Apocalypse: A prophetic revelation usually about the end of the world and the ensuing establishment of a heavenly kingdom. Jewish and Christian apocalyptic writings appeared between 200BC and 150AD.
Armageddon: The site or time of a final and conclusive battle between the forces of good and evil.
Saptasuryaudgamana: The rising of seven suns, spelling the end of the world. This is an oriental prophecy.
At a party, at the office or while travelling, someone might suddenly take you on: “Say, will the world end on December 21, 2012?”
This may perhaps bewilder you, or you may have a ready-made response.
But, if I were you, I will come back pat: “No, the world will not end in 2012.”
I fully admit, that such a stance has a tinge of cynicism to it. When I unhesitatingly say, that the world will not end on December 21, I have a cynical assumption. If the world actually ends on that day, there will be no one around to point a finger at me and taunt; “You guessed wrong.”
Cynicism
Cynicism apart, let us ponder somewhat profoundly, about this current concern related to the end of the world. In the first place, how did this topic enter the domain of global dialogue, with such amazing pre-eminence?
To my mind, it all began with the pervasive impact of mass media. In the past few years a shattering series of cinematic works was foisted upon the cinema-goers world-wide.
A predominant work in this recent wave of apocalyptic films was “2012.” In its aftermath, whole streams of rumours and myths flooded the popular discourse as news of impending disaster, can be troublingly unsettling.
The disaster messages emanating from formal media works, set off mass rumour worldwide, leading to an intriguing communication phenomenon. The mass concern centered on the possibility of the end of the world, eventually influenced individuals and institutions at a high level.
The impressive outcome of all this was the alertness of the whole world to the end-of-the-world threat. By the time 2012 dawned, many entered the new year hesitatingly, lest the world will come to an end in December.
The end-of-the-world story acquired an added piquancy, when the “Prophecy” of the Maya Calendar Sharpened the interest.
Mayas
The Mayas are an American Indian race, who authored a brilliant civilisation, about 2,400 years ago (Incidentally, it is now known that to characterise them as Mayans, is a linguistic misnomer. They are Mayas). Ruled by priest-kings, the Mayas had evolved intricate systems to measure time. They were versatile in mathematics and astronomy.
The Mayas are recognised as highly sophisticated formulators of calendars. The rumour spread around the world during the past two years, that the Maya Calendar stops at December 21, 2012.
This gave rise to the alarm, that the Mayas ended their calendar at December 21, 2012, because the world comes to an end on that day.
Sustained discussions with scholars of Maya culture, have now revealed that, there is no Maya prophecy of an end of the world on December 21, 2012.
On the other hand, the Mayas of old had given the moderns some very good news. What their calendar says is, on December 21, 2012, the 13th Bak time period will end.
