‘Kalki 2898 AD’ craze brings 285-year-old Kalki Temple into the limelight

He may not even be born yet, but this deity already has a temple in his name! The theatrical releases of Prabhas’s magnum opus ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ have made Kalki, a celebrated Messianic figure in the Hindu pantheon, the talk of the town again. Believed to be the 10th avatar or incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Kalki, is predicted to arrive on Earth after 426,875, to end Kaliyuga, or the era of disbelief, degeneration, and deceit, and usher in Satya Yuga, or the age of righteousness.

Amid the craze for the Nag Ashwin directorial, curiosity and intrigue about this enigmatic Messiah is at its peak. A certain temple in Jaipur, Rajasthan, has now gained attention. The Pink City boasts of having the world’s only temple dedicated to the Messiah.

Known as the Kalki Temple, this majestic monument was built in the Walled City by Maharaja Jai Singh aka Jai Singh II in 1739.

Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur, was also a keen scholar of Vedic texts. It is said that he constructed the temple of Lord Kalki directly opposite the main entrance of the City Palace, the residence of the Jaipur royals. However, this temple was concealed behind buildings that were once the mansions of nobles.

In an interview with News9live, Vinod Joshi, CEO of Jajam Foundation, revealed that Jai Singh II was a devotee of Kalki and even named his grandson after him, but sadly, the child didn’t live to be an adult.

Inside The Kalki Temple

Within the temple, Lord Kalki is seated in the Garbhagriha alongside Goddess Lakshmi. Just outside the temple, there is a plinth holding a yellow marble statue of Kalki's stallion.


Notably, the statue has a broken hoof on its hind leg, which is commonly believed to be a wound that is healing very slowly over time. Devotees believe that when this wound fully heals, Lord Vishnu's 10th incarnation, Kalki, will manifest on earth to eradicate sin.

The Kalki Temple has been built to reimagine the arrival of the awaited Messiah. The temple is designed with both a ramp and stairs for the horse to gallop, anticipating the arrival of Lord Kalki on his horse, Devadatta. This architectural feature reflects the advanced thinking of the Maharaja. The horse idol, carved from a single stone, is strategically positioned to receive air, water, and light.