As the 10,000 year period of the Golden Age within Kali-yuga comes to a close, the lower modes of material nature will become so strong that people will lose interest in spiritual topics. Everyone will become godless. The devotees, bhaktas, and sages that are left on the planet by this time will be so unique in character, and peculiar compared with the rest of society, that they will be ridiculed and hunted down in the cities for sport like animals. Thus, they will flee the cities to live underground in caves or high up in the mountains, or simply disengage from the earthly plane of existence. They will even leave the once pious land of India, as explained in the Kalki Purana, wherein Vishnuyasha said: “At present, the pious Brahmanas have left this country (India), having been chastised by the powerful Kali, who is envious of saintly persons, and who destroys the practice of religious principles.” (Kalki Purana 2.45)
In this way, genuine saintly or spiritually advanced persons will disappear from the face of the earth. That is the time when the dark influence of the age of Kali will become so dominant, unleashing all of its influence, that all of the prophecies, as described in Chapter Four, will manifest without hindrance.
Things will become so bad as the years go by that this world will be like one of the hellish planets in which people are born to suffer. There will be corruption in government and police, and they will be no better, worse in fact, than common criminals. Common citizens will have no protection. They will be subjected to the worst of crimes with no solution. Everyone will be fighting with each other. The world will slide into a state of constant war and chaos. Finally, after 432,000 years from the beginning of the age of Kali, Lord Kalki will appear as the twenty-second avatara of God.
THE APPEARANCE OF LORD KALKI:
There are many avataras or incarnations of the Supreme Being, as stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.3.26): “O Brahmanas, the incarnations of the Lord are innumerable, like rivulets flowing from inexhaustible sources of water.” However, out of all the various incarnations of the Supreme, the Srimad-Bhagavatam(1.3.28) specifically states “krishnas tu bhagavan svayam,” which means that Lord Sri Krishna is the original Supreme Personality of God. All others are His plenary portions, or parts of His plenary portions, who descend into this material world to carry out certain responsibilities and to do specific things. This is especially the case when the planets are overly disturbed by miscreants and atheists. In Kali-yuga many years go by in which constant disturbances and social upheavals are allowed to happen, but the Vedic literature predicts that at the end of the yuga Lord Kalki will make His appearance to change everything, as described in the following verses from the Srimad-Bhagavatam:
“Thereafter, at the conjunction of two yugas, the Lord of the creation will take His birth as the Kalki incarnation and become the son of Vishnuyasha. At this time the rulers of the earth will have degenerated into plunderers.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.3.25)
“Lord Kalki will appear in the home of the most eminent Brahmana of Shambhala village, the great soul Vishnuyasha.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.2.18)
“At the end of Kali-yuga, when there exist no topics on the subject of God, even at the residences of so-called saints and respectable gentlemen of the three higher varnas [castes], and when the power of government is transferred to the hands of ministers elected from the lowborn Shudra class or those less than them, and when nothing is known of the techniques of sacrifice, even by word, at that time the Lord will appear as the supreme chastiser.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.7.38)
The Vishnu Purana (Book Four, Chapter 24) also explains that, “When the practices taught in the Vedas and institutes of law have nearly ceased, and the close of the Kali age shall be nigh, a portion of that divine being who exists of His own spiritual nature, and who is the beginning and end, and who comprehends all things, shall descend upon earth. He will be born in the family of Vishnuyasha, an eminent Brahmana of Shambhala village, as Kalki, endowed with eight superhuman faculties.”
The Mahabharatra (Vana Parva, 190.93-97) adds to the description of Lord Kalki’s appearance: “Impelled by time, a Brahmana named Kalki Vishnuyasha will be born. He will possess great energy, intelligence and prowess. He will be born at a village called Shambhala in a blessed Brahmana family. As soon as thought of, vehicles, weapons, warriors, and arms and armors will all be at his command. He will be the imperial sovereign, ever victorious by the strength of his virtue. He will restore order and peace in this world, overcrowded with creatures and contradictory in its laws. That effulgent and greatly intelligent Brahmana will destroy all things. He will be the destroyer of all and He will be the maker of a new Yuga [Satya-Yuga]. That twice-born one surrounded by the Brahmanas, will exterminate all the low and despicable mlecchas wherever they will be found.”
