Kalki Jayanti Explained

Kalki Jayanti is a Hindu festival that celebrates the prophesied birth of Kalki, the final avatar of Vishnu, who is set to be born near the end of the Kali Yuga to eradicate vices, slay the asura Kali and restore dharma, turning the Wheel of Time to the Satya Yuga.[1] [2] [3] Kalki's birth ceremony is observed on the dwadashi of the Shuklapaksha of the Bhadrapada month as per the traditional Hindu calendar, while in the Gregorian calendar it is the twelfth day of the waxing phase of the moon.[4] [5]

Significance

The Puranas state that Kalki would be born in the village of Shambala, to a Brahmin family, whose parents would be named Vishnuyasha and Sumati.[6] [7] This event commences near the end of Kali Yuga, which is described that when Kalki grows up and becomes a trained warrior, he will ride on a divine white horse named Devadatta with a blazing sword, accompanied by a talking parrot, Shuka, who knows everything; the past, present, and future.[8] [9] He then goes around the world to fight evil kingdoms and Kali, who is a demon that has the powers of a yogi to control beings and make them commit adharma. He then restores dharma and returns to his kingdom, and finally to Vaikuntha.[10] [11]

Celebration

During the festival, the devotees wake up early in the morning and take a bath before sunrise[12] The performance of the puja (worship) starts with the bijamantra. After the chanting, an offering of a seat (asana) to Kalki takes place. The murti is then washed with panchamrita as abhisheka, with the offerings of flowers, diya, and incense. During this period, the recitation of the Hari Stotra, Vishnu Sahasranama, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya, and other mantras are carried out 108 times.[13] [14] The worshippers would then perform dana.[15]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jr, Donald S. Lopez . Buddhism in Practice: Abridged Edition . 2015-11-24 . Princeton University Press . 978-1-4008-8007-2 . en.
  2. Book: Lewis, James . The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements . . 2004 . 9780199892167 . 488.
  3. Web site: 2011-10-16 . Destroyer and deliverer: The true meaning of Vishnu's Kalki avatar-Ideas News, Firstpost . 2022-10-31 . Firstpost . en.
  4. Web site: Kalki's birthday. 1 October 2021. Feast-guide. Unknown.
  5. Web site: Lord Kalki, God Kalki, Hindu God Kalki, Incarnation of Lord Vishnu,Kalki Avatar . 2022-10-31 . www.astroved.com.
  6. Book: Coulter, Charles Russell . Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities . . 2013 . 9781135963972 .
  7. Book: Hudson, D.Dennis . The Body of God: An emperor's palace for Krishna in eighth century Kanchipuram . . 2008 . 978-0-19-536922-9 . 333–340.
  8. Book: Dalal, Rosen . Hinduism: An Alphabetical guide . . 2014 . 978-8184752779.
  9. Book: Chaturvedi, B.K. . Kalki Purana . . 2004 . 81-288-0588-6 . New Delhi.
  10. Web site: Description of Kalki. astrojyoti.
  11. Book: Rocher, Ludo . The Puranas . . 1986 . 978-3447025225.
  12. Web site: 2021-08-12. Kalki Jayanti 2021: Check out shubh muhurat, puja vidhi and significance of this day. 2021-10-02. Jagran English. en.
  13. Web site: Kalki Avatar Jayanti 2021 Rituals, Significance & Puja Muhurat. 2021-10-02. mPanchang. en.
  14. News: 2022-08-03 . Kalki Jayanti 2022: Know about 10th Avtar of Lord Vishnu . The Times of India . 2023-02-05 . 0971-8257.
  15. Web site: Kalki Dwadashi. 2021-10-02. feast-guide.com.