1. THE MEANING OF ‘AVATAR’: The word AVATAR is formed by combining the roots ‘ava’ + ‘tu’, which together mean ‘to come into the world’. God’s Avatar means ‘birth of a great man who preaches to the world messages revealed to him by God’. God is present everywhere, so to think of Him as confined to a fixed place is to deny Him Infinity. There are places where His brightness is in full glare, and there are places where His glow is dim. The rays of the Sun look pretty dim in a fog, but that does not reduce the real brightness of the Sun. The entire creation is manifested with the Light of God, just like the world becomes manifest with the light of the Sun.
   So does God send His special man for the welfare of man – kind. Such a man is specially related to Him. He is a great soul and is dearly loved by God. He is the one who, among men, has the most immaculate heart and possesses a sterling character, and his heart is filled with divine knowledge. He experiences theophany, and therefore, even without actually learning or being taught by a teacher, his heart receives the highest and the purest form of knowledge. The expression ‘God’s avatar’ indicates a possessive case and means ‘the coming of a man who is in a special relationship with God’.
   In the olden times, every country received its own Avatars, i.e. prophets, because it was not possible for any one Avatar to work for the welfare of the entire world. But the case of the FINAL AVATAR is different. He has been sent for the welfare of mankind as a whole. His religion is intended for everyone.
   
   

1. CONDITIONS WHEN AN AVATAR APPEARS: An AVATAR appears when the following conditions prevail:

1. CONDITIONS WHEN THE FINAL-AVATAR APPEARS: When the following conditions prevail, the FINAL AVATAR is supposed to appear:

1. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FINAL AVATAR:

1. THE AGE IN WHICH THE FINAL AVATAR WILL APPEAR: According to the Indian scriptures the total time for the world is divided into four Ages.

1. THE PLACE WHERE THE FINAL AVATAR WILL APPEAR: It is clearly mentioned in the Kalki Purana (2:4) that SHAMBHAL is the place where the FINAL AVATAR will be born. It is however not easy to describe a place by its name alone. Firstly we have to ascertain whether SHAMBHAL is the name of the place or an adjective used to describe the place.
   SHAMBHAL cannot be the name of any place. Had it been so, its location would have been mentioned in the scriptures. If SHAMBHAL was located in India, a sage would have been born there 1400 years ago, as a deliverer of mankind. The birth of the FINAL AVATAR is not an ordinary event. It must correspond with a major change in the world. Since that has not happened in India, we can safely say that SHAMBHAL is not a place within the Indian domain. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the meaning of the word SHAMBHAL in an effort to locate the place.

[PLEASE NOTE: It is mentioned in VACHAPATTAM that there are 60 idols in SHAMBHAL. Many scholars have mentioned LAAT, MANAAT and KANATH among these idols. Muslim scholars say that SHAMBHAL literally means DARUL AMAAN (Abode of security) in Arabic, and there are 60 famous idols in it including LAAT, MANAAT and KANATH.]

1. MUHAMMED AS THE FINAL AVATAR: Let us look at the total situation of Muhammed, and the similarities between him and KALKI AVATAR.