The Agni Purana (16.7-9) also explains that when the non-Aryans who pose as kings begin devouring men who appear righteous and feed on human beings, Kalki, as the son of Vishnuyasha, and Yajnavalkya as His priest and teacher, will destroy these non-Aryans with His weapons. He will establish moral law in the form of the fourfold varnas, or the suitable organization of society in four classes. After that people will return to the path of righteousness.
The Padma Purana (6.71.279-282) relates that Lord Kalki will end the age of Kali and will kill all the wicked mlecchas [low class and evil beings] and, thus, destroy the bad condition of the world. He will gather all of the distinguished Brahmanas and will propound the highest truth. He will know all the ways of life that have perished and will remove the prolonged hunger of the genuine Brahmanas and the pious. He will be the only ruler of the world that cannot be controlled, and will be the banner of victory and adorable to the world.
To clarify this prophecy, it is also mentioned in the Brahma-Vaivarta Purana (Prakriti Khanda, Chapter 7.60, 58-59) what the conditions will be near the end of Kali-yuga and what Kalki’s actions and purpose will be:
“At that point of time there will be chaos on earth. Everywhere the undesirable activities of the thieves and plunderers would be on the increase. . . At that point in time, in the house of a Brahmana named Vishnuyasha, Narayana shall appear in one of his rays in the form of the great Kalki as the son of that Brahmana. He will be mounted on a very big horse and holding a sword in his hand, he shall destroy all the mlecchas [wicked, selfish and low-minded people] on earth. Thus, the earth would be rid of the mlecchas, after which he will disappear.”
Here in these verses we find that Lord Kalki will come as a chastiser or warrior. By this time the planet will be filled with people who will be unable to understand logical conversations. They will be too slow-minded and dull-witted, not capable of being taught much, especially in the way of high spiritual philosophy regarding the purpose of life. They will not know what they need to do or how to live. And they certainly will be unable to change their ways. Therefore, Lord Kalki does not come to teach, but simply to chastise, punish, and cleanse the planet. For this reason the Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.40.22) refers to Lord Kalki as the killer of the mleccha [most wicked and low-born] outcaste meat-eaters who pose as kings.
It is important to note that in these descriptions we also find the name of the place where Lord Kalki will appear and the name of the family in which He will be born. The family will be qualified Brahmanas. This means that a disciplic and family line of spiritually qualified Brahmanas will remain on the planet throughout the age of Kali, no matter how bad things get. Though they may be hidden, living in a small village somewhere, it will be this line of bhaktas, spiritual devotees of the Vedic tradition, from which Lord Kalki will appear in the distant future.
In this connection, we find in the Padma Purana (6.242.8-12) the prediction that Lord Kalki will be born in the town of Shambala near the end of Kali-yuga from a Brahmana who is actually an incarnation of Svayambhuva Manu. It is further described that Svayambhuva performed austerities at Naimisa on the bank of the Gomati River for acquiring the privilege of having Lord Vishnu as his son in three different lifetimes. Lord Vishnu, being pleased with Svayambhuva, granted the blessing that He would appear as Svayambhuva’s son as Lord Rama, Krishna, and Kalki. Thus, Svayambhuva would appear as Dasaratha, Vasudeva, and then Vishnuyasha. Also, in the Padma Purana (1.40.46) we find Lord Vishnu admits that He will be born in Kali-yuga. Thus, He will appear as Lord Kalki.
