Incarnation of Kalki Dev and Padmavati Devi in Kaliyug

King Vaivasvata Manu found a little fish in the palm of his hands when performing tarpana. The fish asked Manu if he have enough wealth to provide it a nice home. Manu gave the fish a home, but it kept expanding which break Manu’s pride about his wealth. Eventually, he released it into the ocean, and realised Matsya, the fish (amphibian) as the first incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Matsya informed Manu of the coming pralaya, by means of fires and floods, and directed Manu to collect ‘all creatures of the world’ and keep them safe on a boat. When pralaya occurs, Matsya appears, to which Manu ties the boat, which leads them into safety.

In the Samudra Manthana, the devas and asuras were churning the cosmic Ocean to obtain amrita. They were using the mountain Mandara as the churning shaft, which started to sink. Kurma, the tortoise (reptilia) as the second incarnation of Lord Vishnu appears to bear the weight of the mountain Mandara, and allows devas and asuras to complete their task.

Jaya and Vijaya, the gatekeepers of Vaikuntha, were cursed by the Four Kumaras when they stop them from seeing Lord Vishnu; Lord Vishnu was in Yoga nidra. They undergo three births each on the Earth, who would be subsequently killed by various avatars of Lord Vishnu.

In their first birth, Jaya and Vijaya were born as the asura brothers Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyaksha abducted Bhu Devi, the Earth and carried it to the bottom of the cosmic Ocean. Varaha, the boar (mammalia) appears as the third incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The battle lasted for a thousand years, and finally Lord Vishnu defeated Hiranyaksha. Varaha carried Bhu Devi out of the cosmic Ocean between his tusks, and restored the Earth to its place in the universe.

Whereas, Hiranyakashipu persecuted those having religious beliefs. His son, Prahlada was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu tried to kill Prahlada many times, but failed. In his last attempt, Narasimha, with the body of a man, and head and claws of a lion (anthropomorphic) appears as the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Narasimha disemboweling Hiranyakashipu, brought an end to the persecution of human beings.

Bali, the grandson of Prahlada with penance was able to defeat Indra, the king of heaven. The devas appealed before Lord Vishnu for their protection. Vamana, a dwarf appears as the fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He approached Bali and asked for three paces of land. When Bali agrees, and Vamana changes his size to that of a giant. With his first stride he covered the earthly realm, and with the second he covered the heavenly realm. Bali realised Vamana as Vishnu avtar, and thus when Vamana took the third stride for the netherworld, Bali offered his head as the third place. Pleased by his devotion, Vamana makes Bali, the ruler of Pathala, and gave him a boon whereby he could return to the Earth once in every year. This auspicious day is celebrated as Bali Pratipadā.

Once, the king Kartavirya Arjuna was returning from hunting. He took shelter at the ashrama of sage Jamadagni. Sage Jamadagni was able to feed them all with the aid of the divine cow Kamadhenu. Knowing about Kamadhenu, the king demanded the divine cow. When Jamadagni refused, king Kartavirya Arjuna destroyed the ashrama, and left along with Kamadhenu. Parashurama, the warrior Brahmin was born to sage Jamadagni and Renuka, the Goddess of the Fallen as the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. After a penance to Shiva, Parashurama was granted an axe as a boon. Parashurama entered the palace of king Kartavirya Arjuna, and killed him and destroyed his army. In revenge, the sons of king Kartavirya killed sage Jamadagni. Parashurama took a vow to travel across the world twenty-one times and kill every kshatriya king and fill five lakes with their blood. Ultimately, his grandfather, the rishi Richika appeared before Parashurama and calm him. Parashurama threw his mighty axe in the sea which displaced its water and formed the coast of Karnataka and whole of Kerala.

Rama was born to Dasharatha, the king of Ayodhya and Kaushalya as the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Rama is considered as the ideal man, and the embodiment of righteousness. While in exile from his own kingdom, with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, Sita was abducted by Ravana, the king of Lanka.

Jaya was born as Ravana and Vijaya as Kumbhakarna to Sage Vishravan and Asuri Kaikashi. Ravana was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He mastered the six shastras and the four vedas that symbolise his 10 heads. However, he was unable to control Antaḥkaraṇa – the four categories of mind – Buddhi (intellect), Manas (memories), Ahamkara (ego) and Chitta (cosmic intelligence), rather Antaḥkaraṇa controlled him which led to his destruction. He developed six enemies of the mind – Lobha (greed), Kama (lust), Moha (delusion), Mada (pride), Krodha (anger) and Mātsarya (jealousy). Our desire, for a situation, is the root of our greed and lust. It is our delusion. Every situation is temporary. Our choice in a given situation is a path to learn and grow. But when we compare a choice, we develop pride – a choice is neither superior nor inferior. However, we develop anger when we are unable to experience our chosen path or see others not choose our chosen path. Moreover, when we compare learning and growth, we develop jealousy.

