Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.1826

c7.1826

KALKI. The tenth avatāra (incarnation) of Mahāviṣṇu. The ten avatāras are called Daśāvatāras. Kalki is the last of them. Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 16 says as follows about the incarnation of Kalki :— Towards the end of Kaliyuga, all people will lose their faith in God and become irreligious. They will accept presents from the wicked. At that time, there will be intermixture of castes. People will become thieves and evil doers. Fifteen divisions of the Veda Vājasaneya alone will become the authoritative document. People, wearing the garb of righteousness, will indulge in unrighteousness. Mlecchas (lowest class of people) assuming the form of Kings will begin feeding upon human beings. At that time Lord Viṣṇu will incarnate as Kalki, the son of Viṣṇuyaśas and the priest of Yājñavalkya and exterminate all mlecchas. He will restore people to cāturvarṇya and the four āśramas and maintain proper standards of conduct. Afterwards the Lord will renounce the form of Kalki and ascend Heaven. Then Kṛtayuga will begin again.