A popular feature of Vaishnavism is the worship of
the avataras, i.e. descents or incarnations of Vishnu. According to popular tradition
there are ten incarnations of Vishnu. While the nine avatars have already
appeared, Kalkin or Kalki is yet to come.
At the end of Kali- yuga (dark age) marked by
utter confusion resulting from disappearance of religion and virtue, Kalki will
appear in the form of a man mounted on a white horse named
Devadatta, with a
flaming sword raised in his hand. We are presently in the Kali-yuga, which started
according to popular tradition in 3012 B. C. Kalki will destroy the wicked,
reward the good and usher in the age of gold.
This 10th incarnation of Vishnu appears
to be a late addition to the Vaishnavite concept of avataras. This can be gauged from the fact that
there have already been references to the concept of the coming of Maitreya
Buddha (future Buddha) in Buddhism.
There are many temples dedicated to Kalkin. The Kalkin temple near the
Hawa Mahal in Jaipur was built by Sawai Jai Singh II.
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