Kalki Temple

topic posted Fri, January 5, 2007 - 8:18 AM by  Unsubscribed
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I absolutely must go here:-) I'll climb into it if I must to see what's inside:-D

The Kalki Temple:

The only one dedicated to the incarnation of God not yet born, Raja Sawai Jai Singh, the founder of Jaipur built this temple in 1727. Hindu mythology prophesizes the birth of the tenth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who will come riding a white horse with a shining sword in his hand as Lord Kalki to deliver the mankind from the prevailing chaos and confusion of Kal Yug. A keen student of Vedic texts, Jai Singh built the Kalki temple right opposite the eastern entrance to the City Palace. One can enter the temple through a ceremonial archway that ascends as a ramp without steps in two easy gradients to the temple perched on a twenty-foot high plinth. Facing the temple in one corner is a fine white marble stature of a horse, said to be the white horse on which the God has been prophesized to arrive. The temple conforms to the typical style of the North Indian Temple Architecture *with the exception of the presence of two shikhars or temple tops instead of the usual one* [ahem, I wonder why?;-)]. Except for a caretaker priest appointed by the state government to keep it clean and tidy, the Kalki temple has a deserted look and is closed since it has been built waiting in silence for the birth of the Lord to whom it is devoted.
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    Re: Kalki Temple

    Fri, January 5, 2007 - 8:19 AM
    oh here's a more thorough article:

    The Kalki Temple in Jaipur

    We are now in the Kal Yug, the age of decline. It is believed that Vishnu, the Preserver, will reincarnate as Kalki to deliver mankind. In the pink city of Jaipur stands the only Kalki temple in the county, quietly awaiting the coming of the Preserver…
    Kalki. The very name is special. “Born of time” as it literally translates itself. The story of Kalki is the story of Indian conception of time. And time, according to Indian scriptures, is said to unfold in forever repeating cyclic patterns of four great ages or Yugs. One turn of the four Yugs is a Mahayug that lasts a staggering four million, three hundred and twenty thousand years.

    The first 1440000 years make up the Sat Yug – the first of the four great ages. This is the age of truth and virtue and is often compared to the “holy cow” standing on its four legs of Dharma or Piety. This is followed by 1080000 years of Treta Yug or one could say – the age in which the “holy cow” is seen standing on three legs – the fourth taken away by sin. Next is the Dwapar Yug which lasts 720000 years and is the age which is compared to the “holy cow” standing only on two legs of Dharma. The other two given over to sin. And finally, there is the Kal Yug or the age of complete corruption where the “holy cow” is seen standing on one leg alone. Mercifully, this also happens to be shortest Yug lasting 360000 years!

    Vivid descriptions of the Kal Yug are found in the ancient Indian texts, especially the Vishnu Purana. A terrible picture is painted of Kal Yug which is considered to be the age of decline and degeneration of human values. People in the Kal Yug are seen to be wicked, quarrelsome and beggar like. They also eat indiscriminately, much like pigs and live in cities filled with smoke and thieves. It is truly the age of darkness, where the people are oppressed by their kings and by the ravages of war, calamities, diseases, fatigues and anger. There is distress, anxiety, hunger and fear…

    To deliver mankind from such horrors, it is believed that Vishnu – Hindu God and preserver of the cosmos – will once again incarnate on earth, just as he has done so nine times before. As the tenth incarnation, mythology tells us that Vishnu will come riding a white horse with a shining sword in his hand as Kalki, the saviour, and it is Kalki who would eventually restore order out of the prevailing chaos and confusion of Kal Yug.

    Chaos and confusion is indeed the order of the day. Scripturally too, we are told that we are living in the Kal Yug. And it isn’t hard to believe why. Just consider the insane traffic on the roads, the pollution, the unchecked roads, the pollution, the unchecked development, congestion, disparity of income! It does seem a bit like Kal Yug, but Kalki has not yet arrived.

    Since the God has not yet come, it was natural that traditionally no temples were consecrated especially for Kalki. However, there is one Kalki temple in the walled, pink city of Jaipur! Perhaps, this is the only one of its kind in India.

    Sawai Jai Singh, the founder king of Jaipur, built the temple around 1727 AD at the time of building the city. Of scholarly inclinations, Jai Singh was a keen student of Vedic texts and in that sense was a Hindu revivalist. He built the Kalki temple right opposite the eastern entrance to the city palace, which opens into the Sireh Deori bazaar, famous for its Hawa Mahal, the palace of winds. Its important location gives away the temple’s significance for Jai Singh but somehow it was not given a prime position on the street. Instead of opening directly, the temple was set behind the street facades of impressive buildings. Only the temple top is seen rising into the sky from the streetscape.

    Although the access to the temple is through a ceremonial archway that opens at the street level, the temple itself sits atop a twenty foot high plinth. It is interesting to note that instead of steps leading up to the temple, there is a ramp in two easy gradients. Once again, within the temple complex, we find a ramp along with steps that lead to the temple.

