Dedicated to all of you who are entering the spirit of the new millennium: You are not afraid to investigate the possibilities of what may be in the future, yet remain steadfast in the courage to help bring in light, love, and spiritual improvement for one and all. You are the people forming the new species of humanity. Copyright © October, 1997, and March, 2011 by Stephen Knapp Updated with additional information in March, 2011 ISBN-13: 978-1461002246 ISBN-10: 1461002249 E-Book ISBN: 978-1-4392-7897-0 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except for brief quotations. Cover photo: An image of Lord Shiva as Nataraja or Rudra doing the cosmic Tandiva Nitrya dance of destruction that brings the huge universal, multicolored clouds that play a part in causing the annihilation of the universe. Photo taken by Stephen Knapp. Other books by the author: 1. The Secret Teachings of the Vedas: The Eastern Answers to the Mysteries of Life 2. The Universal Path to Enlightenment 3. The Vedic Prophecies: A New Look into the Future 4. How the Universe was Created and Our Purpose In It 5. Toward World Peace: Seeing the Unity Between Us All 6. Facing Death: Welcoming the Afterlife 7. The Key to Real Happiness 8. Proof of Vedic Culture’s Global Existence 9. The Heart of Hinduism: The Eastern Path to Freedom, Enlightenment and Illumination 10. The Power of the Dharma: An Introduction to Hinduism and Vedic Culture 11. Vedic Culture: The Difference it can Make in Your Life 12. Reincarnation & Karma: How They Really Affect Us 13. The Eleventh Commandment: The Next Step for Social Spiritual Development 14. Seeing Spiritual India: A Guide to Temples, Holy Sites, Festivals and Traditions 15. Crimes Against India: And the Need to Protect its Ancient Vedic Tradition 16. Destined for Infinity, a spiritual adventure in the Himalayas 17. Yoga and Meditation: Their Real Purpose and How to Get Started 18. Avatars, Gods and Goddesses of Vedic Culture: Understanding the Characteristics, Powers and Positions of the Hindu Divinities 19. The Soul: Understanding Our Real Identity 20. Prayers, Mantras and Gayatris: A Collection for Insights, Protection, Spiritual Growth and Many Other Blessings You can find out more about Stephen Knapp and his books, free ebooks, research, and numerous articles and photos, along with many other spiritual resources at: http://www.Stephen-Knapp.com Contents TITLE PAGE COPYRIGHT PAGE FOREWORD, By Bhakti Tirtha Swami INTRODUCTION What is Considered Vedic CHAPTER ONE THE STORY OF VYASADEVA’S VISIONS More Prophecies From the Great Sage Markandeya CHAPTER TWO THE PROPHECIES THAT HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED The Prophecy of Lord Buddha’s Appearance * Prediction of Shiva appearing in Kali-yuga as Shankaracharya * The Prophecies about Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu CHAPTER THREE THE BEGINNING OF THE AGE OF KALI-YUGA Why Puranas Repeat the Same Series of Events * The Story of Kali- yuga’s Appearance * The Dangers of Kali in Standardized Gold * The Basic Pattern of Events for the Future in Kali-yuga CHAPTER FOUR THE COMING CHANGES DURING KALI-YUGA Effects of Demoniac Forces in Kali-yuga * General Conditions and Characteristics of People in Kali-yuga * The Effects of Low-Class Rulers * The Immoral Qualities of People * The Cheating in Business, Money, and Social Positions * The Disappearance of Religiosity * Disappearance of the Holy Rivers * The Degradation in Family Life and Relations Between People * Droughts and Rampant Famine * The Worst Conditions at the End of Kali-yuga CHAPTER FIVE THE GOLDEN AGE IN KALI-YUGA: A TIME FOR UPLIFTMENT The Advantages of Kali-yuga * Prophecies on the Importance of Mayapur, India * How the New Spiritual Awareness Will Spread Around the World * How to Get Free of the Influence of Kali-yuga * A New Species Of Humanity * Conclusion CHAPTER SIX THE NEXT AVATARA OF GOD: LORD KALKI AND THE END OF KALI-YUGA The Appearance of Lord Kalki * The Activities of Lord Kalki * Lord Kalki Predicted in the Book of Revelations * The Return of the Golden Age —Satya-yuga CHAPTER SEVEN THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD The Next Annihilation of the World * The Final Annihilation of the Universe WHEN THE WINDS OF KALI RAGE APPENDIX ONE TIMING THE AGES APPENDIX TWO DESCRIPTION OF KALI-YUGA FROM THE RAMAYANA APPENDIX THREE THE BHAVISHYA PURANA The Bhavishya Purana * The Prophecy of Jayadeva Goswami * The Prediction of Nimbarkacharya * The Prediction of Madhvacharya * The Prediction of Sridhara * The Prophecy of Jesus Christ * Jesus in Kashmir * Was Jesus Really Predicted in the Bhavishya Purana? * Is Prophet Mohammed Really Prophesied in the Bhavishya Purana? APPENDIX FOUR MORE ABOUT THE RETREATING GLACIERS OF THE HIMALAYAS APPENDIX FIVE IF THERE IS A GOD, WHY IS THE WORLD LIKE THIS? REFERENCES GLOSSARY ABOUT THE AUTHOR Foreword Several years ago I got a very desperate call from one of the directors of the NBC Television