AN ALTERNATE VIEW OF WORLD HISTORY
AND END TIMES DOCTRINES
FROM AN INDO-ARYAN PERSPECTIVE
 
By Harrell Rhome, M.Div., Ph.D.

 
FOREWORD:

The basic, primordial, traditional symbols and archetypes of the Indo-Aryan spiritual mythos are part of a universal revelation, begun ages ago, of a body of knowledge sometimes called the Ancient Mysteries.  The deepest roots of these hoary traditions trace directly to the Indian subcontinent, the cultural-spiritual “hive” as Godfrey Higgins called it, the nest and seedbed that brought forth the great civilizations and religions of the world.  Among the ideas in this wealth of material is that world history is cyclical in nature, broken down by the ancient mystics and gurus into various ages or aeons.  Each rotation of the cycle is accompanied by certain cultural and spiritual developments.  This is, of course, rather different from the traditional western view of history as mostly linear and progressive.  But both Eastern and Western ideas of history are rooted in religious concepts and writings.  And, some of the basic themes and concepts about end times events are similar.  So, I invite your brief attention as we look into the most ancient of epochs for hints about the present day through a much older, and equally valid, alternative view of history and cultural events.  The goal of this exercise is to present some basic concepts to western readers who are generally unfamiliar, or misinformed, as to our subject matter. 
 
In Dr. Annie Besant’s lectures, later published as Seven Great Religions, she said, “I have striven to sketch each religion in its best, its purest, and most occult form, and each as though I belonged to it and were preaching it as my own.”  As you will see, I have adopted a similar perspective.
 
RESOURCES:

There are hundreds of books, old and new.  But for a look at the more esoteric parts of history and religion, and many other fascinating topics, see Godfrey Higgins’ Anacaplysis, An Attempt To Draw Aside The Veil Of The Saitic Isis, Or An Inquiry Into The Origin Of Languages, Nations And Religions, Volumes One and Two, 1836. Also exploring the cycle of avatars are several chapters in Middle Ages Revisited by Alexander Del Mar, 1899. For those of a more metaphysical mindset, don’t overlook Madame Helena Blavatsky’s late 19th century works, The Secret Doctrine and Isis Unveiled, but both books are obviously inspired by Higgins’ earlier work.  And, we mustn’t overlook that ever-dedicated and inspired 20th century Indo-European author, Dr. Savitri Devi Mukherji (nee Maximiani Portas), who inspires me greatly.
 
But of special importance and inspiration to this exposition is Indian Mythology by Veronica Ions, London, 1967, part of a series highlighting mythological systems around the world.  Never reprinted, it has become a somewhat obscure volume.  It is one of those “short books” (141 pages with beautiful illustrations), not many pages, but each one filled with information and insight for the informed reader.  While the author says nothing of herself, readers need not go far before realizing they have encountered a writer truly inspired by the classic Indo-Aryan archetypes, as well as a master expositor of this often-difficult subject matter.  Her renderings of the ancient texts are excellent, and in congruence with those of other translators.  Also included in our paper are quotations from various religious and secular voices illustrating themes more than a bit similar to the Indo-Aryan view of history and end times. 
 
Among world religions, end times predictions do not really differ all that greatly.  Read Christian prophecies, and many others, study the Revelation/Apocalypse of St. John from whatever perspective you wish, tune into the end times doctrines of hundreds of religions sects, all over the world – they essentially agree with one another more than they disagree.  According to many religions and spiritual traditions, we are living in one of those “interesting times” near the closing phase of a cosmic cycle. 
 
While I might have selected from several collections of holy writ, because of my personal interest in arcane Aryana, we go back to the ethno-cultural “hive” through the prophecies of our ancient Indo-European root-culture.  For the purposes of this essay, I take a systematically traditionalist position -- the old Vedic Gods are real and continually reveal themselves. 
 
A basic concept is that the Gods are deeply present in the holy rotations of time.  The ancients viewed history as cyclical, each phase marked by the coming of various avatars as elements in the unfolding of world history.  While the word, avatar, has entered our modern vocabulary, it is greatly misunderstood, as avatar/avatara/avataram is a Sanskrit word, not translated.  It is perhaps best and most simply rendered as “descended one” or “bodily manifestation”.  The symbols of the comings are always visible in special ways.  For those who open their vision, the signs of the end times are already here, and the conclusion is clear -- we are living in the closing stages of the Kali Yuga. 
 
