Kalki: Difference between revisions

| mount = Devadatta, the [[White horse (mythology)#Hindu|White horse]]<ref name="Brockington1998p287"/><ref name="Dalal2010p188">{{harvnb|Dalal|2014|p=188}}</ref>

| father = Vishnuyasha

| mother = Sumati

| abode = [[Vaikuntha]]

| affiliation = [[Vishnu]] (tenth [[avatara]])

| weapon = [[Nandaka]] [[Sword]] or Ratnamaru sword

|spouse =[[Lakshmi]] as Padmavati}}

 

{{Vaishnavism}}

'''Kalki''' ({{aka}} '''Kalkin''')<ref name="Brockington1998p287">{{cite book|author=J. L. Brockington|title=The Sanskrit Epics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HR-_LK5kl18C |year=1998|publisher=BRILL Academic|isbn=90-04-10260-4|pages=287–288 with footnotes 126–127}}</ref> is the tenth and final [[avatar]] of the Hindu god [[Vishnu]], who will appear at the end of the present [[Kali Yuga]] age to punish the wicked, reward the good, and inaugurate the [[Satya Yuga]] age of sacrifice and [[dharma]]. It is also believed that Kalki will also kill the [[Kali (demon)|demon Kali]].<ref name="Brockington1998p287"/><ref name="Dalal2010p188"/>

Kalki is described in the [[Puranas]] as the avatar who rejuvenates existence by ending the darkest and destructive period to remove [[adharma]] and ushering in the Satya Yuga, while riding a white horse with a fiery sword.<ref name="Dalal2010p188"/> The description and details of Kalki are different among various Puranas. Kalki is also found in Buddhist texts: For example the ''[[Kalachakra]]-Tantra'' of [[Tibetan Buddhism]].<ref name="Lopez2015p202"/><ref name="Perry2017p220"/><ref name="Dahla2006p90"/>

The prophecy of the Kalki avatar is also told in [[Sikhism|Sikh texts]].<ref name="Rinehart2011p29"/>

The name Kalki is derived from ''Kal'', which means "time" ([[Kali Yuga]]).<ref name="Klostermaier2006p75">{{cite book |first=Klaus K. |last=Klostermaier |year=2006 |title=Mythologies and Philosophies of Salvation in the Theistic Traditions of India |page=75 |publisher=Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press |isbn=978-0-88920-743-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CFQ9DgAAQBAJ |via=Google Books}}</ref> The literal meaning of Kalki is "pure, sinless", .<ref name="Brockington1998p287"/> This has led scholars such as Otto Schrader to suggest that the original term may have been ''karki'' (white, from the horse) which morphed into Kalki. This proposal is supported by two versions of ''Mahabharata'' manuscripts (e.g. the G3.6&nbsp;manuscript) that have been found, where the Sanskrit verses name the avatar to be "karki", rather than "kalki".<ref name="Brockington1998p287" />

 

 

 

Kalki appears for the first time in the great war epic ''Mahabharata''.<ref name="Hiltebeitel2011p104">{{cite book|author=Alf Hiltebeitel|title=Reading the Fifth Veda: Studies on the Mahābhārata - Essays by Alf Hiltebeitel|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=lLfHSOWKB-sC&pg=PA531|year=2011|publisher=BRILL Academic|isbn=978-90-04-18566-1|pages=89–110, 530–531}}</ref> The mention of Kalki in the ''Mahabharata'' occurs only once, over the verses 3.188.85–3.189.6.<ref name="Brockington1998p287"/> The Kalki avatar is found in the Maha-Puranas such as ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'',<ref>{{cite book |last=Wilson |first=Horace |authorlink=Horace Hayman Wilson |title=Vishnu Purana |year=2001 |publisher=Ganesha Publishing |isbn=1-86210-016-0 |page=72}}</ref> ''[[Matsya Purana]]'', and ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Theory of Avatāra and Divinity of Chaitanya|first=Janmajit|last=Roy|page=39 |publisher = Atlantic Publishers}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Myths and Gods of India: The Classic Work on Hindu Polytheism from the Princeton Bollingen Series|first=Alain|last=Daniélou|page=181|publisher=Inner Traditions / Bear & Co}}</ref> However, the details relating the Kalki mythologies are divergent between the Epic and the Puranas, as well as within the Puranas.<ref name="Mitchiner2000p68">{{cite book|author=John E. Mitchiner|title=Traditions Of The Seven Rsis|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=phGzVwTTp_gC|year= 2000|publisher= Motilal Banarsidass |isbn= 978-81-208-1324-3|pages= 68–69 with footnotes}}</ref><ref name="Hiltebeitel2011p104"/>

