Hindu Kali Yuga End Krishna Avatar Prophecy
As for most religions, and religious traditions, the sacred texts of those religions have many translations and interpretations, leading to varied sects, explanations and traditions. While the Hindu tradition follows a main discourse of religious writings known as the Bhagavad Gita, the various translations all come to a basic understanding. That understanding is the cyclical nature of the universe and that God, Lord Krishna, is a being omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. While there are many views of these concepts, the understanding presented here is but one of many.
In the Hindu cosmology, everything is bound to a cyclical nature. In the grand cycle of the universe, this can be termed as the 'Waking' and 'Sleeping' periods, or as modern science understands, as the expansion of the universe whose causal effect was the 'Big Bang', and it's eventual contraction into a singular point, in which the universe will springboard, again, into an expansive nature. The grand cycle, or 'Kalpa' lasts 311.40 trillion Years.
To Hindus, Humanity is but one of the manifestations within this bigger picture. While we do have a type of conciousness of the cosmology, we in no way change the greater cycle. Yet, our manifestation has it's own cycle, spinning concurrent within the greater cycle.
This cycle is known as the 'Four Yugas', and they last for approximately 4.3 billion years, the approximate current age of the Earth. The 'Four Yugas' are the Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga, and the Kali Yuga. This cycle of 'Four Yugas' is understood as the progression of Humanity from a completely pure state to a completely impure state. While the first three Yugas have past, most Hindus agree that we are currently living within the Kali Yuga, or the Dark Age. In this age, Humanity becomes spiritually degraded, the life span of humans is shortened by violence and disease, and there is also a widespread destruction of nature. This is the worst period of the cycle before it begins again, anew, in a type of 'Golden Age', or the Satya Yuga. In the Satya yuga everyone will be righteous and live accordingly. This is followed by Treta yuga,Dwapara yuga and then another Kali Yuga.
While this decay of civilization is seen as an end to the Kali Yuga, it is in no way a true 'End Times', only a transition into another Yuga. While the current Yuga will end, another begins. So the cycle continues.
This cycle is explained in the Bhagavad Gita as such:
'Whenever and wherever a decline of righteousness and a predominance of unrighteousness prevails; at that time I manifest Myself personally, O descendant of Bharata. ’
Bhagavad Gita 4:7
In this passage, Lord Krishna, speaking to Arjuna, makes known that things must be made right, and Humanity is told of the 'Path of Righteousness'. Now, how this takes place, the manifestation of the Avatar of Lord Krishna - the Kalki Avatar, is unknown. Yet, the prophecy is understood that the Kalki Avatar will appear, establish righteousness upon the earth, and the conciousness of Humanity will become pure.
Since the Bhagavad Gita also states:
'What necessity is there for you, O Arjuna of such detailed knowledge and so many examples? I support this entire universal manifestation situated in but a fraction of Myself.’
Bhagavad Gita 10:4
Logically, it would be an impossibility for Lord Krishna to make a manifestation, as a whole, within a part of the whole.
The answer lies within other translations, and interpretations, of the original Sanskrit of the Bhagavad Gita.
Now, to truly understand this discourse between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, let us look at another interpretation of thes section of the Bhagavad Gita in which Lord Krishna makes a manifestation:
'Whenever a decrease of justice occurs, Bharata,
and an uprising of injustice,
then I give forth my soul.
For the protection of the good
and for the destruction of the evil-doers,
for the purpose of establishing justice
I am born from age to age.’
Bhagavad Gita 4:7
It seems that the manifestation of Lord Krishna is not as an entity, but the soul of Lord Krishna is given forth. As we look at the full discourse of Lord Krishna and Arjuna within this section, we find a clue to the nature of the manifestation of this Avatar. We begin with the verse just before the quoted verse:
'Although being birthless, imperishable and immutable, the Lord of all living entities; being so situated I appear in this world in My original transcendental form by My internal potency.
Whenever and wherever a decline of righteousness and a predominance of unrighteousness prevails; at that time I manifest Myself personally, O descendant of Bharata.
For the protection of the devotees and the annihilation of the miscreants and to fully establish righteousness, I appear millenium after millenium.
O Arjuna, one who knows the transcendental reality of my birth and activities; by this after relinquishing one's body does not have ot accept birth again but attains unto Me.
Freed from attachment, fear and anger; fully absorbed in Me, many persons being purified by knowledge and auterities, being fully situated in Me, attained loving devotion to Me.
All who in whatever way surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. All mankind follows My path O Arjuna, in all respects.’
Bhagavad Gita 4:6-11
In this extended discourse, Lord Krishna appears to be telling Arjuna that, not only does this manifestation happen at various times throughout human history, but it happens through a human who 'attains unto' Lord Krishna. That person, a human, who 'reliquishes' one's own body, is 'fully absorbed' by Lord Krishna, is 'purified by knowledge and austerities', 'fully situated' in Lord Krishna and who has attained 'loving devotion' to He. Lord Krishna further explains that 'All who in whatever way surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly'. This 'All' is the many manifestations which have happened at various times, those 'enlightened beings' that have brought the message of the 'Path of Righteousness' to Humanity.