This aspect is more fully explained in the Kalki Purana (2.4-8) when the demigods, headed by Brahma, went to Lord Vishnu asking for respite from the conditions on earth. He assured them that He would be taking birth on earth as Kalki, but He also mentions the name of His mother, and His wife-to-be as well as Her family, additional factors, along with those already mentioned, to indicate how He will be recognized. Thus, it is important to consider these factors to understand that not just anyone can claim to be Kalki, which many ordinary or even unscrupulous men may try to do. So, this is what Lord Vishnu says about appearing as Kalki:
“After hearing everything that the demigods had to say regarding the situation on earth, the lotus-eyed Lord Hari [Vishnu] said: O Brahma, rest assured that I will soon descend to the earth and appear in the village known as Shambhala. I will take birth in the house of a Brahmana named Vishnuyasha, from the womb of his wife, Sumati. My mission will be to eliminate the wicked Kali [and his influence] with the help of My four brothers. O demigods, your expansions should also take birth on the earth to assist Me in My mission. My consort, the beloved lotus-eyed Kamala-devi, will also appear on the earth, having the name Padma. She will be born from the womb of Kaumudi, the wife of Brihadratha, the king of Simhala.
“O demigods, you should not delay. By your plenary portions, take birth on the earth. Later on, I will entrust the responsibility for ruling the earth to two powerful kings named Maru and Devapi. I will then again establish Satya-yuga, and thus reinstate the principles of religion as they were before. Rest assured that I will return to Vaikuntha only after destroying the poisonous snake, Kali.”
THE ACTIVITIES OF LORD KALKI:
In the Kalki Purana (3.9-10) Lord Parasurama, as Kalki’s teacher, explains to Lord Kalki after His training what His mission will be: “You have learned the art of discharging arrows from Me. You will imbibe transcendental knowledge from Shukadeva Gosvami, and You will be awarded a powerful weapon by Lord Shiva. Thereafter, You will marry a woman named Padma from the island of Simhala [Sri Lanka]. Your mission is to re-establish Sanatana-dharma. Thereafter, You will set out to conquer the entire world and in the course of that conquest, You will defeat many sinful kings who are representatives of Kali. You will also annihilate many followers of Buddhism and finally, You will entrust the responsibility of ruling the world to Devapi and Maru.”
When it says here that Lord Kalki will annihilate many followers of Buddhism, we must remember that by this time Buddhism as we know it today will have faded out long before this. By this time, as it is explained elsewhere, that any form of a religion will only be a collection of vague impersonalistic ideas that include no knowledge of a personal God, or of the nature of the soul. All such knowledge will have ceased to exist from most of the planet. Therefore, whatever is left of any religion by the time Lord Kalki appears will only be a cheating form of atheism. All such forms of atheism along with the sinful rulers who follow such philosophy of irresponsibility will have to be removed if there is going to be the reappearance of the golden age of Satya-yuga. This will be the mission of Lord Kalki.
The Kalki Purana (20.33-35) goes on to explain that in His search for the nefarious person known as Kali, Lord Kalki would go to the favorite places of that personality, which were the playgrounds of inauspicious creatures, such as ghosts, foxes and jackals. “These places are permeated with the foul odor of decaying beef, and infested with crows and owls. Kali’s domain can be found wherever there is gambling and intoxication, as well as where women constantly quarrel. Kali’s favorite places of residence are always causes of fear and danger. The men in these places are controlled by women,” meaning they are completely under the demanding sway of gratifying their senses with no moral foundation.
Why Lord Kalki would pursue the agents of the personality of Kali is further explained in the Kalki Purana (1.22-24).
“All these relatives [agents] of [the personification of the age of] Kali are the destroyers of sacrifice [religious ritual], study of the Vedas, and charity because they transgressed all the Vedic principles of religion. They are the reservoirs of mental distress, disease, old age, destruction of religious principles, sorrow, lamentation, and fear. These descendants of Kali are found wandering everywhere throughout the kingdom of Kali, destroying the people of the world. Such people are misguided by the influence of time, very restless by nature, full of lusty desires, extremely sinful, very proud, and violent even to their own father and mother. [Even] those who are known as twice-born [spiritually initiated] are devoid of all good behavior, without any observance of proper etiquette, and always engaged in the service of the lowest classes.” This means that those who should be spiritually advanced only serve those who have money in order to maintain their material facilities.