1. HE WILL RIDE A HORSE AND CARRY A SWORD: It is said in the Bhagawat Purana (12:2:19), "Adorned with eight qualities and riches, riding a swift horse given to him by the angels, and with a sword in his hand, the saviour of the world will subdue all the miscreants." Here we find that Muhammed received a heavenly steed from God called BURAQ, riding which he made his journey, known as MI’RAJ or the Ascension, to the Heavens. Muhammed used to love horses. He owned seven horses. This is reported by Hakim Abul Barakat Abdur rauf in his ASAHUS SIYAR (page 595), and by Sulaiman in his JAMAUL FAWAID (vol 2, page 179). In the SAHIH of Imam Bukhari, it is reported by Anas that he has seen Muhammed riding a horse with a sword hanging by his side. It is also reported in ASAHUS SIYAR (page 595) that Muhammed had a total of nine swords, one of them was called ZULFIQAR, the others came down to him from his ancestors.
2. TEACHER OF THE WORLD: In the above mentioned verse, i.e. the Bhagwat Purana (12:2:19), we find that KALKI AVATAR has been called ‘the Saviour of the World’, which in reality is synonymous to ‘the Teacher of the World’. It denotes a person, who saves the fallen world with divine guidance. He is not the teacher of a particular people, he is the teacher of the entire mankind. Indeed, in the Qur’an, Muhammed has been commanded to declare this to the people. "Say: O men! I am sent unto you all, as the Messenger of God."- SURA A’RAF ( The Heights), verse 158. In another place, the Qur’an says, "Blessed is he Who sent down the Criterion to His servant (i.e. Muhammed ), that it may be an admonition to all the worlds." SURA FURQAN (The Criterion), verse 1. It is therefore established that Muhammed indeed was the teacher of the entire world.
3. HE WILL SUBDUE THE WICKED: It is said about KALKI AVATAR that he will subdue the wicked. Historically speaking, it applies to Muhammed alone. The Qur’an does enjoin the believers to fight against all forms of tyranny, because when the Unitarians proclaimed the Oneness of God, they were subjected to immense misery and torture and were driven out of their own homes. It was Muhammed, who purified the bandits and established them on the path of truth. His people mixed up the worship of their own false Gods. It was then Muhammed, who cleared the deck, of every variety of idol worship. Muhammed was born at a time when the entire world was in the grips of anarchy and the rule of the wicked. In fact, in the East, a Persian emperor named Kaikobad had promulgated a rule that everyone had an equal right on wealth and women, i.e. no individual could lay a personal claim on any property or any woman. (SEERATUN NABI, part 4, page 215). As a result of which the entire country was sunk in the quagmire of the most horrible form of adultery. Muahmmed is the person, whose disciples conquered Persia in due course, and freed the people from the horror of such abomination, and thereby re-established the dignity of religion.
4. HE WILL BE BORN IN THE CITY OF SHAMBHAL,(KALKI PURANA 2:4), IN THE HOUSE OF THE CHIEF PRIEST: His father’s name will be VISHNU-YASH (BHAGWAT PURANA, 12:2:18). We have seen earlier that the meaning of SHMABHAL is ‘house of peace and security’. The city of Makka is known as DARUL AMAAN which also means ‘house of peace and security’. Therefore, it is proved that the place of birth of both Muhammed and KALKI AVATAR is the same.
5. It is a fact that Muhammed was born in the house of the chief priest of KAABA, which is the name of the place of worship in Makka.
6. KALKI AVATAR’S MOTHER AND FATHER: His mother’s name will be SUMATI or SOMANIB, (KALKI PURANA 2:4 and 2:11), which means gentle and thoughtful. Muhammed’s mother was AAMINA, which in Arabic has the same meaning. His father’s name will be VISHNU-YASH (BHAGWAT PURANA, 12:2:18), which means worshipper of Vishnu, i.e. God. Muhammed’s father was ABDULLAH, which means obedient of Allah, i.e. God.
7. HE WILL BE THE ANTIM OR FINAL AVATAR: In the BHAGWAT PURANA (1:3:24), KALKI AVATAR has been described as the last of all the AVATARS. It is interesting to note that the Qur’an also declares Muhammed as the last of all the Messengers. That is why Muslims do not accept the idea of any other Messenger after Muhammed. In books like VACHASPATTAM and SHABD KALPTARU, a couple of meanings have been given for the word KALKI – one who eats pomegranate and one who washes away disgrace. Muhammed used to eat pomegranate and date. He did indeed eradicate disgraces like taking partners with God and disbelief in God.
8. HE WILL GO TOWARDS THE NORTH AND THEN COME BACK: It is said in KALKI PURANA that KALKI AVATAR will go to the mountain, where he will receive knowledge from PARSHURAM, then go north, and then make a come-back. Muhammed did go to the mountain. There he received knowledge from Gabriel, and the Qur’an started to descend upon him. A few years after that, he went North to Madina. Finally, he made a victorious come-back to Makka.
9. SHIVA WILL PRESENT KALKI WITH A STEED: It is said that SHIVA will present KALKI with a steed of extraordinary quality. Similarly, Muhammed did receive a steed from God known as BURAQ, whose speed transcended time.
10. WITH FOUR COMPANIONS HE WILL OVERPOWER THE DEVIL: It is said in the KALKI PURANA (2:5) that KALKI AVATAR, with four of his Companions, will disarm KALI i.e. the Devil. Likewise, Muahmmed and his four famous companions, fought of the mischief of the Devil. The four companions are: Abu Bakr, Umar, Usman and Ali. After Muhammed, these four companions became his successors and spread the religion of Islam and the creed of one God. See ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WORLD HISTORY by W.L. Langer (page 184-632 A.D. to 661 A.D. The orthodox Caliphate including the first tour Caliphs).
11. HE WIL BE ASSISTED BY ANGELS: It is said in the KALKI PURANA (2:7) that KALKI AVATAR will be assisted by Angels in the battle fields. In the life of Muhammed, we find that this indeed became a reality. In the battle of Badr, he was assisted by Angels, who descended form the heavens, to be on his side. The Qur’an says, "God has helped you at Badr, when you were a contemptible little force; then fear God, thus may you show your gratitude. Remember you said to the faithful, ‘Is it not enough for you that God should help you with three thousand angels (specially) sent down? Yea, if you remain firm and act aright, even if the enemy should rush here on you in hot haste, your Lord would help you with five thousand Angels making a terrific onslaught’." – SURA ADALE IMRAN (The Family of Imran, 3:123-125). Again, in SURA ANFAL (The Spoils of War, 8:9), the Qur’an says, "Remember you implored the assistance of your Lord, and He answered you, ‘I will assist you with a thousand of the Angels, ranks on ranks’." And again in SURA AHZAB (The Confederates, 23:9), the Qur’an says, "O you who believe ! Remember the Grace of God, (bestowed) on you, when there come down on you hosts (to overwhelm you), but we sent against them a hurricane and forces that you saw not, but God sees (clearly) all that you do."
12. HE WILL HAVE THE MOST GRACEFUL PERSONALITY: In the BHAGAWAT PURANA (12:2:20), it is said about the KALKI AVATAR, that he will have a personality of unparalleled grace. Similarly, BUKAHRI has recorded a narration from Anas, that Muhammed was the most beautiful person among men and had an extremely graceful personality. – (JAMAUL FAWAID by Sulaiman, page 179).
13. HIS DATE OF BIRTH: It is said in the KALKI PURANA (2:15) that KALKI AVATAR will be born on the twelfth day of the bright (first) half of the month of BHADO. It has been proved historically that Muhammed was born on the twelfth day of the bright half of the month of RABI-UL AWWAL. – (ASAHUS SIYAR, page 49).
14. HIS BODY ODOUR WILL BE SWEET - SMELLING, in which the air around him will become fragrant. – BHAGAWAT PURANA (12:2:21). The sweet smell that emitted from the body of Muhammed was well-known. The hands of the one who shook hands with Muhammed would remain fragrant all day. – (SHAMAEL TIRMIZI, page 208). Anas, Muhammed’s servant says, "We always used to know when Muhammed had issued forth from his chamber by the odoriferous perfume that filled the air." – LIFE OF MOHAMET by Sir William Muir, page 342.
15. HE WILL BE ADORNED WITH EIGHT QUALITIES: It is mentioned in the BHAGAWAT PURANA (section 12, chapter 2), that KALKI AVATAR will be adorned with eight special qualities viz. Wisdom, respectable lineage, self control, revealed knowledge, valour, measured speech, utmost charity, and gratefulness.

