KALKI The very name is special. “Born of time” as it literally translates itself. The story of Kalki is the story of the Indian conception of time. And time, according to Indian scriptures, is said to unfold in forever repeating cyclic patterns of four great ages or Yugs. Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder king of Jaipur, built the temple around at the time of building the city. Of scholarly inclinations, Jai Singh was a keen student of Vedic texts and in that sense a Hindu revivalist. He built the Kalki temple right opposite the eastern entrance to the city palace, which opens into the Sireh Deori bazaar, famous for its Hawa Mahal, the palace of winds. Its important location gives away the temple’s significance for Jai Singh but somehow it was not given a prime position on the street. Instead of opening directly, the temple was set behind the street facades of impressive buildings. Only the temple top is seen rising into the sky from the streetscape. Although the access to the temple is through a ceremonial archway that opens at the street level, the temple itself sits atop a twenty foot high plinth. It is interesting that instead of steps leading up to the temple, there is a ramp in two easy gradients. Constructed in stone, the Kalki temple conforms to the typical style of the North Indian Temple Architecture. However, there is one architectural feature in the Kalki temple that is unique. It is the presence of two shikhars or temple tops instead of the usual one. Why does Kalki have two? Though hard to explain, the resident priest ventures an explanation. The smaller shikhar at the back is called Laxmi Niwas or the abode of Goddess Laxmi – the consort of Vishnu. It was built to house the idol of Padmawati Devi underneath the smaller shikhar but is, however, empty and the statue is kept along with that of Kalki, under the taller or what is the main shikhar. But the temple itself remains aloof. In fact is it has remained distant ever since it was built. Today, a caretaker priest appointed by the state government keeps it clean and tidy. Otherwise, the Kalki temple has a deserted look. No devotees. No prayers. Clearly, Kalki’s time has not yet come! But who knows, in the timeless turning of the heavens and the earth, Kalki may not be very far away.
Posted on: Thu, 16 Jan 2014 07:00:30 +0000
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