Observations placeholder
Vishnu Purana 1.3. 1-3 - The End of the World
Identifier
022595
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
The Mahabharata or Mahābhārata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the Ramayana. The oldest preserved parts of the text are thought to be not much older than around 400 BCE, though the origins of the epic probably fall between the 8th and 9th centuries BCE. In other words part of this prophecy is about 2,500 years old and refers to now – the end of kali Yuga.
The Vishnu Purana (Viṣṇu Purāṇa) is one of the eighteen Mahapuranas, a genre of ancient and medieval texts. Estimates range of its composition range from 1st millennium BCE to early 2nd-millennium CE.
This makes this part of the prophecy 4,000 plus years old and aain applies to the end of Kali Yuga.
A description of the experience
Vishnu Purana 1.3. 1-3 - The End of the World
There are three kinds of what we call the "end of the world" (pralaya): the first induced (naimittika); the second natural (prakrita); the third immediate (atyantika).
- Induced destruction (which concerns all living beings on earth) takes place at the end of each Kalpa [cycle of the Yuga(s)]. It is called either accidental or induced (naimittika).
- Natural destruction (prakritika) is that which concerns the whole universe. It takes place when the divine dream which is the world ends. Matter, space, and time then cease to exist. It takes place at the end of time (parardha).
Mahdbharata 12.248. 13-17
What is called accidental or provoked destruction (of living species) (naimittika) takes place at the end of the Manvantara (the period of a Manu), the cycle of the Yuga(s). Therefore, it concerns the human species. It takes place when the creator can no longer find any remedy apart from a total destruction of the world to put an end to the disastrous and unplanned increase in the number of living beings.
This destruction will start with an underwater explosion called Vadava, the mare, which will take place in the southern ocean.
Vishnu Purana 18. l8-31)
It will be preceded by a hundred-year drought during which the people who are not robust will perish. Seven explosions of light will dry up all the waters. The seas, the rivers, the mountain streams, and the underground springs will be drained.
Twelve suns will cause the seas to evaporate. Fed by this water, seven suns will form which will reduce the three worlds to ashes; the earth will become hard like a turtle's shell.
A fire from the mouth of an underground serpent will burn the lower worlds, then the surface of the earth, and will set the atmosphere ablaze. This mass of fire will burn with a great noise. Surrounded by these circles of fire, all animate and inanimate beings will be destroyed.
The destroyer god will breathe enormous clouds, which will make a terrible noise.
A mass of clouds charged with energy, destroyer- of-all (sarvantaka), will appear in the sky like a herd of elephants.