1. WISDOM: Muhammed was in the possession of a very high quality knowledge. He could correctly describe present, past and future. His prophesies would always come true.
2. RESPECTABLE LINEAGE: In the Introduction to his THE SPEECHES OF MUHAMMED (page xxvi), STANLEY LANE POOLE writes, ‘he was born in A.D. 571, and came of the noble tribe of Koreysh, who had long been guardians of the sacred Kaaba."
3. SELF CONTROL: It is mentioned in the Indian scriptures that KALKI AVATAR will be a man of great self control. Similar views are expressed about Muhammed. The significance of self control is the ability to curb the dictates of the lower self. The self is generally driven by the basic appetites and therefore is the slave of base instincts. Yes, one might ask here, how could any man living with nine wives at the same time be considered as a man of self control? But we must remember that Sri Krishna, had more than 600 wives. As a matter of fact, a YOGI (man of God), remains free of any desire, even when he lives a family life, and that is why he attains NIRVANA.
4. REVEALED KNOWLEDGE: This is the fourth quality of KALKI AVATAR. Revealed knowledge is what God speaks to His chosen man. Thus a revealed scripture is one, which contains knowledge and information from Divine sources. In the case of Muhammed we find that he received Divine knowledge through the medium of an Angel.
5. VALOUR: The fifth quality of KALKI AVATAR is valour. Muhammed did possess great physical strength and courage. Once, the most powerful man among the Quraysh called Rukana, challenged Muhammed to a bout of wrestling. He promised that if defeated, he would accept Muhammed as a Prophet. As it happened, Muahmmed defeated him twice. - ASAHUS SIYAR (page 97), and LIFE OF MOHAMET (page 523) by Sir W. Muir.
6. MEASURED SPEECH: Measured speech is considered to be a profound quality of great men. Reverend Bosworth Smith writes in his MUHAMMED AND MUHAMMEDANISM (page 110), "In his intercourse with others, he would sit silent among his companions for a long time together, but truly was more eloquent than the other men’s speech, for the moment, speech was called for, it was forthcoming in the shape of some weighty apothegm or proverb, such as Arabs love to hear."
7. UTMOST CHARITY: A very special part of piety is to look after the unfortunate. Every great man has emphasised on charity. In the PURANAS, this has been marked as the seventh quality of KALKI AVATAR. Muhammed too, practiced charity to its utmost limit. Muhammed was not wont to disappoint anybody.
8. GRATEFULNESS: The eighth quality that the KALKI AVATAR will be endowed with, according to the PURANAS, is gratefulness. History is replete with proofs of Muhammed’s gratefulness, which are written in letters of gold. Every book of history is full of episodes where Muhammed has shown immense gratitude to the ANSARS i.e. the Helpers of Madina. – ASAHUS SIYAR (page 343).

1. HE WILL BE INSTRUCTED WITH DIVINE MESSAGE: About KALKI AVATAR, it is reputed in India that he will establish the VEDIC religion i.e. the Divine religion, and that he will instruct mankind with the Message of God. That the Qur’an was revealed to Muhammed from God is an infallible truth. This cannot be rejected by anyone except the haughty. The Qur’an teaches supreme principles of life, decent conduct, universal love, Oneness of God and lofty ideals. We can see glimpses of all that in the VEDIC scriptures as well.
   
   Here, we have shown a TOTAL MATCH between KALKI AVATAR and PROPHET MUHAMMED.