The description of such so-called Brahmanas of that future time are further related: “These fallen souls are very fond of dry arguments, and they use religion as a means of livelihood, teach Vedic knowledge as a profession, are fallen from the execution of their vows, and sell wine and other abominable things, including meat. They are cruel by nature, and very fond of gratifying their bellies and genitals. For this reason, they lust after the wives of others and are always seen to be intoxicated. They were not born from a father and mother who were properly married, and they are short in stature and always engaged in sinful acts, such as cheating others. They generally reside in a sacred place, live for only sixteen years, associate with wretched people, and only consider a brother-in-law to be a friend and relative.” (Kalki Purana 1.25-27)
The Srimad-Bhagavatam describes Lord Kalki’s activities as follows: “Lord Kalki, the Lord of the universe, will mount His swift white horse Devadatta and, sword in hand, travel over the earth exhibiting His eight mystic opulences and eight special qualities of Godhead. Displaying His unequaled effulgence and riding with great speed, He will kill by the millions those thieves who have dared dress as kings.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 12.2.19-20)
We should make note here that, as the Vedic literature explains, when the Supreme kills anyone, that person is immediately spiritually purified by His touch and because the person is focused on the Supreme Being while leaving his body. Thus, that person attains the same destination as those yogis who spend years steadying the mind in order to meditate and leave their bodies while focused on the Supreme. So being killed by the Supreme is a great advantage for those of a demoniac mentality who would otherwise enter lower realms of existence or even the hellish planets in their next lives.
The Mahabharata (Vana Parva, 191.1-6) describes some of Lord Kalki’s activities. Markandeya said: “Then exterminating all robbers, He (Kalki) will duly give away this earth at a great horse-ritual to the Brahmanas. Having established the blessed rectitude ordained by the Self-created (Brahma), that doer of virtuous and renowned deeds will then enter a charming forest. The people of the earth will imitate His conduct. When thieves and robbers will be exterminated by the Brahmanas, there will be prosperity again (on earth). When the countries will all be subjugated by that foremost of Brahmanas, He will cast away the deer skins, lances and tridents and other weapons. Showing His reverence for the excellent twice-born ones [Brahmanas], He was engaged in killing the thieves. Kalki will rove over the earth being adored by the foremost of Brahmanas. The heart-rending cries of ‘O father,’ ‘O mother,’ ‘O son,’ will rise when He will exterminate the thieves and robbers.”
The Vishnu Purana (Book Four, Chapter 24) continues to explain Lord Kalki’s activities: “By His irresistible might he will destroy all the mlecchas and thieves, and all whose minds are devoted to iniquity. He will reestablish righteousness upon earth, and the minds of those who live at the end of the Kali age shall be awakened, and shall be as clear as crystal. The men who are thus changed by virtue of that peculiar time shall be as the seeds of human beings, and shall give birth to a race who will follow the laws of the Krita age [Satya-yuga], the age of purity. As it is said, ‘When the sun and moon, and the lunar asterism Tishya, and the planet Jupiter, are in one mansion, the Krita age shall return.’” The Agni Purana (16.10) also relates that Hari, after giving up the form of Kalki, will go to heaven. Then the Krita or Satya-yuga will return as before.
Additional information that can help us understand the activities of the next coming of God is found in the Linga Purana, the Brahmanda Purana, and theVayu Purana. In these texts we find descriptions of Lord Kalki as He will appear in the future and also as how He appeared in previous incarnations as Pramiti in the time period known as the Svayambhuva Manvantara. These texts tell us that as Kali-yuga comes to a close, and after the death of Bhrigu (or in order to slay the Bhrigus), Kalki (Pramiti) takes birth in the Lunar dynasty of Manu. He will wander over the planet without being seen by any living being. Then he will start His campaign in His thirty-second year and roam the earth for twenty years. He will take with Him a big army of horses, chariots, and elephants, surrounded by hundreds and thousands of spiritually purified Brahmanas armed with weapons. [Being Brahmanas, these weapons may bebrahminical weapons that are activated by mantras, such as the powerful brahmastra rather than base weapons of combat such as knives, swords, and spears, or even guns and ordinary explosives.] Though they may try to do battle with Him, He will kill all of the heretics [and false prophets] and wicked,mleccha kings.
