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The Kalki Temple in Sambal, Uttar Pradesh is historically unique because it is believed to be the birthplace of Kalki, the Kaliyuga avatar of Vishnu. Interestingly, Kalki is yet to be born, but apparently, there existed a temple dedicated to Kalki in the same place years ago, which was destroyed on the order of Babur. Lately, the Kalki temple has been in the news headlines because, on February 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the Kalki Dham Temple in the Sambal district of Uttar Pradesh.
The Shri Kalki Dham Nirman Trust is laying the foundation of the Kalki Dham Temple. The commission is being led by its chairman, Acharya Pramod Krishnam, who was recently expelled from Congress for his anti-party remarks. This inaugural ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, religious leaders, and saints. Read on to learn more about the importance, history, and religious sentiments behind the construction of the Lord Kalki temple.
All about the new Kalki Dham Temple
Location of the Kalki Temple
As per reports, the birthplace of the Kalki Avatar is expected to be in the Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh. It is interesting to note that all the previous avatars of Lord Vishnu had their temples constructed after their birth, but the Kalki Dham is the only temple which is constructed even before the anticipated birth of the deity.
History of the temple
The Lord Kalki Temple is historically significant as it has been mentioned in scriptures that Sambhal would be the place of birth of Vishnu’s Kaliyuga incarnation. Thus, the pre-construction of this Sambhal Temple, as per predictions, makes it uniquely special to the sentiment of worshippers. The temple has ten sanctums, each representing one of the ten incarnations of Vishnu, making it all the more holy for believers.
About the Kalki avatar
The Hindu religious scriptures indicate that Kaliyuga began right after Krishna departed from Earth. It also suggests that Kaliyuga would last for 4,32,000 years. So far, 5,126 years of Kaliyuga have elapsed, and according to the 24th verse of the 12th canto of Bhagavata Purana, Kalki (Krishna's Kaliyuga avatar) would be born when Jupiter, the sun and the moon align in the Pushya Nakshatra. It is also suggested that Kalki would be born on the fifth day of the Shukla Paksha of the Sawan month.
You would be amused to know that the Agni Purana portrays Kalki as a horse-mounted warrior with a bow and arrow. The religious texts suggest that Kalki would arrive mounted on a white horse named ‘Devadatta,’ and would vanquish all the sinners of the Kaliyuga. The Sambhal Temple, whose foundation stone was recently laid by Prime Minister Modi, would honour Lord Kalki, who is believed to be endowed with 64 arts. It is said that Lord Kalki would undergo penance to Lord Shiva and receive divine powers enabling him to eliminate injustice from the face of the Earth.
Features of the temple
The temple dedicated to Kalki Avatar in Sambhal is located in a five-acre area, and its construction will be completed over five years. The Lord Kalki Temple would be crafted in pink-hued stone just like the Somnath Temple and Ayodhya Ram Mandir. The Kalki Dham temple’s construction will not use iron and steel frames, and its shikhara will be 108 feet high. The temple grounds will include 68 pilgrimage sites, and the base of the main temple building will be elevated 11 feet above ground level.
It has been reported that the Kalki Peeth will remain in its original place; however, a new idol of Lord Kalki will be created, and its pran pratishtha will happen in a grand ceremony, just like in the case of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
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