 

In the ''Mahabharata'', according to Hiltebeitel, Kalki is an extension of the [[Parasurama]] avatar legend where a Brahmin warrior destroys Kshatriyas who were abusing their power to spread chaos, evil and persecution of the powerless. The Epic character of Kalki restores dharma, restores justice in the world, but does not end the cycle of existence.<ref name="Hiltebeitel2011p104"/><ref name="Hiltebeitel2011p288">{{cite book|author=Alf Hiltebeitel|title=Dharma: Its Early History in Law, Religion, and Narrative|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U4NF8pYxdvIC |year=2011|publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-539423-8|pages=288–292}}</ref> The Kalkin section in the ''Mahabharata'' occurs in the Markandeya section. There, states Luis Reimann, can "hardly be any doubt that the Markandeya section is a late addition to the Epic. Making Yudhisthira ask a question about conditions at the end of Kali and the beginning of Krta — something far removed from his own situation — is merely a device for justifying the inclusion of this subject matter in the Epic."<ref>{{cite book|author=Luis González Reimann|title=The Mahābhārata and the Yugas: India's Great Epic Poem and the Hindu System of World Ages|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=nXrXAAAAMAAJ|year =2002|publisher= Peter Lang|isbn= 978-0-8204-5530-3|pages= 89–99, quote is on page 97}}</ref>

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kalki is an avatara of Vishnu. Avatara means "descent" and refers to a descent of the divine into the material realm of human existence. The [[Garuda Purana]] lists [[Dasavatara of Vishnu#Lists|ten avatars]], with Kalki being the tenth.<ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/73 73]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref> He is described as the avatar who appears at the end of the Kali Yuga. He ends the darkest, degenerating and chaotic stage of the Kali ''Yuga'' (period) to remove [[adharma]] and ushers in the [[Satya Yuga]], while riding a white horse with a fiery sword.<ref name="Dalal2010p188"/><ref name="Doniger1999p629"/> He restarts a new cycle of time.<ref>{{cite book|author=Ludo Rocher|editor=Ralph M. Rosen|title=Time and Temporality in the Ancient World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=It9KMklf4R4C&pg=PA91|date=22 March 2004|publisher=UPenn Museum of Archaeology|isbn=978-1-931707-67-1|pages=91–93}}</ref> He is described as a Kshatriya warrior in the Puranas.<ref name="Dalal2010p188"/><ref name="Doniger1999p629">{{cite book| author1=Wendy Doniger|author2=Merriam-Webster, Inc|title=Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions| url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780877790440/page/629/mode/1up |year=1999 |publisher=[[Merriam-Webster]] |isbn=978-0-87779-044-0 |page=629}}</ref>

In the cyclic concept of time (''Puranic Kalpa''), [[Kaliyuga]] is variously estimated to last between 400,000 and 432,000 years. In some Vaishnava texts, Kalki is forecasted to appear on a white horse, at the end of Kaliyuga, to end the age of degeneration and to restore virtue and establish new world order.<ref name="coulter2013"/><ref name="Oxford University Press">{{cite book|title=The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements, Volume 2|author1=James R. Lewis|author2=Inga B. Tollefsen|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=488}}</ref>

