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Kalki Temple
The famous Kalki Temple of Jaipur
was constructed in 1727 by Raja Sawai Jai Singh, the founder king of
Jaipur and a keen student of Vedic student. The Hindu mythology
prophesizes the birth of Kalki temple in the tenth symbol of Lord
Vishnu, who will come riding a white horse with a shining sword in
his hand as Lord Kalki and to deliver the mankind from the
prevailing chaos and confusion of Kal Yug.
Jai Singh took an initiative and created 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 exterior of the temple is immensely beautiful. One corner side
adorns a canopied kiosk beautified with white marble structure of a
horse. The reason behind creating this structure was that when Kalki
arrives, he will find his mount ready. That is why the ramps are
perhaps there - to facilitate the horse to come down or climb very
easily. Historians have also found other meanings for the presence
of the white marble horse. They have noted the fact that Jai Singh
was the last Hindu ruler who performed the Ashwamedh Yagya - an
ancient Vedic rite. It was to endorse the event that Sawai Jai Singh
got the white horse sculpted and had it placed here.
Built 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.
Though hard to explain, the resident pujari or priest ventured 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
is, however, empty and the statue is kept along with that of Kalki,
under the taller or what is the main shikhar.
Interestingly, the temple is closed ever since it was constructed.
At present a caretaker priest specified by the state government
keeps is clean and tidy by periodically opening it. Otherwise, the
Kalki temple has a deserted look. No devotees. No prayers. No temple
bells. 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.
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