Kalkin, Tenth Incarnation of Vishnu

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 10^th 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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