Kalki is described differently in Indian and Buddhist manuscripts. The Indian texts state that Kalki will be born to Awejsirdenee and Bishenjun,<ref name=coulter2013/> or alternatively in the family of Sumati and Vishnuyasha.<ref name="emperor"/>{{sfn|Rocher|1986|p=183}} He appears at the end of Kali Yuga to restore the order of the world.<ref name=coulter2013>{{cite book |first1=Charles Russell |last1=Coulter |first2=Patricia |last2=Turner |year=2013 |title=Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781135963972 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VWxekbhM1yEC}}</ref><ref name="Oxford University Press"/> Vishnuyasha is stated to be a prominent headman of the village called [[Shambhala]]. He will become the king, a "Turner of the Wheel", and one who triumphs. He will eliminate all barbarians and robbers, end ''adharma'', restart ''dharma'', and save the good people.<ref name="incarnation">{{cite book |first=J.A.B. |last=van&nbsp;Buitenen |year=1987 |title=The Mahabharata |at=Volume&nbsp;2, Book&nbsp;2, pages&nbsp;597–598 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=9780226223681 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GfhJCgAAQBAJ}}</ref> After that, humanity will be transformed and will prevail on earth, and the golden age will begin.<ref name="incarnation"/>

In the Kanchipuram temple, two relief Puranic panels depict Kalki, one relating to lunar (daughter-based) dynasty as mother of Kalki and another to solar (son-based) dynasty as father of Kalki.<ref name="emperor"/> In these panels, states D.D.&nbsp;Hudson, the story depicted is in terms of Kalki fighting and defeating asura [[Kali (demon)|Kali]]. He rides a white horse called Devadatta, ends evil, purifies everyone's minds and consciousness, and heralds the start of [[Satya Yuga]].<ref name="emperor">{{cite book |first=D.&nbsp;Dennis |last=Hudson |year=2008 |title=The Body of God: An emperor's palace for Krishna in eighth&nbsp;century Kanchipuram |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bodygodemperorsp00huds_609/page/n359 333]–340 |publisher=Oxford University Press |url=https://archive.org/details/bodygodemperorsp00huds_609 |url-access=registration}}</ref>

[[File:Dasavatar, 19th century.jpg|thumb|center|650px|19th-century [[Dashavatara]] painting (from left): Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha

and Kalki.]]

==In other religions==

===Buddhism===

In the Buddhist text ''Kalachakra Tantra'', the righteous kings are called Kalki (Kalkin, lit. chieftain) living in Sambhala. There are many Kalki in this text, each fighting barbarism, persecution and chaos. The last Kalki is called "Cakrin" and is predicted to end the chaos and degeneration by assembling a large army to eradicate the "forces of islam".<ref name="Lopez2015p202"/><ref name="Perry2017p220"/> A great war and Armageddon will destroy the barbaric Muslim forces, states the text.<ref name="Lopez2015p202"/><ref name="Perry2017p220"/><ref name="Dahla2006p90">[a] {{cite book|author=Björn Dahla|title=Exercising Power: The Role of Religions in Concord and Conflict|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i_rWAAAAMAAJ|year=2006|publisher=Donner Institute for Research in Religious and Cultural History|isbn=978-952-12-1811-8|pages=90–91}}, '''Quote:''' "(...) the Shambala-bodhisattva-king [Cakravartin Kalkin] and his army will defeat and destroy the enemy army, the barbarian Muslim army and their religion, in a kind of Buddhist Armadgeddon. Thereafter Buddhism will prevail.";<br>[b] {{cite book|author=David Burton|title=Buddhism: A Contemporary Philosophical Investigation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=phddDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT193 |year=2017|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-351-83859-7|page=193}}<br>[c] {{cite book|author=Johan Elverskog |editor=Anna Akasoy|display-editors=etal|title=Islam and Tibet: Interactions Along the Musk Routes|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZfWXIfbynwYC&pg=PA293 |year=2011|publisher=Ashgate Publishing |isbn=978-0-7546-6956-2|pages=293–310}}</ref> According to Donald Lopez – a professor of Buddhist Studies, Kalki is predicted to start the new cycle of perfect era where "Buddhism will flourish, people will live long, happy lives and righteousness will reign supreme".<ref name="Lopez2015p202"/> The text is significant in establishing the chronology of the Kalki idea to be from post-7th century, probably the 9th or 10th century.<ref name="JIN2017p49">{{cite book|author=Yijiu JIN|title=Islam|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q-PzDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA49|year=2017|publisher=BRILL Academic|isbn=978-90-474-2800-8|pages=49–52}}</ref> Lopez states that the Buddhist text likely borrowed it from Hindu mythology.<ref name="Lopez2015p202">{{cite book|author=Donald S. Lopez Jr.|title=Buddhism in Practice |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zaC4CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA202 |year=2015|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-8007-2|pages=202–204}}</ref><ref name="Perry2017p220">{{cite book|author=Perry Schmidt-Leukel|title=Religious Pluralism and Interreligious Theology: The Gifford Lectures |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ir3zDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT221 |year=2017|publisher=Orbis|isbn=978-1-60833-695-1|pages=220–222}}</ref> Other scholars, such as Yijiu Jin, state that the text originated in Central Asia in the 10th-century, and Tibetan literature picked up a version of it in India around 1027 CE.<ref name="JIN2017p49"/>

