________________
JULY, 1917)
IDENTIFICATION OF KALKI
149
of the vicissitudes of the Gupta empire during the reign of Kumâragupta I. Thus to mark the decline of the Gupta power 42 years before Kalki's date agreos with known facts of the Gupta history.28 The blank would include the period of recovery under Skandagupta.
II IDENTIFICATION OF KALKI,
(Puranic data about Kalki.) The Puranic data on Kalki or Kalkî may be summarised as follows: 1. Kalki's proper name was Vishyu-Yaxas.29 2. He was born at village Sambhala 30 (Sakambhari, Rajputana).
3. He was born an ordinary man, he was the son of the village-leader, a Brahman of the Parâsara line. The father is called the wise Devasena by the Brahmân la 31 He had a YÂjnvalkya as his Purohita.
4. He was a handsome man, of fair complexion.32
5. He was a military hero; he made conquests riding a horse called Devadatta, sword in hand, and in armour 33
6. He, with a large army of the four arms, made a conquest almost of the whole of India :34 the Northern Countries, the Madhyadešas, the Vindhyan countries, the Aparantas, the Deccan, the Dravidas allied with the Singhalese, the Gandhâras, the Pâradas, the Palhavas, the Yavanas, the Sakas, the Tushâras (Tubaras, Br.), the Barbaras (Sabaras, Br.). the Pulindas, the Daradas (Baradas, Br.) the Khasas (Vasas, Br.), the Lampakas, the Andha kas, the Rudras (Pandras, Br.) and the Kirâtas. These and the Vpishalas were defeated by the Master" (Kalkî), and he established his empire.35
The above detailed conquests are given in the chapter on the Avataras. In the historical chapter, however, 8 dynasties are given after the Andhras and the last of these are the Hänas. There they are said to have been extirpated or struck by Kalki. Hence it is implied that Kalki suppressed the Hûnas also.
7. His conquest was not merely political, but also religious. The powerful hero destroyed the Mlechchhas who paraded as kings36 and he destroyed the irreligious and haters of the dharma.37 He was surrounded by a large " Brahman army who had taken up arms."'38 When the Hindu religion had nearly submerged, he arose and by destroying completely the whole of the Mlechchhas and Dasyus he rescued it.99 The popular character
28 The knowledge of the Jaina chronologists about the end of the Gupta period was fairly accurate. But when they give 231 yours to the Guptas, they are apparently dating their beginning a century too early. They are there obviously including in it some diy gion of chronology like the Saka-Satrap.
21 fafcurar a : qatti V. 38-103. Br. 73-104. 30 Bhag. 12.2.18, Vishnu, 4.24.26.
31 Ibid, Br. 73-110. S' U T H .V. 36.111. 33 Bhag. 12.2.19. Bhavishya, III. 261: ustry V I ** V. 38-106-108. 36 7 1
147 Toft. v. 36109. 3 96 : Bhaj. 12-2-20.
उत्सादयित्वा प्रायशस्तानधार्मिकान्
M. 47.252. AZTU * & ifra:
v.38.103. 38 Teiargurança T T : V. 36.108 M. 47-219. 39 Bhag. 12. 2. HÀ TĨ TUT I (12) Trương (13) x (UTA WH (16)
eto., up to (22).