Just as the Indo-Aryan Trinity predates the Christian one by many centuries, so does the concept of the Saviour-Preserver or, as Veronica Ions says, the Universal Spirit, manifested as Lord Vishnu, the Great Avatar.  His best-known incarnation was the eighth avatar, Cristna, and later as the Buddha.  However, in the Puranic tradition the ninth avatar is Balarama, Cristna’s elder brother.  “The sacred Hindu scripture Bhagavata Purana explains how Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead from whom everything emanates. In doing so, his first expansion is Balarama. From Balarama all other incarnations of God appear. Of the three transcendental elements (sat, cit and ananda), Balarama is in charge of sat (Sanskrit: eternity or truth), cit (Sanskrit: knowledge or consciousness). Hence he worshiped as the supreme teacher or adiguru. Note: Ananda (Sanskrit: happiness or bliss).”  From Wikipedia.  This can be a bit confusing, but while theologians differ on the ninth avatar, almost all agree that Kalki is to be the tenth and final avatar of this age. 
 
Readers must also appreciate that all the avatars, no matter what names or physical forms they manifest, are of the same divine essence – Lord Vishnu reincarnated in our world.  The descendings are many and varied, but the fundamental nature of the Great Avatar (Maha Avatara) is always the same.  In the ancient scheme of events, at the beginning of a cycle, things are more or less even between good and evil.  As we well know, the situation always changes, with the dark forces gaining the upper hand.  This is when Vishnu intervenes, descending to this world in human form to restore the balance.  These appearances are not just “avatars” of Vishnu -- they are Lord Vishnu, himself.  While there are often said to be ten avatars in the greater age/aeon/yuga, some scholars say there are 22.  Perhaps the Avatarial manifestations are innumerable, coming forth as the need arises at specific times and places.  In many instances, the Great Avatar is recognized by only a few, or not until well after the fact.  What is more, the Descendings are not chance events.  During each incarnation, Vishnu has a specific task to perform and role to play.  Worldly terms like failure or success have little meaning in the greater divine schema of events.

 “For the protection of the good, for destruction of evil, and for the establishment of righteousness, I come into being from age to age.”  Bhagavad Gita 4:8.

 Avatars come at various times, to diverse races, nations and groups of people.  Higgins’ seminal work devotes extensive study to a 6000-year cycle of ten avatars, appearing every 600 years.  The powers and rulers of the world, whether they really believed in this or not, were aware of the cycles, just as they were and are aware of other astrologically determined dates.  Sometimes this entered into certain crucial decisions.  In the 6000-year cycle, if Jesus were an avatar, then another would come forth near 600, corresponding with Muhammad.  The next was due around 1200, parallel with the Third and Fourth Crusades.  The timing of these Crusades was not coincidental at all as the Vatican wanted to be present in the Holy Land if the Islamic Mahdi, or some other figure, were to come forth.  Even though nothing seemed to happen, there was a special papal throne, with both Islamic and Christian symbols engraved on it, to be used if this event actually happened, and the church would embrace Islam.  This was said to be hidden away in the Vatican basements when Godfrey Higgins wrote in the 1830s.  It may seem strange that the Catholic Church would consider this, but in today’s world, when Islam is growing rapidly, we see Pope Benedict XVI, not only saying a thing or two offensive to Islam, but also reaching out to Muslims.  His papal seal contains a curious semi-Islamic symbol, the “Black Moor”.  Moreover, the previous pope, John Paul II, not only visited a mosque in Iraq, but also respectfully kissed the Quran, an unnecessary gesture unless he was making a point.  When the priest kisses the Bible, vestments, or the altar, the meaning is clear.  The great shrine of Fatima, a town in Portugal named after Muhammad’s daughter, is being controversially recreated as an “interfaith center” including Hinduism, Buddhism and, of course, Islam. Since there are no coincidences in such things, the meaning is clear. 
 
But, we must return a bit earlier in the 6000-year drama.  It’s unclear who might have been the c.1200 figure (perhaps concealed?), but another avatar would have appeared c.1800.  While it is doubtful that Napoleon really fits the description, he may have thought he was such an incarnation, and he surely knew, along with other world leaders, about the avatarial cycles.  Hence, these ideas may have influenced state decisions.  This man was a very charismatic figure, guided by a strong inner strength and spirituality, seeing himself as a man of destiny.  As triumphant conqueror, the republican-reinvented-as-Emperor greatly involved himself in religious affairs.  He intervened quite prominently by, among other things: conquering Rome, seizing the pope, forcing the Hapsburgs to give up the title of Holy Roman Emperor, and by recreating the old Judaic Sanhedrin.  Furthermore, Napoleon had a rather conciliatory approach to Islam, admired Muhammad, and is said to have memorized several suras of the Quran.  Some even say the Napoleonic Code was partially inspired by Muslim Sharia Law.  If he truly thought that he was an avatar, or similar figure such as the Mahdi, it could explain his horrible defeat in Russia.  He would have believed he was invincible since he was on a holy mission.  While other historical examples could be cited, space does not permit, and this is sufficient for the reader to see that Mr. Higgins’ hypothesis as to the 6000-year cycle of avatars and their impact on world history is both possible and plausible. 
 
