Kalki Purana
The Kalki Purana (कल्कि पुराण) covers the life and times of Sri Kalki, the 10th and final Maha Avatara of Lord Vishnu. It is a prophetic work which takes place in the far distant 4,320th century near the end of Kali Yuga.
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Contents |
Chronology
- Narration of this Purana by the story-teller Sootaji.
- Origins of the Kali (Demon) and onset of the first stage of Kali Yuga;
- Breakdown of the Indian caste system and condemnation of god-worship;
- Onset of the second, third and fourth stages of Kali Yuga;
- Men forget the name of God and no longer offer Yagya (sacrifices) to the Devas;
- Gathering of the Devas before Brahma to complain about hunger from no mortal offerings;
- Devas' journing to Vaikunta to seek help from Vishnu;
- Vishnu's entry into the womb of Sumati,[1] the wife of the Brahman Vishnuyasha;[2]
- Birth of Kalki; [3]
- Childhood in the mystical kingdom of Shambhala;
- Gathering of the Chiranjeevin immortals in Shambhala;
- Martial training under Guru Parashurama;[4]
- Long penance to Lord Shiva in the Himalayas;
- Acceptance of the winged steed Devadatta (God-Given), the celestial parrot Shuka (शुक), and the divine Nandaka (Bringer of Bliss) sword from Lord Shiva;
- Marriage to Padma, avatar of Vishnu’s heavenly consort Lakshmi;
- Siring of his sons Jaya and Vijaya; [5]
- Performance of the Ashwamedha (Horse Sacrifice) to rid the world of all wicked kings and false prophets;
- Battle and massacre of the Buddhists at the city of Keekatpur;
- War with the dark forces of Kali (Demon), including the demon generals Koka and Vikoka;
- Death of Kali (Demon) at the hands of Dharma and Satya Yuga personified and the death of Koka and Vikoka at the hands of Kalki.
- Challenge and defeat under Raja Shashidhwaja; [6]
- Marriage to his second wife Ramaa, daughter of Raja Shashidhwaja;
- Opening of Satya Yuga (Golden Age);
- Division of earthly kingdoms amongst his generals;
- Performance of the Ashwamedha and Rajasooya sacrifices to nourish the Devas;
- Parent's journey to holy place of Badrikashram and death;
- Siring of his sons Meghamaal and Balahaka;
- 1,000 year reign as the King of Shambhala;
- Appearance of the Devas asking him to return to heaven;
- Ritual bath in the Ganges River;
- Appearance of his "four-armed" form and re-ascension to the heavenly plain.
Origins
It was supposedly written by the Rishi Veda Vyasa (वेद व्यास). He is one of the seven Chiranjeevin immortals and is thought to be an avatar of Vishnu.
Although it is considered a Upapurana (Lesser Purana), it is derived from passages taken directly from the 18 "Major" Puranas; including the Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata Purana.
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 Padamavata, (1540) written by the Sufi poet Malik Mohammad Jayasi (मलिक मोहम्मद जायसी) (1477-1542). [7]
Notes
- ^ Pior to Kalki, Sumati gave birth to three older sons: Kavi, Praagya and Sumantra.
- ^ The Padma Purana (6.242.8-12) states that Vishnuyasha is actually an incarnation of Svayambhuva Manu, who performed great austerities to have the Lord as his child. He received the benediction that the Lord will appear as his son three times. Thus Svayambhuva Manu appears as Dasaratha (Rama), Vasudeva (Krishna) and finally as Vishnuyasha (Kalki).[1]
- ^ Kalki birthday will be on "a bright fortnight of the lunar month of Vaishakha [21 April and ending on 21 May], on the 12th lunar tithi (Dvadasi)".
- ^ Parashurama is the 6th and only immortal avatar of Lord Vishnu.
- ^ These are not the same as the similarly named Gandharva guards who stood watch over Vaikunta. For blocking the entrance from the Sanatha Kumara, the "child-like" spiritual sons of Brahma, they were both cursed to 12 "mortal" rebirths. But, with Vishnu's help, it was knocked down to 3 "Demonic" rebirths. In the first birth, Jaya and Vijaya were born as Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha. Vishnu incarnated as Varaha and Narasimha and killed them both. In Treta Yuga they were born as Ravana and Kumbhakarna and were killed by Rama. Then in Dwapara yuga, and in their final birth, Jaya and Vijaya they were born as Shishupala and Dantavakra and killed by Sri Krishna. After the end of three births, they returned to Vaikunta. (See Ravana In Scriptures)
- ^ Although it sounds bad for the most powerful avatar of Lord Vishnu to fall under the heavy fists of an earthly king, Raja Shashidhwaja was a great devotee of Vishnu. Lord Vishnu had granted him a boon of defeating him on the battlefield.
- ^ Some sources put his lifespan from 1494-1592. [2]
Source
- Kalki Purana ISBN 81-288-0588-6
See also
Categories
Puranas