Sumatī, Mother of Kalki
Sumatī was the wife of Viṣṇuyaśa, a brāhmaṇa of Śambhala-grāma. In his house Bhagavān Kalki was born. The Kalki Purāṇa names her as the mother of Kalki, the last avatāra of Bhagavān Viṣṇu in the present cycle.
The Kalki Purāṇa shows her as a deeply pious woman. She gave one hundred cows when Kalki was born. She welcomed Padmāvatī as her daughter-in-law. When her husband died, she entered the fire (agni-praveśa). The devas praised her in the divine realm. The Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa gives a different name for the mother of Kalki, Devasena.
Identity and family
Sumatī was the wife of Viṣṇuyaśa, the brāhmaṇa of Śambhala-grāma in whose house Bhagavān Kalki was born. Her name means “the one of good mind”. She was the mother of four sons: Kavi (the eldest), Prājña, Sumantra and Kalki. Kalki was the youngest, and he is the main avatāra. The others were amśas, parts of Bhagavān Viṣṇu. (Kalki Purāṇa, Prathamāmśa, Chapter 2)
At the birth of Kalki
Kalki was born on Vaiśākha Śukla Dvādaśī (the twelfth day of the bright half of the month of Vaiśākha). His birth filled Śambhala with joy. Sumatī gave dāna (a gift) of one hundred cows to brāhmaṇas.
The four cirajīvins (those who live for ages), Paraśurāma, Kṛpācārya, Vyāsa and Aśvatthāman, came as mendicants. They came to bless the child and to name him. Sumatī was present at the naming as his mother. (Kalki Purāṇa, Prathamāmśa, Chapter 2)
Welcoming Padmāvatī
Kalki came back from Siṃhala Dvīpa with his new wife Padmāvatī, an avatāra of Lakṣmī. Sumatī received her as a mother-in-law receives the bride of her son. The Kalki Purāṇa describes her welcome as full of a mother’s joy. In her new daughter-in-law she saw Śrī herself. (Kalki Purāṇa, Dvithīyāmśa, Chapter 6)
Four sons as amśas of Bhagavān Viṣṇu
The Kalki Purāṇa says that four amśas of Bhagavān Viṣṇu were born as the sons of Sumatī.
- Kavi is the eldest son.
- Prājña is the second son. He took part in the Digvijaya (the conquest of the quarters) and killed a lakh (one hundred thousand) warriors.
- Sumantra is the third son. He took part in the Digvijaya and killed twenty-five thousand charioteers.
- Kalki is the youngest son and the main avatāra.
(Kalki Purāṇa, Prathamāmśa, Chapter 2)
Agni-praveśa at the death of Viṣṇuyaśa
Viṣṇuyaśa finished his tapas (austerity) at Badarīkāraṇya. He became one with Paramātmā and left his body. Sumatī learned of his death. She embraced her husband’s body and entered the fire. This is the agni-praveśa of a satī, a wife who will not live apart from her husband. The devas in the divine realm saw what she had done and praised her. (Kalki Purāṇa, Tritīyāmśa, Chapter 16)
The name given in the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa
The Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa names the mother of Kalki as Devasena. It does not name her Sumatī. It names Yājñavalkya as the guru of Kalki. The Kalki Purāṇa names Paraśurāma. The Viṣṇu Purāṇa, the Kalki Purāṇa and the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa all give the father’s name as Viṣṇuyaśa and the birthplace as Śambhala. (Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Madhyama Bhāga, Chapter 73)
Sources
- Kalki Purāṇa, Prathamāmśa, Chapter 2
- Kalki Purāṇa, Dvithīyāmśa, Chapter 6
- Kalki Purāṇa, Tritīyāmśa, Chapter 16
- Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Madhyama Bhāga, Chapter 73
- Viṣṇu Purāṇa (named for the father and the birthplace; no chapter is given)