See if this selection from Veronica Ions sounds like what is going on today.  “The Kali Yuga, or age of degeneration, is the one through which we are now passing.  Dharma is one-legged and helpless, and… virtue has vanished.  In this age, lasting 432,000 years [numerologically equal to 9, a number symbolizing completion], during which the deity is black, the majority of men are Sudras or slaves.  They are wicked, quarrelsome and beggar-like and they are unlucky because they deserve no luck.  They value what is degraded, eat voraciously and indiscriminately, and live in cities filled with thieves.  They are dominated by their women folk, who are shallow, garrulous and lascivious, bearing too many children.  They are oppressed by their kings and by the ravages of nature.  Their misery can only end with the coming of Kalki, the destroyer.”  Most of this needs no comment at all.  Nowadays, we are more enslaved than ever before, and sooner than you think, like the slaves of sci-fi novels, we shall have an implant for eternal monitoring and financial transactions, surely the “mark of the beast” if ever there were one!  We live in a wicked, corrupt and degraded culture, filled throughout with gluttonous eaters and substance abuse problems, lots of thieves in the cities, in both “high” and “low” places.  While the text somewhat targets females, both sexes have ample examples of “shallow, garrulous and lascivious” people.  As to “too many children”, this is strikingly obvious in more than a few examples of grossly neglected and undereducated young folk of all races, programmed to do nothing more than slave in menial jobs under the current world order.
 
If you are wondering about the black deity, this refers to Kali, a most misunderstood Hindu deity.  Black symbolizes transcendence, and is the color into which all others merge and are absorbed.  Kali is a manifestation of God as Destroyer, “Terminator” if you will.  Some believe that to approach the goddess of destruction directly is to ascend to a higher level by overcoming fear.  In other words, Hindus acknowledge, with awe and respect, her terrible destructive power.  “Even more terrifying… is Kali, the black earth-mother, whose rites involve sacrificial killings – at one time of humans – and who is associated with dark, obscene rites and devil worship.  She has black skin and a hideous tusked face, smeared with blood, the brow bearing a third eye….  She has four arms, and holds in one a weapon, in another the head of a giant, dripping blood; the other two raised to bless worshippers; the hands end in claws.  Her body is naked except for her ‘ornaments’, which include earrings made of little children, a necklace of snakes, another of skulls, another of the heads of her sons, and a belt from which hang demon heads.”  If she is to preside over the demise of civilization, then this is not going to be good at all!  Kali is just not a nice girl!  If you think these old words are scary and eerie, then you obviously have not seen a “horror” movie lately, where archetypes of evil and wickedness play over and over again for our children, no matter what hour of the day or night.  So then, are we “unlucky because we deserve no luck”, because of the choices we have made, including those of indecision, immorality, sloth and slovenliness?  You decide.
 
“Nation will rise against nation… and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.”  St. Luke 21:10-11.

 
 
“Kalki (also Kalkin and Kalaki) is the tenth and final Maha Avatara of Vishnu the Preserver…. The name Kalki is often a metaphor for “eternity”or "time". The origins of the name probably lie in the word Kalka which refers to ‘dirt’, "filth" or ‘foulness’ and hence denotes the ‘Destroyer of Foulness’, ‘Destroyer of Confusion, ‘Destroyer of Darkness, or ‘The Annihilator of Ignorance’. In Hindi kal ki avatar means ‘tomorrow's avatar’. … In the Buddhist Kalachakra tradition, the Kalki (or Kulika) is the ruler of the legendary Kingdom of Shambala, where the whole of society is enlighted.”  From Wikipedia.
 
Vishnu and Kalki will make their ride at the opening of the end phase, and Vishnu will wield his sword, not wildly and indiscriminately, but for specific tasks.  It is Kali, the dark goddess, who will accomplish the total destruction and disintegration of this world order.  She and Shiva, Lord of Destruction, figure in a related segment in the turnings of the cosmic cycles.  The world under Kali’s feet will shatter as she finishes her Dance of Destruction, begun ages ago.  The Higher Gods wrote the music, but it is Kali who will dance the dance.  Are you ready for another paradox?  Creation and destruction are one and the same.  After the stage is cleared, a fresh new world comes forth.  In Goddesses And Heroines by P. Monaghan, a most revealing text is found.
 
