the beginning of the kalki purana describes kali's lineage starting with the brahma, his great-great-grandfather, and ending with the birth of his children's children. instead of being born of poison from the churning of the ocean of milk, he is the product of a long line of incestuous monsters born from brahma's back. (see family lineage below) kali and his family were created by brahma to hurry the dissolution of the cosmos after the pralaya period was over. when his family takes human form on earth, they further taint the hearts and minds of mankind to bring about the end of dvapara yuga and the beginning of kali yuga. during the first stage of kali-yuga, the "varnashrama" breaks down and god-worship is forsaken by man. all through the second, third, and fourth stages, man forgets the name of god and no longer offers yajna (offerings) to the devas. it is at this point when god vishnu reincarnates as kalki in the name of the devas and all of mankind to rid the cosmos of kali's dark influence.