===Sikhism===

[[File:Kalki Avatar.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A man from Punjab greets Kalki, Guler, c. 1765.]]

The Kalki avatar appears in the historic [[Sikh]] texts, most notably in [[Dasam Granth]], a text that is traditionally attributed to [[Guru Gobind Singh]].<ref name="Rinehart2011p29">{{cite book |first=Robin |last=Rinehart |year=2011 |title=Debating the Dasam Granth |pages=29–30 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-975506-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=58AVDAAAQBAJ}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=W.H. |last=McLeod |year=2003 |title=Sikhs of the Khalsa: A history of the Khalsa Rahit |pages=149–150 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-565916-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HIrXAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> The ''Chaubis Avatar'' (24 avatars) section mentions sage Matsyanra describing the appearance of Vishnu avatars to fight evil, greed, violence and ignorance. It includes Kalki as the twenty-fourth incarnation to lead the war between the forces of righteousness and unrighteousness, states Dhavan.<ref>{{cite book|author=Purnima Dhavan|title=When Sparrows Became Hawks: The Making of the Sikh Warrior Tradition, 1699-1799|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-7HJ5idB8_QC |year=2011|publisher=Oxford University Press, USA|isbn=978-0-19-975655-1|pages=1 55–157, 186 note 32}}</ref>

===Isma'ilism===

The Gupti [[Isma'ilism|Ismailis]], who observe [[Taqiya|pious circumspection]] as Hindus, uphold that the first Shi‘i Imam, [[Ali|‘Ali b. Abi Talib]], as well as his descendants though the line of [[Isma'il ibn Ja'far|Isma‘il]], are collectively Kalki. According to this interpretation, these figures represent the continuity of divine guidance to humankind. In the view of some Guptis, this is corroborated by the [[Quran|Quranic verse]] 14:4 which mentions the idea that [[Prophets and messengers in Islam|God had sent a messenger to every land]]. They understand the ''avatāras'' to be these messengers sent by God to their people in the [[Indian subcontinent]].

The important Ismaili ''[[Ginans|ginān]] Caution for the Faithful'' (''Moman Chetāmaṇī''), a foundational piece of literature for the Guptis of Bhavnagar and composed by Imamshah, alludes to the status of ''avatāra'' held by ‘Ali:<blockquote>“The descendants of ‘Ali and the [[Muhammad|Prophet]] continued

He who forsakes his veneration to them

Approaches the gates of Hell

The vision of whose face will be a heinous sin

 

 

*Agastya, founder of the world movement, claimed to be the Kalki Avatar, as well as [[Mahdi]].<ref>{{cite book |first=Mark |last=Juergensmeyer |year=2006 |title=Oxford Handbook of Global Religions |page=520 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford, UK |isbn=978-0-19-513798-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lQMurMhRtfIC&pg=PA520}} {{ISBN|0195137981}}</ref>

