Kalki Jayanti is the celebration of the appearance of the Kalki Avatar. Kalki Avatar is believed to be the last and the tenth avatar of Lord Vishnu.
The exception of the Kalki Avatar celebration is that it is actually the celebration for the anticipated arrival of the Kalki Avatar in the Kali Yuga. It is a celebration which is observed for the Arrival of Lord Vishnu in future to bring an end to Adharma and establish the Satya Yuga once again.
Etymologically the name Kalki originated from the Sanskrit word Kalka which means filth or dirt. Thus the name Kalki means the destroyer of dirt or filth.
It is believed that the Kalki Avatar will appear to cleanse the world and the system, thereby annihilating the evil completely and establishing a cleansed establishment of Dharma. Kalki Jayanti is observed on the 6th day of the waxing phase of the moon in the month of Shravan according to traditional Hindu calendar and according to the Gregorian calendar it falls in the month of August. In 2019 the Kalki Jayanti will be celebrated on the 5th of August.
- Legend of Kalki Avatar
The earliest mention of Kalki is found in the Vishnu Purana. The Garuda Purana talks about ten avatars of Lord Vishnu amongst which Kalki is the last. It is an interesting observation that all Lord Vishnu’s avatars had been in various sizes and forms. Thus Kalki Avatar who is to appear in the Sambhala Village, according to the Bhagvad Purana, can also be anything, even a small thing which may have the power to annihilate the whole world.
The Kalki Avatar is seen riding a white horse which has wings, known as Devadutta or literally meant God given. He has an open sword in his left hand. The background has terrible thunderstorms, lightening, heavy rain and other detrimental natural conditions. The ancient sage shave symbolically hinted this as the destruction of nature leading to complete destruction of human race.
- The proverbial birth of Kalki Avatar
According to Kalki Purana, Kalki will be born in a village called Sambhala to Vishnuyasha and his wife Sumati, whose name literally means pure of thought. According to the Purana, he will also have three brothers called – Sumanta, Prajna and Kavi. He will have Yajnabalkya as his mentor or Guru and Parashurama, who is believed to be living and counting the days for the return of the Kalki Avatar; as his martial arts instructor. Kalki Avatar wil establish the Satya Yuga or the age of the Dharma where the highest truth will be established.
- Celebration of Kalki Jayanti
In the southern states of India, kalki Jayanti is celebrated in the month of Bhadra. It is observed with a lot of enthusiasm in the Vaishnavite temples. In the Lord Vishnu temples such as, Tirupati Shri Venkateshwara temple, Sri Rangam Ranganatha Swami temple, Guruvayur sri Krishna Temple, Sri Krishna Temple of Udupi and the Sita Ramachandraswamy temple in Bhadrachalam; this auspicious day is celebrated with great devotion.
The mention of Kalki Avatar is found the Sikh scriptures and in the Buddhist religious scriptures too. Guru Gobind Singh in Sri Dasam Granth has mentioned that Kalki Avatar will come brandishing his sword and will blow the trumpet before annihilating all that is evil.
According to the Buddhist Kalachakra , 25 rulers of Shambhala were the Kalki or had the title of being the Kalki King.