Rama travelled to Lanka, killed Ravana and Kumbhakarna, and rescued Sita. Rama travelled to Lanka, killed Kumbhakarna and Ravana, and rescued Sita. Rama killed Ravana on the tenth day of Ashvin. This auspicious day is celebrated as Dussehra, also referred to as Vijayadashami, the day of victory of the good over the evil.

Rama, Sita and Lakshmana returns home at the end of the 14-years exile. The day of the return of king Rama to the kingdom of Ayodhya is celebrated as Diwali.

Rama was crowned as the king. In the courtyard, when a washerman refused to take his wife back after she had lived in the house of another man, Rama ordered an exile for the wife of the washerman. Ayodhya started gossiping about Sita and questioned Rama’s decision to make her queen. King Rama was extremely distraught on hearing the news, and instructed Lakshmana to leave Sita in a forest outside Ayodhya. Thus, Sita was forced into exile a second time. Sita took refuge in the hermitage of sage Valmiki, where her twin sons – Lava and Kusha were born. They grew up and were eventually united with their father. Once Sita had witnessed the acceptance of her children by Rama, she sought final refuge in the arms of her mother Bhūmi.

Hanuman stood guard outside Rama’s palace in Ayodhya. He prevented Yama from entering Ayodhya and claiming Rama. Learning this, Rama dropped his ring into a crack in the palace floor and requested Hanuman to fetch it. Hanuman reduced himself to the size of a beetle and entered the crack. He discovered that it was no crack but the entrance to a tunnel that led to Nag Lok, the land of serpents. Hanuman met Vasuki, the king of serpents there and informed him of his mission. Vasuki took Hanuman to the centre of Nag Lok where stood a mountain of rings! He wondered, all the rings that made up the mountain were identical. Vasuki smiled and said, “This world we live in goes through cycles of life and death. Each life cycle of the world is called ‘a kalpa’. Each kalpa has four yugas. So, it has been for hundreds of thousands of kalpas. The mountain keeps growing as more rings fall.” Hanuman realised that his entry into Nag Lok and his encounter with the mountain of rings was no accident. It was Rama’s way of telling him that he could not stop death from coming. And, Rama would be reborn in every kalpa.

When Yama met Rama, he gave Rama strict instructions to keep their dialogue confidential, and anyone who enters the room was to be relieved of their life. Rama agreed and entrusted Lakshmana with the duty of guarding the door. Sage Durvasa appeared at Rama’s doorstep, and seeing Lakshmana guarding the door, asked to see Rama. Lakshmana refused, and the sage threatened to curse all of Ayodhya. Lakshmana, in a dilemma, decided it would be better that he alone die to save all of Ayodhya from falling under sage Durvasa’s curse. Lakshmana interrupted the meeting to inform Rama of the sage’s arrival. In order to fulfil his brother’s promise to Yama, Lakshmana went to the banks of the river Sarayu, and performed Jal Samadhi.

When Hanuman returned from Nag Lok, he reached the banks of river Sarayu in despair. Thus, Rama entrusted Hanuman with the responsibility of ensuring that the Ramayana be preserved, and remembered for generations to come. Thereafter, Rama, Shatrughna and Bharata performed Jal Samadhi in the river Sarayu, and restored as an attribute of Lord Vishnu. This ends the epic Ramayana, written by sage Valmiki.

Krishna, the foster-son of Nanda and Yashoda, was born to Vasudeva and Devaki as the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This day is celebrated as Krishna Janmashtami.

Kamsa, brother of Devaki foreseen that one of her children is the cause of his death. So, he killed Devaki’s children soon after their birth. But, Vasudeva was successful in carrying Krishna across the Yamuna, and exchanging him with Yashoda’s daughter. When Kamsa tried to kill the newborn, the baby appeared as goddess Yogamaya, warning him that his death has arrived in his kingdom, and then disappeared. After Krishna grew up at Mathura and returned to the kingdom, Kamsa was eventually beheaded.