In a previous incarnation He killed the Udicyas (Northerners), Madhya Deshyas (residents of the middle lands), Purvatiyas (mountain dwellers), Pracyas (Easterners), Praticyas (Westerners), Dakshinatyas (of Southern India), the Simhalas (Sri Lankans), Pahlavas (the fair-skinned nomadic tribes of the Caucasus mountains), Yadavas (in the area of Greece), Tusharas (people of the area of Mandhata, India, or present day Tukharistan), Cinas (Chinese), Shulikas, Khashas, and different tribes of the Kiratas (aboriginal tribes living in north-eastern India and Nepal) and Vrishalas.
No one could stop Him as He wielded His discus and killed all the barbarians. When He was finished, He rested in the middle land between the Ganges and Yamuna with His ministers and followers. He allowed only a few people to remain, scattered over the planet. These would be as seeds for the next generations that would follow in the next Satya-yuga. Thereafter, when Lord Kalki has made way for the next age of Satya-yuga, and delivered the earth and whatever is left of civilization from the effects of Kali-yuga, He goes back to His eternal abode along with His army. (Linga Purana 40.50-92, the Brahmanda Purana 1.2.31.76-106 & 2.3.73.104-126, and the Vayu Purana 58.75-110)
THE RETURN OF THE GOLDEN AGE–SATYA-YUGA:
Now let us continue with the above description of Lord Kalki as described in the Kalki Purana (24.8). Shushanta, the queen of king Shashidhvaja, expressed the benefits of the arrival of Lord Kalki on earth that she had witnessed. “Because of Your appearance within this world, the prestige of the devotees has been reinstated, the Brahmanas once again engage in their ritualistic performances, the demigods feel secure, Satya-yuga will soon commence, religious principles are being obeyed, and the influence of Kali has slackened. May I also receive the benefit of Your incarnation.”
After Lord Kalki had removed all of the nefarious and wicked kings, rulers, and people, and the atheist religions had also been abolished for the real spiritual process of Sanatana-dharma, Lord Kalki returned from His wanderings over the planet to remain in the village of Shambhala. The Kalki Purana (32.2-5) explains, “Lord Kalki continued to reside in the village of Shambhala, along with His brothers, sons, other relatives and associates, for one thousand years. The entire village of Shambhala, which was as good as the heavenly planets, appeared very beautiful with its assembly houses, gates, raised platforms, and flags flapping in the breeze that has been placed here and there. Anyone who gave up his material body in Shambhala was freed from all sinful reactions and awarded shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Kalki. Thus, the village of Shambhala, which was profusely decorated with blooming flowers, pious trees, forests and gardens, became a holy place that granted liberation from material existence.”
The Kalki Purana (28.28-30) also describes how Lord Kalki made arrangements for the management of the territory for peaceful existence. “Thereafter, the unlimitedly powerful Lord Kalki continued to reside at Shambhala, and He gave [the lands of] Kankanadesha and Kalapadesha to King Vishakhayupa to rule. Later on, Lord Kalki ordered His son, Kritavarma, to rule numerous other kingdoms, such as Chola, Varvara, and Karva, which were under the jurisdiction of Dvaraka. Lord Kalki respectfully offered heaps of jewels and other kinds of wealth to His father, and, indeed, He satisfied all the citizens of Shambhala. He then continued to happily reside there as a householder, along with His wives, Ramaa and Padmavati. It was at this time that Satya-yuga recommenced.”
The Kalki Purana (30.2-5) further relates the auspicious conditions that were found while Lord Kalki ruled the planet. “With Lord Kalki sitting upon the royal throne, the Vedas, the religious principles, Satya-yuga personified, the demigods, and indeed all other moving and non-moving living entities became greatly satisfied. In the previous yuga, the Brahmanas had worshiped the demigods, and to bewilder the masses of people, they had displayed some minuscule mystic powers. During the reign of Lord Kalki, all such cheating practices were stopped so that no atheists or hypocrites could be seen within His kingdom. Lord Kalki thus happily resided in the city of Shambhala.”