*In the [[Baháʼí Faith]], [[Baháʼu'lláh]] is identified as Kalki as well as the prophesied redeeming messenger of God at the end of the world, as claimed in the [[Bábí]] religion, Judaism (King of Glory), Christianity (Messiah), Islam (Mahdi), Buddhism ([[Maitreya]]), Zoroastrianism (Shah Bahram), and other religions.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Effendi |first1=Shoghi |title=God Passes By |publisher=Baha'i Publishing Trust |page=94}}</ref><ref name="Bassuk1987p146">{{cite book |first=Daniel E. |last=Bassuk |year=1987 |title=Incarnation in Hinduism and Christianity: The Myth of the God-Man |pages=146–147 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-1-349-08642-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k3iwCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA146}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=John M. |last=Robertson |year=2012 |title=Tough Guys and True Believers: Managing authoritarian men in the psychotherapy room |pages=62–63 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-81774-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fTiZY_5wlJ4C&pg=PA62}}</ref>

*In some Buddhist traditions, a future Buddha [[Maitreya]] is depicted as Kalki.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Powell |first1=Robert |last2=Isaacson |first2=Estelle |language=en |title=Gautama Buddha's Successor |date=2013 |publisher=SteinerBooks |isbn=978-1-58420-162-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vGhAAwAAQBAJ&q=Maitreya+Kalki&pg=PT32 |access-date=17 May 2020}}; {{cite book |last=Roerich |first=Elena Ivanovna |year=1987 |title=Letters, 1929-1938 |publisher=Agni Yoga Society |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-6zwAAAAIAAJ&q=Maitreya+Kalki |access-date=17 May 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Plott |first1=John C. |last2=Dolin |first2=James Michael |last3=Hatton |first3=Russell E. |year=1977 |title=Global History of Philosophy: The period of scholasticism |language=en |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe |isbn=978-0-89581-678-8 |page=358 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ErMRGiNcxJIC&q=Maitreya+Kalki&pg=PA358 |access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Lawrence |first=Troy |year=1990 |title=New Age Messiah identified: Who is Lord Maitreya? Tara Center's "mystery man" alive and living in London |language=en |publisher=Huntington House Publishers |isbn=978-0-910311-17-5 |page=62 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RJo4wL49kugC&q=Maitreya+Kalki |access-date=17 May 2020}}; {{cite book |last=Stutley |first=Margaret |year=1985 |title=Hinduism: The Eternal Law: An introduction to the literature, cosmology, and cults of the Hindu religion |language=en |publisher=Aquarian Press |isbn=978-0-85030-348-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OPsXAAAAIAAJ&q=Maitreya+Kalki |access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref>

* Various Muslim missionaries in South Asia – such as Siddiq Hussain of Shia sect of Islam – seeking to convert Hindus to their sect of Islam; they either claimed themselves to be Kalki, or claimed that "all" the [[The Twelve Imams|Shia Imams]] were Kalki, or claimed [[Muhammad]] was Kalki.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Robinson |first1=R. |last2=Clarke |first2=S. |year=2003 |title=Religious Conversion in India: Modes, motivations, and meanings |pages=44, 108–113 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-566329-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eNsoAAAAYAAJ}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Sikand |first=Y. |year=2004 |title=Muslims in India Since 1947: Islamic perspectives on inter-faith relations |pages=162–171 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-134-37825-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yf5aJi2loLcC}}</ref>  

*[[Kalki Bhagavan]], born Vijaykumar Naidu, born on 7 March 1949, founder of Oneness University.<ref>{{cite book |first1=James R. |last1=Lewis |first2=Inga B. |last2=Tollefsen |title=The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements |volume=2 |page=409 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780190611521 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KisRDAAAQBAJ |year=2004}}</ref>

*[[Samael Aun Weor]], founder of the Universal Christian Gnostic Movement.<ref>{{cite web |title=Who is Samael Aun Weor? |website=Samael.org |url=http://www.samael.org/idiomas/ingles/paginas/1_quien_samael/quien_samael.htm |access-date=25 December 2017}}</ref>

*[[Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi]] of [[Kalki Avatar Foundation]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Pseudo-messianic movements in contemporary Muslim South Asia|first=Yoginder|last=Sikand|publisher=Global Media Publications|year=2008|page=100}}</ref>

* [[End time]]

* [[Kalki (novel)]]

===Bibliography===

[[Category:Forms of Vishnu]]