Incarnation of Krishna Dev and Radha Devi

• Ayan Dev, a devotee of Kali Devi, received the boon from Vishnu Dev to have Laxmi Devi as his wife. Ayan Dev was born as eunuch and got Radha Devi as his wife in his next life. His life shows why men should not even think of others’ wives – such thoughts and actions shall ruin his purpose in nature along with his family – his family develop enemies of the mind and shall become ‘Jatila’ and ‘Kutila’.
• It enlightens us: Let people live with their choices! ALL shall accept individual choices without taking them personally. The choices made by one person are independent of others; it is their thoughts and actions that determine their consequences.

In the last reincarnations, Jaya was born as Shishupala,the king of the Chedi kingdom and Vijaya as Dantavakra, the king of Adhirajas, a cousin of Krishna.

Rukmi, the prince of Vidarbha, was very close to Shishupala. He wanted his sister Rukmini to marry Shishupala. But before the ceremony could take place, Rukmini chose to elope with the help of Arjuna, for Krishna. This made Shishupala hate Krishna.

When Yudhishthira, the king of Kuru kingdom undertook the Rajasuya Yajna, he sent Bhima to obtain the fealty of Shishupala. Shishupala accepted Yudhishthira’s supremacy. However, Dantavakra did not attended the Rajasuya Yajna in protest of the killing of his friend, Jarasandha, the king of Magadh. Jarasandha was dissected in two parts, by Bhima.

At the Rajasuya Yajna, the Pandavas choose Krishna as the honoured guest of the sacrificial ceremony. This angered Shishupala and he started insulting Krishna, calling him a mere cowherd and worthless to be honoured as a king. This was his 99th sin and was pardoned by Krishna. Krishna have promised to forgive his 100 sins. Shishupala then started insulting Bhishma, calling his vow to remain a celibate throughout life as an act of cowardice. Bhishma became furious and threatened Shishupala, but Krishna calmed him down. It was his 100th sin and was pardoned by Krishna. Shishupala continue insulting Krishna, which was his 101st sin. Krishna then released the Sudarshana Chakra on Shishupala, killing him on the spot.

When Krishna was on his way to Dwarka, after the Rajasuya Yajna, Dantavakra confronts Krishna. He strikes on Krishna’s head with his mace. Unfazed, Krishna strikes his chest with the Kaumodaki, causing him to spit out blood and perish.

Pitamaha Bhishma was the son of Maa Ganga and King Shantanu. King Shantanu was the ruler of Kuru dynasty. Shantanu married to Satyavati and had two sons – Chitrāngada and Vichitravirya. Satyavati took the promise from Bhishma that he will never had children to claim on Kuru dynasty and shall remain in celibacy for life. After the death of Chitrāngada in the battle with Gandharvas, Vichitravirya was coronated as the King of Kuru dynasty. Vichitravirya always had poor health. And, when Vichitravirya reached the manhood, Satyavati asked Bhishma to attend Swayamvara organised by Kāsī kingdom and bring the three daughters – Amba, Ambika and Ambalika.

In the Swayamvara, all the participants were asked to fight with each other and the winner shall win the three daughters of Kāsī kingdom. At the end, Shalva, the ruler of Saubala Kingdom and the lover of Amba faced Bhishma. Bhishma was undefeated and won the three daughters. Bhishma took Amba, Ambika and Ambalika to Hastinapur. And, when they saw the health of Vichitravirya, Amba revealed about her love. Bhishma respectfully allowed Amba to go and live with her love. However, Shalva refused to accept Amba.

In distress, Amba returned to Bhishma and claimed him. Bhishma gracefully refuse Amba’s proposal. Furious Amba reached to Lord Parashurama, Guru of Pitamaha Bhishma and asked for justice. Listening to the sorrows of Amba Lord Parashurama, in anger, challenged Bhishma. Bhishma refused to fight with his Guru – every time Lord Parashurama attack him, he defended himself. At the end, when Bhishma tried to use Praswapastra weapon on Lord Parashurama, Lord Shiva intervened and they both calm down. However, Amba’s pain was not letting her calm. Lord Shiva said Amba that Bhishma was never wrong. And, if in future he does any wrongs, she will get the opportunity to punish Bhishma. Furious Amba choose to suicide.

However, in few months Vichitravirya died in illness and left the Kuru dynasty childless. Satyavati asked sage Vyasa to consider the custom of niyoga and procreate with Ambika and Ambalika. When sage Vyasa approached Ambika, she closed her eyes in fear. As a result, the blind Dhritarashtra was born. When he approached Ambalika, she turned pale in fear. Her son Pandu was born with a pale appearance. Later, the queens sent their maiden Parishrami in their place, who behaved appropriately during niyoga process and gave birth to Vidura. Dharmaraj Yama was cursed by sage Mandavya to born as a maid’s son for getting him impaled without a valid reason. Vidura became the prime minister of the Kuru kingdom.

