Book Title: Development of Hinduism
Author(s): M M Ninan
Publisher: M M Ninan

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Page 446
________________ 16. KALKI The Parsis believe in the coming of the Saoshyant (Saviour) to the earth to defeat evil and further righteousness (Ashoi). They believe that when the Saoshyant comes, the final spiritual battle between the forces of good and evil will commence, resulting in the utter destruction of evil. Ristakhiz, the resurrection of the dead will take place - the dead will rise, by the Will of Ahura Mazda. The Final Judgement of all souls will commence, at the hands of Ahura Mazda the Judge (Davar) and all sinners punished, then forgiven, and humanity made immortal and free from hunger, thirst, poverty, old age, disease and death. "Since He is (the One) to be chosen by the world therefore the judgment emanating from truth itself (to be passed) on the deeds of good thought of the world, as well as the power, is committed to Mazda Ahura whom (people) assign as a shepherd to the poor." - Yasna 27:13 - the Ahuna Vairya prayer "He shall be the victorious Benefactor (Saoshyant) by name and World-renovator [Astavat-ereta] by name. He is Benefactor because he will benefit the entire physical world; he is World-renovator because he will establish the physical living existence indestructible. He will oppose the evil of the progeny of the biped and withstand the enmity produced by the faithful." Avesta, Farvardin Yast 13.129 Except for an ambiguous reference to a savior alluded to in Zend Avesta (Yasht 19.92), the concept was developed in the 9th-12th century texts of Zoroastrian tradition. It was certainly a late development following the Jewish and Christian Messianic concept. Kalki With these prevalent concepts of Apocalypse we can look into the Hindu concept of Kalki which followed the coming of Christianity and Islam. The two major texts connected with Kalki avatar are found in the Bhavishya Purana and Kalki Purana. Kalki is referred to as Parasraya in Vishnu Purana and as vishnuvyasa in Mahabharata, Vayu Purana and Harvamsa. The Kalki avatar of Vishnu follows the Mahdi tradition in that this Kalki will come as the son of a Brahmin named Visnuvyasa in the land of Dravida in the village of Shambala. Apparently there is no village in Dravida or anywhere in India with that name. 442

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