This understanding is found within another passage of the Bhagavad Gita, towards the end of the discourse with Arjuna, in which Lord Krishna summarizes this knowledge, and states that He is within 'the hearts of all beings':
'Within the hearts of all living entities, resides the Supreme Lord, O Arjuna, and by the potency of the illusory energy, orchestrates the movements of all living entities like figurines on a carousel.’
Bhagavad Gita 18:61
And, another translation:
'The Lord, O Arjuna, dwells in the hearts of all beings, causing all beings, by His Maya, to revolve, (as if) mounted on a machine.’
Bhagavad Gita 18:61
So, we see that not only does God, Lord Krishna, reside in the hearts of all living entities, He also guides us within these cycles.
Therefore, this Avatar of Lord Krishna is a manifestation within the heart of a 'chosen' entity to spread the message of the 'Path of Righteousness' to Humanity. This manifestation does not occur randomly, but only through an entity which gives of itself to this greater good, who is on the path, and is the 'voice' and 'manifestation' of the message.
Looking at the entire discourse of Lord Krishna telling Arjuna how, and why, this happens, we are able to clearly see that there is a set of rules in which this Avatar appears. The first condition is the degeneration of civilization. The next condition is an entity rising above the degeneration and choosing to follow the instruction of God, thereby showing others this correct 'Path of Righteousness'.
Or, as the Bhagavad Gita explains, in the closing of the discourse between Lord Krishna and Arjuna:
' Learn from Me in brief, O son of Kunti, how reaching such perfection, he attains to Brahman, that supreme consummation of knowledge.
Endued with a pure intellect, subduing the body and the senses with fortitude, relinquishing sound and such other sense-objects, abandoning attraction and hatred;
Resorting to a sequestered spot, eating but little, body, speech and mind controlled, ever engaged in meditation and concentration, possessed of dispassion;
Forsaking egoism, power, pride, lust, wrath and property, freed from the notion of "mine," and tranquil, he is fit for becoming Brahman.
Brahman-become, tranquil-minded, he neither grieves nor desires; the same to all beings, he attains to supreme devotion unto Me.
By devotion he knows Me in reality, what and who I am; then having known Me in reality, he forthwith enters into Me.
Even doing all actions always, taking refuge in Me,--by My grace he attains to the eternal, immutable State.
Resigning mentally all deeds to Me, having Me as the highest goal, resorting to Buddhi-Yoga do thou ever fix thy mind on Me.
Fixing thy mind on Me, thou shalt, by My grace, overcome all obstacles; but if from self-conceit thou wilt not hear Me, thou shalt perish.
If filled with self-conceit thou thinkest, "I will not fight," vain is this thy resolve; thy Prakriti will constrain thee.
Fettered, O son of Kunti, by thy own Karma, born of thy own nature, what thou, from delusion, desirest not to do, thou shalt have to do in spite of thyself.
The Lord, O Arjuna, dwells in the hearts of all beings, causing all beings, by His Maya, to revolve, (as if) mounted on a machine.
Take refuge in Him with all thy heart, O Bharata; by His grace shalt thou attain supreme peace (and) the eternal abode.
Thus has wisdom more profound than all profundities, been declared to. thee by Me; reflecting over it fully, act as thou likest.
Hear thou again My supreme word, the profoundest of all; because thou art dearly beloved of Me, therefore will I speak what is good to thee.
Occupy thy mind with Me, be devoted to Me, sacrifice to Me, bow down to Me. Thou shalt reach Myself; truly do I promise unto thee, (for) thou art dear to Me.
Relinquishing all Dharmas take refuge in Me alone; I will liberate thee from all sins; grieve not.
This is never to be spoken by thee to one who is devoid of austerities or devotion, nor to one who does not render service, nor to one who cavils at Me.
He who with supreme devotion to Me will teach this deeply profound philosophy to My devotees, shall doubtless come to Me alone.
Nor among men is there any who does dearer service to Me, nor shall there be another on earth dearer to Me, than he.
And he who will study this sacred dialogue of ours, by him shall I have been worshipped by the Yajna of knowledge; such is My conviction.
And even that man who hears this, full of Shraddha and free from malice, he too, liberated, shall attain to the happy worlds of those of righteous deeds.
Has this been heard by thee, Partha, with an attentive mind? Has the delusion of thy ignorance been destroyed, O Dhananjaya?
Arjuna said: Destroyed is my delusion, and I have gained my memory through Thy grace, O Achyuta. I am firm; my doubts are gone. I will do Thy word.’
Bhagavad Gita 18:50-73
So, if the Hindu sages are correct, and we are living in the Kali Yuga, and this is the age of the degeneration of Humanity, God, their Lord Krishna, will be made known. Not as a separate entity, as that would be physically impossible, but as a manifestation within an entity, a man, who gives of himself, or connects himself, with the Supreme Spirit, the Supreme Consumation of Knowledge, the Liberation of Dharma - that attainment of Brahman, or being at One with the Supreme Godhead.