Network program on “Prophecies.” They requested information on our Vedic tradition for their program. They were particularly interested in millennium prophecies. I explained to the director the difference between assorted types of psychics and clairvoyance in contrast to one who is connected with a transcendental heritage that is endowed with various siddhis (mystic powers), which includes prophecy. I explained further that all prophecies are somewhat secondary to the Vedic prophecies. The Vedas are the oldest scriptures in the world dealing with such subject matter. They are reliable and authentic because several of the prophecies in the Vedas are given to humanity by God or by his specially empowered, fully realized ambassadors. Not only do these ambassadors perceive past, present, and future, but they are distinctly enlivened in making or arranging for the future. Uniquely, I explained, the Vedas are not limited to this universe or planet. Given that many future events are happening or have happened already on other planets and will later manifest on this planet, it is very easy for such events to be accurately explained or described by the Vedas and by bona fide followers of the Vedic tradition. I sent them a volume of the Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana) on predictions, written by the great teacher His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. Although authentic, it did not address sufficiently the millennium concerns in the way they desired. Furthermore, I could understand they needed more preparation to appreciate properly this gem I had sent them. As I look back at this encounter, my regret is that I did not have this wonderful little book by my colleague, Stephen Knapp, to give them. Stephen has done a great service by painstakingly putting together such important prophecies from the Vedic tradition so that those who are familiar, as well as the novice, will reflect on world prophecy from the most sacred and authentic scriptures known to humankind. The Vedas give predictions that extend throughout all planets and all traditions. According to Indian philosophy, there are 10 pramanas (different ways of knowing truth). They are: 1. Arsa—a statement of an authoritative sage or Demigod. 2. Upamana—comparison (something like something else). 3. Arthapatti—presumption due to some other known fact. 4. Abhava—absence (perceiving the object’s absence). 5. Sambhava—inclusion (a larger quantity includes a smaller). 6. Arthya—tradition. 7. Cesta—gesture or symbols (someone making a “V” sign or mudra gesture). 8. Pratyaksa—direct perception. 9. Anumana—inference (based on generalized experience derived by reason or deduction). 10. Shabda—sound (revealed knowledge). The last three are the only ones accepted by transcendental scholars and holy men like Jiva Goswami and Madhavacharya. Number ten, shabda pramana, revealed knowledge of the Vedas from superhuman sources, is the supreme superior method. In one of my books, Spiritual Warrior: Uncovering Spiritual Truths in Psychic Phenomena, I sometimes rely on anumana, which is inferior to shabda. In The Vedic Prophecies: A New Look into the Future, the author relies almost exclusively on shabda pramana for elucidating prophecy. What a wonderful offering! By this approach, Stephen gives the reader information about the prophecies that have already happened, the beginning of Kali-yuga (the last age—the age of quarrel), the changes during this age, the special age of enlightenment (the Golden Age) in Kali-yuga, the next incarnation of God, and the destruction of the world. Even the author’s explanation of the Federal Reserve System helps the reader to get a clearer understanding of how some of the evil effects of Kali-yuga are already fully operational. Let us investigate a few millennium concerns in this Kaliyuga. Nostradamus proclaimed a number of things that would happen around the turn of the century. Edgar Cayce proclaimed that Japan would slide into the Pacific Ocean, earthquakes would destroy California, coastal areas would flood, and New Lands would appear. It is predicted by psychics affiliated with Buddhism that Buddhism will last for only 2,500 years. Buddhism has been in existence for 2,500 years. Also, it has been predicted that Tibetan Buddhism will end some time after the thirteenth Dalai Lama has been dethroned. He has been dethroned. Psychic pyramidologists report that the turns and measurement of the Great Pyramid at Gizeh predicts the end of present civilization. The decline is said to have started in 1965. The Aztecs and Hopis predict the coming of a New Age within the next decade. Islam proclaims it will last until man sets foot on the moon. (Have we or have we not gone to the moon?) Gordon-Michael Scallion predicts serious earth changes and a new era for humankind in the next several years. At Fatima, the predictions proclaim holocaust, earth changes, and the dawning of a new era in the near future.