," and his childhood will be in the mystical kingdom of Shambhala. After the Chiranjeevin immortals gather in Shambhala, Kalki will begin martial training under Guru Parashurama.

Life on Earth

Kali (right) wielding a sword.

Soon after his martial training under Guru Parashurama, Kalki will begin a long penance to Lord Shiva in the Himalayas. He will then receive the winged steed Devadatta (god-given), the celestial parrot Shuka (शुक), and the divine "Ratna Maru" sword from Lord Shiva. He will then marry Padma, the avatar of Vishnu’s heavenly consort Lakshmi and have two children, sons Jaya and Vijaya. Kalki will then perform the Ashwamedha Sacrifice to rid the world of all wicked kings and false prophets, before proceeding to begin the final destruction of evil and misery in the Kali Yuga.

Destruction of Evil

Kalki on horse

One of the main reasons Lord Vishnu would come to earth as Kalki is to destroy and defeat evil forces on earth. He would begin this with the battle, and eventual massacre, of the Sunyavadis, who have misled the people, at the city of Keekatpur. A war would later begin with the dark forces of Kali, including the demon generals Koka and Vikoka fighting against Kalki and the Devas. Kali will be defeated at the hands of Dharma and the personification of the Satya Yuga, the evil's polar opposite. Koka and Vikoka would then be killed by Kalki. Finally, Kalki will be challenged by, and intentionally accept defeat from, Raja Shashidhwaja, and marry the Raja's daughter, his second wife Ramaa, before the start of the Satya Yuga.

Satya Yuga

After the defeat and destruction of evil on earth, the Satya Yuga (Golden Age) begins. Kalki will divide the earth into earthly kingdoms among his generals, then perform the Ashwamedha and Rajasuya sacrifices for the Devas. Sumati and Vishnuyasha, his parents, will then travel to the holy place of Badrikashram, where they will live until their death. After the siring of Kalki's sons Meghamaal and Balahaka, Kalki will reign on earth for 1,000 years as the King of Shambhala. Having finished his mission of restoring peace, the Devas will appear before Kalki, requesting that he return to Vaikunta. After a ritual bath in the Ganges River, Kalki will reappear as Vishnu in his four-armed form, and return to Vaikunta.

Source

• B.K. Chaturvedi, Kalki Purana, Fusion Books (1969) ISBN 81-288-0588-6

External links

• Text of Kalki Purana in Sanskrit

See also

• Ramayana
• Mahabharata