The shopping mall echoed with a noise. The buzz grew silent. Fear crept in. Until somebody shouted, " It's just a Balloon!" The buzz grew again, the shopping continued, the romantic couples continued their walks, and the food court filled up with the aroma of the orders...
A few decades back, people used to laugh carefree at a balloon bursting or a tyre booming in the streets or in various crowded areas. Now, in the back of everyone's head, a loud noise always brings the same thoughts... Another year, another city, another crowded place, Several innocent lives. They don't spare religious places either. For the sake of mankind? Religion? Politics? Power? They only know. Who are they? Nobody knows.
It is said that the demon Kaali, who ushered in KaliYug, decided to reside in a few things. Addiction, Wealth, Desire, and Anger are some such things he resides in. This is KaliYug, where an innocent child's balloon makes adults fear the extremes. What is dharma here? Well, it's synonymous with Bhakti. What is Bhakti here? A short bow of the head while crossing by your local temple, a small prayer when you need something badly, a Puja at home when you achieve something you wanted to for a long time. The days of Puja are usually excuses for holidays, new clothes, and meeting your friends and relatives. Bhakti is actually how much Daan you give, or you are forced to give to the person who always comes late and skips a few mantras to be at the next venue on time. Punya is feeding him and gifting him clothes. A child comes seeking alms on the road, and you move away, uttering a small "sorry" under your breath.
The people who are the most enthusiastic in your neighbourhood pujas to fetch donations from your homes and argue about how much you should give them, they kill innocent dogs on the road. Why? Because they chased his children, His teenage boy. Why? Because he threw stones at them. The poor animals could not say that and hence got killed by this man who helps perform your neighbourhood festivities. Dharma, where are you?
A lady falls down, she is bleeding and hurt. You reluctantly walk away from the gathered crowd, away from this problem. If that is your mother, you blame the city for turning insensitive. Yet when you face problems, you ask god, " Why Me?" God smiles. He knows why. He had hoped you would, too.
KaliYug took away the humanity in humans. Humans formed races, tribes, religions and castes. Humans divided nations and states. Humans fight in the name of these false barriers. Who loses? Humanity. The Mahabharat was narrated to Janmejaya with the hope that he would spare the Nagas who murdered his father. It was told to teach him and us what hatred could cause, and how lives can be miserable. Yet all we are deprived of is mere stories. Stories to tell children. Do we understand them? No.
The ancient texts were all written and taught at ashrams. The Rishis had Gurukuls. The idea of knowledge and learning was understanding the world and human life, the science, history, geography and knowledge attached to it. Everything from Astronomy to medicine, to weapons, to Politics, is in these books. Why did we stop reading them? Because our purposes changed. People don't need knowledge now; they don't need understanding. All people need is Marks. A good college. Value added to the resume. A job. A future. Kaali transformed our society into this.
What is a puja? It's sitting with a huge list of things we need: milk, ghee, curd, sweets, fruits, rice, flowers, candles, holy waters, new clothes, the list continues... so do the bills. But years ago, it just meant meditating once a day with whatever grew in your gardens. Nowadays, there are only bricks and concrete. The gardens are erased by Kaali.
What is important in life? Money, Power, Dreams. Dwapar gave more importance to Morals, Rules, Principles, Families and Self-respect. Nowadays, people sell their morals in search of happiness. Kaali had taken over all virtues, values and human ethics.
Even a few years back, people used to come to our houses at odd hours; they were welcomed with happy smiles and good food. Now, if somebody comes without informing people frown. They had ruined their day's plan. The guests are extra heads to feed. Nobody seems happy. Kaali has deprived us of our warmth and love. People find perfect partners in bank balances, social statuses and how many cars and homes they have. What about the person? Who cares as long as they hand you over their credit cards?! Love has been taken over by money and want. Desire reigns supreme. Kaali wins the brain, which acts over the heart.
Yes, the end is near. The cycle will complete, and Kalki, in his white horse and shining sword ( which some predict as symbols), will lead a few chosen ones away from the Kaali and into the Satya Yug again, where the truth will reign supreme. No power or money can suppress it. The MahaYug will end, and Vishnu will sleep in peace, his work done. Rudra will dance to destroy Kaali. Kalki will show the way. Who is he? What is he? An angel in disguise? Or the doom of Earth? Nobody knows yet, but he is one of the most fascinating characters of the future. The last of the Mahaavatars.
We wait for you, Kalki. We wait for new beginnings and a better world. Where humans will be humans and not animals in disguise, where peace will reign, and love will follow, where truth reigns supreme, and people will be happy. We await the bright future Kalki promises. He will destroy all Kaali demons of Adharma and establish true Dharma.
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| Demon Kali |