Kroni is the primal manifestation of evil in the Ayyavazhi mythology, which is a religious tradition that emerged in South India in the 19th century and part of the wider Hindu mythology. Ayyavazhi, founded by Ayya Vaikundar, incorporates a range of mythological and spiritual elements and is considered a sect of Hindu religions.
Kroni is portrayed as a powerful demon or asura, whose primary role is to oppose the divine will and create disorder in the world. He is often associated with various destructive activities and is seen as a significant antagonist to the divine forces led by Ayya Vaikundar. He can take on many different forms such as Ravana and Duryodhana. It is said each form Kroni takes is unique to a specific era of time.
To combat and eliminate the evil arising from Kroni's manifestations, Mayon (a Tamil name for Vishnu) takes on various incarnations, such as Rama and Krishna.
Kroni is similiar to the Hindu demon known as Kali, but is also, obviously, an entity that is comparable to Satan in Jeudo-Christian beliefs (though the never-ending cycles of life, death and rebirth are at odds with Jeudo-Christian teachings).
Biography[]
Kroni in the Akilattirattu Ammanai[]
According to the Akilathirattu Ammanai, the sacred text of Ayyavazhi, Kroni was born during the first of the Eight Yukams (Aeons) with countless limbs, each as large as a mountain, and was the first evil entity in the Universe. Driven by an insatiable hunger, Kroni consumed all the ocean's waters. When the water proved insufficient, he swallowed Kailayam (Kailash), the residence of Shiva, and then proceeded to devour the entire Universe. Mayon, who was with Shiva in Kailayam, managed to escape and performed a penance (Tavam) to seek Shiva’s assistance in destroying Kroni. Shiva agreed to help but advised Mayon that he would need to appear in various forms throughout the succeeding six Yukams to defeat the six parts of Kroni. Following this guidance, Mayon dismembered Kroni into six fragments, thus saving the Universe and bringing an end to the first Yukam.
Fragments of Kroni[]
The six fragments of Kroni later emerged as evil spirits (or Asuras) in six successive Yukams (aeons). In each Yukam, Mayon had to incarnate on Earth to combat these evils. The six fragments were known as:
- Kuntomasali
- Thillaimallalan and Mallosivakanan
- Suraparppan, Sinkamukasuran, and Iraniyan
- Ravanan
- Thuriyothanan and the Ninety-nine Brothers
- Kaliyan
Kroni, the spirit associated with Kali Yuga, is believed to be omnipresent in the current age, which contributes to the perception among followers of Ayyavazhi, as well as other Hindus, that this Yuga is particularly degenerate.
Philosophical views[]
Philosophically, Kroni represents the malevolence that hinders the soul from achieving ultimate bliss or enlightenment. The six fragments of Kroni are seen as six types of evil affecting the six chakras of the physical body, excluding the Sahasrara. It is believed that individuals must overcome the negative qualities associated with these six fragments in order to reach divinity (Sahasrara) and achieve union with the divine.