“Several famous myths tell just how uncontrollable is Kali's energy. Once, it was said, she dared to dance with Shiva, the Lord of the Dance.  They grew wilder and wilder, more competitive in their dancing, until it seemed the world would shake itself to pieces -- and so it will, FOR BENEATH ALL APPEARANCES THAT DANCE CONTINUES.”

 
“Shiva — ‘the Destroyer’ — is the tendency of every being to change, to die to its present and to all its past aspects. He is Mahakala — Time Itself; Time that drags the Universe to its unavoidable doom and — beyond that — to no less irresistible regeneration; to the Spring of a new Golden Age, and, again, slowly and steadily, to degeneracy and death, in an endless succession of Time-cycles, anyone of which is an individual cycle, parallel to all others, no doubt, but like unto none other before or after it.”  Savitri Devi, The Lightning And The Sun.  
 
If not already convinced that we live in the concluding cycle, then consider these additional words describing the times very near the end.  According to the chronology, there are ten ages with ten avatars.  Whether you believe in this or not, read on and think of our present times.  “The tenth and the last incarnation of Vishnu has yet to come.  It will usher in the end of our present age.  Social and spiritual life will have degenerated to their lowest point.  Sovereigns will set the tone for the final decline; they will be mean-minded and of limited power but during their short reigns they will attempt to profit to the maximum from their power.  They will kill their subjects and their neighbours will follow their example, and nothing will count but outward show.    Even the Brahmins [priests and upper classes] will have nothing to distinguish them but their sacred thread, while the apparent wealth of materialists will be an empty display, for the real worth will have departed from everything.  Truth and love will disappear from the earth; falsehood will be the common currency of social existence and sensuality the sole bond between man and wife.  …The earth will be worshipped for its mineral treasures alone.  The sacred rites will disappear: …mutual assent will replace the marriage ceremony; bluff will replace learning; and the robes of office will convey the right to govern.  Finally, even the appearance of civilization will vanish; the people will revert to an animal existence….  At this point of degeneration, Vishnu will appear in person on earth, riding a white horse, Kalki, which is the tenth incarnation.  Vishnu will ride through the world, his arm aloft and bearing a drawn sword blazing like a comet.  He will accomplish the final destruction of the wicked and prepare for the renewal of creation and resurgence of virtue in the next Maha Yuga (Great Age).” 
 
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come, for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those who are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God….  II Timothy 3:1-4.
 
"The Hour will not come until Allah takes away the best people on earth; only the worst people will be left; they will not know any good or forbid any evil." Hadith, Ahmad 1:54.
 
"Soon the knowledgeable people will be consigned to misery and will be killed. … Various religious cults will rise up against one another, and much blood will flow. … Love will grow cold in many people because ignorance will gain the upper hand.  Hatred will rule over the world and evil will reign.”  Talmud of Jmmanuel 25:12ff.
 
"Corruption has appeared in the land and the sea on account of what the hands of men have wrought." Al Quran, Sura 30:41. 
 
While examples of public and private corruption are ubiquitous, this verse may also predict pollution and environmental destruction.
 
"The Hour (of Judgment) is nigh, and the moon is cleft asunder." Al Quran, Sura 54:1.
 
“Immediately after the tribulation… the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light….” St. Matthew 24:29a.
 
“And I saw, and behold, a pale horse, and its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him; and they were given power… to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.  …  Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse!  He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. … From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations….” The Apocalypse of St. John 6:8; 19:11, 15.
 
Does this sound like Jesus, who walked or rode donkeys, preached peace, love and forgiveness, even forbidding his disciples to do violence when he was betrayed and arrested, and who never made war?  If not, who could the horse and rider be?  While there is no time to treat the subject here, several scholars make solid linguistic arguments that ancient Sanskrit texts and later Buddhist texts form the real basis of the much later assembled Greek New Testament.  The Greeks, long before Christianity appeared, called the great sky stallion Pegasus.  Of course, the “Man On A White Horse” is also a secular political logo.  The basic symbolism of our Indo-Aryan root culture, without dispute, predates the Christian writings by thousands of years.  So what is the most likely origin of the white horse and rider motif?  You tell me.  But beyond this one symbol, at least some readers must realize that the scriptures and prophecies of more than a few traditions are eerily alike, pointing to similar cataclysmic events and symbols at end times. 
 
Westerners often have difficulty understanding the symbols.  Some degrade and disrespect the teachings, calling them “New Age”.  Of course, there is absolutely nothing “new” about them.  Sathya Sai Baba says it all in a simple, but profound way. 
 