As time went on, the day finally arrived for Lord Kalki to return to His spiritual residence. The Kalki Purana (33.13-28) describes what happened.
“[One day] After hearing the prayers of the demigods, Lord Kalki ecstatically expressed His own desire to return to Vaikuntha [His spiritual abode], taking with Him His eternal associates. Thereafter, Lord Kalki summoned His four very powerful sons, all of whom were very dear to the citizens because they were very pious and influential, and handed over the rule of the kingdom to them. The Lord then addressed His subjects, revealing His intention. Lord Kalki said: ‘At the request of the demigods, I will return to Vaikuntha.’
“When the inhabitants of Shambhala heard this, they were shocked and began shedding tears of grief. Just as sons address their fathers, the people began speaking of the Lord after offering their obeisances. The citizens said: My dear Lord, You are the original propounder of genuine religious principles. It is not proper for You to leave us, for You always displayed affection for those who had sincerely surrendered unto You. Wherever You go, please allow us to accompany You. Although everyone considers his wife, children, wealth, and house to be very dear, Your servants know that You are the supreme enjoyer who, by awarding detachment, vanquishes all suffering in this life and the next. Because of knowing You in truth, our lives are dedicated to You.
“After hearing the prayers of His subjects, Lord Kalki pacified them as far as possible and then departed for the forest, taking with Him His two consorts. Thereafter, Lord Kalki, surrounded by many sages, traveled to the Himalaya Mountains, which are adorned by the Ganges River, which is worshiped even by the demigods and which gives pleasure to the heart. The Lord sat by the side of the Ganges and then assumed His four-armed form while entering deep into meditation upon Himself. The Lord appeared as brilliant as thousands of suns, and thus looked very attractive. He was the witness of everything, as well as the eternal Lord and Supersoul of all living entities. His form was the form of all ornaments. He held a conch shell, disc, club, lotus flower, and bow string in His hands. On His chest was the Kaustubha gem. The demigods showered fragrant flowers as the sounds of beating drums could be heard in the four directions.
“In this way, Lord Kalki enacted His pastime of disappearance from this world. All moving and non-moving living beings that witnessed the disappearance of the Lord glorified Him in a mood of great astonishment. [The wives of Lord Kalki] Padmavati and Ramaa saw Lord Kalki’s transcendental form [take on the characteristics] as if devoid of life. Realizing this to be an illusory display of the external energy, although greatly astonished, they entered fire so as to rejoin their husband in His eternal abode.
“Meanwhile, Dharma and Satya-yuga personified wandered throughout the world without any fear of enemies, by the order of Lord Kalki. They happily resided within the world now that [the age of] Satya-yuga had commenced. By the order of Lord Kalki, the two kings, Maru and Devapi, executed their duties of protecting the people of the world.”
The Linga, Brahmanda, and Vayu Puranas explain that after Lord Kalki returns to His eternal abode, when those subjects surviving at the end of Kali-yuga are enlightened, the yuga changes overnight. Then the minds of all people will become enlightened as clear as crystal, and with inevitable force Krita or Satya-yuga sets in. People then realize the soul, acquiring piety, devotion, tranquility, and clear consciousness. Then those Siddhas [the enlightened and perfected living beings who had remained invisible on a higher dimension through the end of the age of Kali] return to the earthly dimension and again are clearly visible. They establish themselves with the return of the Saptarishis, the seven sages, who instruct everyone about spiritual life, Vedic knowledge, and the progressive organization of society for a peaceful and fulfilling existence. Then again people flourish and perform the sacred rites, and the sages will remain in authority to continue the advancement of the new Satya-yuga.
We can understand from this that Lord Kalki will simply chastise by killing all of the evil kings and rogues and thereby bring in a new era of enlightened beings, a race whose minds will be as clear as crystal and who will produce offspring that will follow the tendencies of real human beings as found in the age of Satya-yuga.
Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.2.21-24) further describes that after all of the devious and fake kings have been killed, the remaining residents of the towns and cities will smell the breezes that carry the sacred aroma of the Lord’s sandalwood paste and decorations, and their minds will then become spiritually purified. When the Supreme Being appears in their hearts in His form of pure goodness, the remaining citizens will abundantly repopulate the earth. With this appearance of Lord Kalki, Satya-yuga will begin again and the remaining humans will produce children in goodness [sattva-guna]. Thus, when the moon, the sun, and Jupiter are in the constellation of Kartaka, Cancer, and together enter the lunar mansion of Pusya, that is when the age of Satya-yuga will begin.
Therefore, as further related in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.2.34), after one thousand celestial years of Kali-yuga, Satya-yuga will again manifest. At that time the minds of men will be self-effulgent.
The Mahabharata (Vana Parva, 190.89-92) continues to describe the conditions of the earth when the Satya-yuga returns. “Creatures would come into existence again, beginning with the Brahmanas. When that age will pass away, creation will again increase. Providence will again be propitious at will. When the sun, the moon, and Brihaspati enter the constellation of Pushya, the clouds will incessantly shower rains, and [positions of the] stars and planets will be auspicious. The planets, duly revolving in their orbits, will be greatly propitious. Abundance, prosperity, wealth, and peace will be everywhere.”
Herein we see that once balance or Dharma is restored, as re-established by Kalki, the planet begins to heal and rejuvenate itself. Those creatures that were once extinct due to the pollution and imbalance caused by humanity will appear again. The sacred rivers of the Ganga and Yamuna and others also reappear. The planet creates what it needs again, and after years of drought and famine the clouds will supply rain again. Everywhere there will be peace and bountifulness.
The following description shows how, at the beginning of the next Satya-yuga, everyone will again live in harmony and with a common cause and goal, based on spiritual upliftment for one and all. “Reaching at this stage, there will be an end to Kali-yuga, in which the truth and the tapas [austerity for spiritual insight] would re-emerge completely, together with Dharma. At that point in time the Brahmanas will perform their tapas. They will be extremely religious and well-versed in the Vedic knowledge. In every household, there will again be chaste ladies devoted to religion [the Vedic spiritual path]. There will be regional kings who will be devoted to their own Dharma [duties as an honest and principled ruler], devoted to [genuine and highly advanced] Brahmanas [the intellectuals and priests who understand Vedic spiritual knowledge], as well as glorious, devoted to Dharma, and will be performing always good deeds and activities. The Vaishyas [Vedically principled and honest merchants] will engage themselves in commerce and will be devoted to the Brahmanas and religion. The Shudras [or worker class, artists, performers, etc.] also will be quite meritorious, devoted to Dharma and adore the Brahmanas. The Brahmanas, Kshatriys and Vaishyas will perform the yajnas [Vedic rituals] of Vishnu. There will be Vaishnavas [worshipers of Vishnu] always reciting the name of Lord Vishnu and devoted to Me [Lord Narayana, Vishnu]. They will be well-versed in the Smritis, Shrutis and Puranas, as well as Vedic Dharma and will enjoy the company of their wives only at the appropriate times. Therefore, Krita-yuga will be influenced only by Dharma and there will be no particle of adharma [non-Vedic or non-spiritual or immoral actions or thoughts]. (Brahma-Vaivarta Purana, Prakriti Khanda, Chapter 7.63-68)
The Mahabharata also states some of the same things but with further elaborations on how conditions will be when Satya-yuga or Krita-yuga begins again: “O descendant of Bharata, when at the appearance of the Krita Yuga, sin will thus be completely destroyed and virtue will flourish, men will again be engaged in religious rites. Well-planted gardens, sacrificial grounds, large tanks, Vedic schools and colleges, ponds and temples, will (all) reappear everywhere; various sacrifices will also begin to be performed at the appearance of the Krita age. Brahmanas will be honest and good. Being devoted to asceticism, they will be Rishis [and wise sages]. The hermitages occupied by the wicked wretches will once more be the homes of men devoted to Truth. Men in general will begin to honor and practice Truth. All seeds sown on earth will grow. O king of kings, every kind of crop will grow in every season. Men will devotedly practice charity, vows, and religious rites. The Brahmanas, devoted to meditation and sacrifices [Vedic rituals], will be of virtuous soul and cheerful disposition. The kings will virtuously govern the earth. In the Krita Yuga, the Vaishyas will devote themselves to trade, the Brahmans will be devoted to their six duties and the Kshatriyas will be devoted to the display of prowess [for the protection of the citizens]. The Shudras will be devoted to the service of the other three orders. Such will be the Dharma in Krita, Treta, and Dvapara Yugas.
