Kalki Jayanti: Prophecy and Revelation of the Warrior Incarnation
Kalki Jayanti is the celebration of the day which prophesied the birth of Kalki, the final avatar of Vishnu. According to the legends, Kalki was to be born near the end of the Kali Yuga. He would take on the task of eradicating vices, slaying the asura Kali and restoring dharma by turning the Wheel of Time to the Satya Yuga.
This year, Kalki Jayanti is set to be celebrated on 22 August 2023. The tithi begins at 02:00 AM on Aug 22, 2023, and ends at 03:05 AM on Aug 23, 2023.
Significance:
The name “Kalki” represents the one who eliminates all kinds. It is believed that when things reach a breaking point, Lord Vishu would take the shape of Kalki and incarnate on this earth. He will burn away all the sins and restore religion and morality. People offer their prayers to Lord Vishnu on this auspicious day and beg for forgiveness. This is done in order to appease the deity who is commonly regarded as one of the most terrible manifestations of Lord Vishnu.
Legend:
The legend in the Purana has been very detailed about the arrival of Kalki. It states that Kalki would be born in the village of Shambala, to a Brahmin family, and to parents who would be named Vishnuyasha and Sumati.
During the Kali Yuga, Kalki will take the terrible form of a warrior and would come paddling a horse with a sharp weapon, and a smart parrot named Shuka who is able to everything about the past, present, and future.
Kalki will then proceed to go around the world to fight evil kingdoms. The greatest foe will be Asura Kali, a demon who has the power to control beings and make them commit adharma. Kalki will successfully defeat Kali and re-establishes Dharma before departing to Vaikuntha, his motherland.
Rituals:
Kalki Jayanti is celebrated by many devotees across the country and on this special occasion they perform rituals to please Lord Vishnu and seek forgiveness for their deeds. People wake up early in the morning and take a bath in the Brahma Muhurta. They pray for a peaceful life before the end comes.
Lord Vishnu’s idol is cleansed with the sacred Ganga jal or Panchamitrea and then he is offered flowers, sweets, diya, and incense. Fasts are also observed throughout the entire day by devotees to ensure a painless and peaceful end to their lives. They also recite the mantra “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya” 108 times or read Vishnu Stotram during the puja.
It is also important that devotees perform the act of ‘daan’ which is essentially the act of giving good to the less fortunate. On this day, feeding Brahmins are also considered to be a necessary ritual.