    Facing the temple in one corner is a canopied kiosk which contains a fine white marble stature of a horse. The connection is clear: when Kalki arrives, he will find his mount ready! That is why the ramps are perhaps there – to facilitate the horse to come down or climb easily. Historians have found other meanings for the presence of the white marble horse. They point out the fact that Jai Singh was the last Hindu ruler who performed the Ashwamedh Yagya – an ancient Vedic rite. It was to commemorate the event that Sawai Jai Singh got the white horse sculpted and had it placed here.

    Constructed in stone, the Kalki temple conforms to the typical style of the North Indian Temple Architecture. However, there is one architectural feature in the Kalki temple that is unique. It is the presence of two shikhars or temple tops instead of the usual one. Why does Kalki have two? Though hard to explain, the resident pujari or priest ventured an explanation. The smaller shikhar at the back is called Laxmi Niwas or the abode of Goddess Laxmi – the consort of Vishnu. It was built to house the idol of Padmawati Devi underneath the smaller shikhar is, however, empty and the statue is kept along with that of Kalki, under the taller or what is the main shikhar.

    But the temple itself is closed. In fact it ahs been closed ever since it was built. Today, a caretaker priest appointed by the state government keeps is clean and tidy by periodically opening it. Otherwise, the Kalki temple ha a deserted look. No devotees. No prayers. No temple bells. Clearly, Kalki’s time has not yet come! But who knows, in the timeless turning of the heavens and the earth, Kalki may not be very far away…
    • Re: Kalki Temple

      Fri, January 12, 2007 - 1:32 AM
      Cool, Anjali! How did you find this?
      • Unsu...
         

        Re: Kalki Temple

        Fri, January 12, 2007 - 6:24 AM
        hmm....a while back I googled kalki temple I believe, just out of curiosity since I'd never heard of one while in India, nor do I hear any hindus really talking about him at all. I don't think most people are really waiting expectantly for him. so I was just curious.

        then when I found out it was in Jaipur, Rajasthan - I practically swooned! I would LOVE to go there anyway - to me it sounds like the most exotic place on earth. Well, one of them, anyway:-)
  • Re: Kalki Temple

    Fri, January 12, 2007 - 7:54 AM
    Not a believer inside the mosque, am I
    Nor a pagan disciple of false rites
    Not the pure amongst the impure
    Neither Moses, nor the Pharoh

    Bulleh! to me, I am not known

    Not in the holy Vedas, am I
    Nor in opium, neither in wine
    Not in the drunkard`s craze
    Niether awake, nor in a sleeping daze

    Bulleh! to me, I am not known

    In happiness nor in sorrow, am I
    Neither clean, nor a filthy mire
    Not from water, nor from earth
    Neither fire, nor from air, is my birth

    Bulleh! to me, I am not known

    Not an Arab, nor Lahori
    Neither Hindi, nor Nagauri
    Hindu, Turk (Muslim), nor Peshawari
    Nor do I live in Nadaun

    Bulleh! to me, I am not known

    Secrets of religion, I have not known
    From Adam and Eve, I am not born
    I am not the name I assume
    Not in stillness, nor on the move

    Bulleh! to me, I am not known

    I am the first, I am the last
    None other, have I ever known
    I am the wisest of them all
    Bulleh! do I stand alone?

    Bulleh! to me, I am not known

    ------
    Na maen momin vich maseet aan
    Na maen vich kufar diyan reet aan
    Na maen paakaan vich paleet aan
    Na maen moosa na pharaun.

    Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun

    Na maen andar ved kitaab aan,
    Na vich bhangaan na sharaab aan
    Na vich rindaan masat kharaab aan
    Na vich jaagan na vich saun.

    Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun.

    Na vich shaadi na ghamnaaki
    Na maen vich paleeti paaki
    Na maen aabi na maen khaki
    Na maen aatish na maen paun

    Bulleh!, ki jaana maen kaun

    Na maen arabi na lahori
    Na maen hindi shehar nagauri
    Na hindu na turak peshawri
    Na maen rehnda vich nadaun

    Bulla, ki jaana maen kaun

    Na maen bheth mazhab da paaya
    Ne maen aadam havva jaaya
    Na maen apna naam dharaaya
    Na vich baitthan na vich bhaun

    Bulleh , ki jaana maen kaun

    Avval aakhir aap nu jaana
    Na koi dooja hor pehchaana
    Maethon hor na koi siyaana
    Bulla! ooh khadda hai kaun

    Bulla, ki jaana maen kaun

    "Bulla ki jaana" - orginally sung by Baba Bulleh Shah, new rendition by Rabbi Shergill
    • Unsu...
       

      Re: Kalki Temple

      Fri, January 12, 2007 - 9:06 AM
      Cool - I have never seen that before:-) on a sidenote, it's kind of striking to me that the defining with respect to the negatives actually reminds me of a part of the Vedas where God is being described - but it's just a long list of negatives.

      thanks for posting that:-)
    • Re: Kalki Temple

      Fri, January 12, 2007 - 8:45 PM
      bulleh sha mi ki janoo.


      shalz better u heard this poem recited by abida parveen.

      after long my ear echo such nice words.

      thank sufi

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