The Kauravas declared war against the Pandavas. In the battlefield of the Kurukshetra, Krishna chooses to be the charioteer of Arjuna, and guided him. The dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna in Kurukshetra war was written in the form of Bhagavad Gita, an epic part of Mahabharata, written by sage Vyasa.

Amba was reborn as Shikhandi to Prishati and King Drupada, and the sibling of Satyajit, Dhrishtadyumna and Draupadi. Later, she changed her gender with hard penance to participate in the Kurukshetra war. Near to the end of the Kurukshetra war, Bhishma independent faced the attack of Shikhandini to calm his pain. Since the Sun was in the south and was not the best moment to die, Bhishma choose to remain in pain over death. Thus, Arjun pierced Bhishma with numerous arrows and laid him on the bed of arrows.

On the 18th day, the Pandavas defeated Kauravas, and left Duryodhana in the coast with broken body. Ashwatthama, the son of Guru Dronacharya and Kripi, learning about his father’s defeat by Pandavas, filled with wrath against the later. Ashwatthama promised Duryodhana to continue the war, and killed the Upapandavas, the five sons of queen Draupadi, also known as Panchali. Ashwatthama returned to Duryodhana, and showed him the blood on his sword which belonged to the Upapandavas. Hearing this, Duryodhana peacefully left his body.

Ashwatthama triggered the Brahmashirā against the Pandavas. Krishna asks Arjuna to trigger the Brahmashirā to defend themselves. Sage Vyasa intervenes, and asks both Arjuna and Ashwatthama to take their weapons back. Arjuna disarmed the Brahmashirā, and Ashwatthama reversed the Brahmashirā towards the womb of Uttara, wife of Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu was the son of Arjuna and Subhadra, the sister of Krishna. Krishna saved Uttara’s unborn child from the effects of the Brahmashirā. As the child faced a test of life even before being born, Krishna named him Parikshit. Parikshit means ‘the tested one’.

Krishna made Ashwatthama to surrender the divine gem on his forehead, and cursed him to roam in the forests with blood and pus oozing out of his injuries, and cry for death but death would not meet him.

At the end of the Kurukshetra war, when the Sun began its journey to the north Pitamaha Bhishma asked Arjun to bring the streams of Ganges with his arrow. He drank the water and with the touch of his mother Maa Ganga he left for his heavenly abode.

Buddha is the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Siddhartha was born to king Śuddhodana, leader of the Shakya and queen Maya as the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. King Śuddhodana shield Siddhartha from the harsh realities of life, and kept him within the palace. At the age of 29, Siddhartha expressed a desire to see the world beyond the palace.

Upon his journey, Siddhartha encountered the realities of old age, sickness, and death, which deeply affected him. This exposure to human suffering prompted him to embark on a quest for truth and enlightenment. To find answers to the nature of human suffering and the path to liberation from it, Siddhartha eventually renounced his royal life, left the palace, and embarked on a spiritual journey.

Siddhartha practiced extreme asceticism in his quest for enlightenment, and became emaciated due to his rigorous penance. Later, he realised that the extreme approach was not leading him closer to the truth. A young girl named Sujata, from a nearby village, saw Siddhartha in his state. She felt compassion for Siddhartha and offered him a meal of rice and milk. Siddhartha realised that the path to enlightenment lay in the middle way, between the extremes of self-indulgence and extreme asceticism, and accepted the food.

Siddhartha began deep meditations under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, to find the ‘Middle Path’. He faced various obstacles, both internal and external, but remained undisturbed. Siddhartha overcame these challenges, and attained enlightenment at the age of 35. This auspicious day is celebrated as Buddha Purnima. It was the night of the full moon in the month of Vesak. Goutam Buddha got his answers for (1) the nature of suffering, (2) its origin, (3) the path to its cessation, and (4) the possibility of liberation. This profound insight led to his awakening.

Goutam Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching the Buddhism to his disciples. He shared ‘The Four Noble Truths’ and ‘The Eightfold Path’.

The Four Noble Truths

1. Suffering (Dukkha)
2. Cause of Suffering (Samudaya)
3. Cessation of Suffering (Nirodha)
4. Path to the Cessation of Suffering (Magga)

The Eightfold Path

• Moral Discipline (Sila)
  1. Right Speech
  2. Right Action
  3. Right Livelihood
• Mental Discipline (Samadhi)
  4. Right Effort
  5. Right Mindfulness
  6. Right Concentration
• Wisdom (Panna)
  7. Right Understanding
  8. Right Intention