At the end of the current great cycle, known as the Kali Yuga, the world will be so consumed by sin that virtue will be utterly absent. In this final phase, there will be no redemption or respite, leaving no option but to annihilate the world to pave the way for a new beginning.
At this dire juncture, Vishnu – The Protector will incarnate as Kalki, the destroyer. He will appear riding a snow-white horse, wielding a flaming sword. As Kalki, he will scour the world, seeking out and incinerating the evil-doers. His mission will be to cleanse the world of all impurities and wickedness. Once his task is complete, he will bring about the total destruction of the current world.
This catastrophic end will mark the conclusion of the Kali Yuga and the commencement of a new cycle of creation. Kalki’s arrival is the only remaining incarnation of Vishnu yet to occur in the present great cycle. His advent will herald the end of an era and the rebirth of the world, continuing the eternal cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction.
Sources & further reading
These themes are explored in greater depth across the following authoritative resources:
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, Hindu Mythology
- Internet Sacred Text Archive, Hinduism
- Mythopedia, Hindu Mythology
- Harvard Pluralism Project, Hindu Tradition
- Wendy Doniger, The Hindus: An Alternative History (Penguin, 2009), ISBN 978-0143116691
External resources for further reading. Apam Napat is not affiliated with these publishers; citation does not imply endorsement.
Based on the classical texts of Hindu mythology, see our sources.