“The advent of this Avatar has been known of and predicted for thousands of years in various holy books and obscure texts including the Book of Revelations, Nostradamus in his book Centuries, The Ocean of Light (an ancient Persian manuscript of the revelations of Prophet Mohammed), and the Shuka Naadi Granthi, containing detailed prophecies of the Kalki Avatar written on hundreds of palm leaf manuscripts by Sage Shuka over 5000 years ago. The time of great evil mentioned in the prophecies corresponds to the [present day] with its World Wars, regimes of mad dictators and authoritarian rulers, nuclear weapons, famines, diseases, pollution, crime, violence, catastrophes, and worldwide decline of morality.   …
 
The Western mind is capable of believing in Jesus as the Son of God, at least on the part of some of the population, but seems unable or unwilling to grasp the concept of the Avatar as an incarnation of God.  By contrast, the average Indian is aware of historical Divine personalities and Eastern literature is full of descriptions of the various Avatars. The Bhagavata text is precisely about the various Descents of the Divine on Earth. …
 
The Avatar comes to reveal man to himself, to restore him his birthright of Atmic bliss. He does not come to found a new creed, to breed a new faction, to instill a new God. ...
 
The Avatar comes as man in order to demonstrate that man is divine, and to be within reach of man.” 
 
Neither the guru nor I want to “convert” you, but if you agree with Godfrey Higgins and others that our deepest cultural roots are in the “hive” of India, then the material could take on a deeper meaning.  But the sole purpose of this brief exercise is educational, taking a look at a most complex and dynamic theological and historical system.  The actions and interventions of the Great Avatar are not always discernible when they come to pass, and are often understood but incompletely, even when they are later recognized.  
 
“The fools scorn me when I take on human form; my essence, supreme source of beings, escapes them."  Bhagavad Gita 9:2.
 
We are at the dénouement of the present world order, preceding an entirely new phase of events.  In the short-term, it is a bleak and black scenario, but this too shall pass.  In spite of the destructive days of the Kali Yuga, there is a breath of hope and optimism in the coming Maha Yuga, a Great New Order and true New Age, a “renewal of creation and resurgence of virtue”. This is no puerile heaven of cloud-hopping harp players, waiting for their loved ones, and pets, to appear.  The souls chosen to reincarnate in the Great Age (Maha Yuga), as always, have hard work ahead as they climb the stairs of greatness to even higher levels.  But before this, the present day of degradation, disease and degeneration must come to a cataclysmic end.  It must decline, deteriorate, decompose, deconstruct and decay, passing away completely.  But, do not despair; keep your eye on the prize.  From the ashes of destruction, like a Phoenix, a new seed, a new birth, a renaissance of good and positive forces, a restored and purer way of life, begins.  The Christian Bible, the ancient scriptures and prophecies of Egypt, India, Persia, the Mayas, Incas and Aztecs, and others, tell us to look for the proper signs and symbols to understand the holy mysteries of the end times.  One of the most useful lessons is that the answers to the mysteries, i.e., the keys to the kingdom, are within each of us.  And sometimes, both annoyingly and enticingly, the answers are hidden in plain sight.  If you’ve come this far, I hope my article has contributed resources and ideas for your personal search. 
 
“You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.  An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” - St. Matthew 16:3b-4.
 
“Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”  St. John 4:48.
 
“The disciples say to Jesus: Tell us what our end will be.  Jesus says: Have you then deciphered the beginning that you ask about the end?  For where the beginning is, there shall be the end.  Blessed is the man who reaches the beginning; he will know the end..." Gospel of St. Thomas, Saying 18.
 
Explicitly religious documents like the Bible, the Quran and others are regarded by billions of believers, not only as valid history, but for legal primacy as well.  The words, archetypes and paradigms of ancient Indo-Aryana are an equally valid, but considerably older, interpretation of world events.  While the other two elements of the Trinity (Brahma, the Creator and Shiva, the Destroyer) play key roles, this ongoing cosmic drama centers on Vishnu, the Preserver and Saviour.  As the Great Avatar, it is he who descends again and again, in various and sundry incarnations and names, guiding and blessing us. 
 
Lord Vishnu has a myriad of names, but we await his triumphant materialization as HE WHO RIDES AT THE TURNING-TIME, when Vishnu-Kalki, in synchronized harmony with Kali’s dark dance, form another trinity of sorts, sweeping away the abominations and accumulated filth and trash of aeons to reveal a wondrous Great New Age.   Creation continues and the Eternal Drama unfolds anew on a fresh stage.  Hail the Maha Avatara.  Hail the Maha Yuga. 
 
"There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning."  Louis L'Amour.

Reproduced from www.adelaideinstitute.org/
 

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