“O son of Pandu, I have now narrated to you everything. I have told you the periods embraced by the several yugas, that which is known to all. Thus have I now told you everything appertaining to both the past and the future as narrated by Vayu in his own Purana adored by the Rishi. Immortal as I am, I have many times seen and ascertained the course of the world. I have now told you all that I have seen and felt.” (Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Chap.191, Text 7-17)
The Vishnu Purana (Book Four, Chapter One) also relates that the Vedas and the principles of Sanatana-dharma, or the eternal nature of the soul, fade and disappear from the planet at the end of every four ages. The Bhagavatam (8.14.4-5) also confirms that there are saintly persons who help reestablish these principles in Satya-yuga along with the basis of varnashrama [the divisions of four varnas, such as Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras that are established not by one’s birth, but by one’s natural talents and tendencies; and the four ashramas, namely Brahmacari, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, and Sannyasa], which is the proper organization of society for humanity.
The Vishnu Purana continues to explain that it is in the jurisdiction of the seven universal sages or rishis (the Saptarishis) to make sure the Vedic knowledge is given currency again, even if these rishis must descend from the higher planets to do so. So in every Satya-yuga the Manu [the demigod son of Brahma who is the lawgiver of humanity] of that age is the author of the body of law, while the sons of Manu and their descendants are sovereigns of the earth. This means that although the genuine spiritual knowledge or Vedic information may disappear from the face of this planet, it is still dwelling elsewhere in the universe, or even out of the jurisdiction of society in this world, and it is the duty of higher authorities to reestablish it in its proper time.
To help in this regard, it is predicted in the Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Vishnu Purana that there are two persons who are waiting for the end of Kali-yuga: Devapi of the race of Puru and brother of King Shantanu, and Maru, a descendant of King Ikshvaku. They will be great kings and will help in the process of reestablishing the proper principles in society. These two are alive even now by their great mystic strength obtained through the power of devotion. They have lived through all four of the yugas and reside in the village of Kalapa. They are waiting for the end of Kali-yuga. Then, at the beginning of Satya-yuga, under the instructions of the Supreme, they will return to society and be members of the family of the Manu and reestablish the eternal religion of humanity,Sanatana-dharma [based on the soul’s eternal nature to serve the Supreme], and the institution of varnashrama, which is the proper organization of society for its continued harmony in life, and its material and spiritual progress. They will become great kings and form proper government. (Srimad-Bhagavatam12.2.37-38, and the Vishnu Purana, Book Four, Chapter 24)
The Srimad-Bhagavatam (9.12.6) relates the means by which Maru has been able to continue living and what his mission will be: “Having achieved perfection in the power of mystic yoga [pranayama or breath control], Maru still lives in a place known as Kalapa-grama. At the end of Kali-yuga, he will revive the lost Surya dynasty by begetting a son.” Thus, by the arrangement of the Supreme Being, there are those who will always be the guardians of that spiritual knowledge that contains the genuine principles for attaining the real goal of human existence, and who will provide the means so that it is passed along to others.
After all of this is accomplished, as related in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.2.39), the cycle of the four ages of Satya, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali-yugas [a Chaturyuga] will continue to repeat itself along with the same general pattern of events.
Those who repeatedly hear the transcendental glories of the Kalki incarnation of Lord Maha-Vishnu with devotion will find that all inauspiciousness within their hearts will be reduced to nil. (Kalki Purana 34.16)
Kalki Avatar by Stephen Knapp
