Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Sudharshana Chakra

Sudarshan Chakra meaning “one that has auspicious vision.” Sudarshan Chakra is composed of two Sanskrit words, “Su” + “Darshana” meaning auspicious (Su) vision (Darshana). The word Chakra is derived from ‘chruhu’ meaning movement and ‘kruhu’ meaning to do. Chakra means that which is movement. It was created by the combined energy of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara.

Sudarshana Chakra is a special Asthra used by Lord Vishnu. It is a spinning, disc-like weapon. The chakra comprises 10 million spikes in two rows. One row of spikes moving in the opposite direction to give it a serrated edge.. The Sudarshan Chakra has the powers to destroy anything in its path.

The Sudarshana Chakra is the only divine weapon which is constantly in motion. It could perform millions of rotations every second and has the capability to travel several million yojanas (1 Yojana = 12 km) at the very blink of an eye. It is not thrown, but with will power, it is sent against the enemy. Even after releasing it, it remains within the control of the one who has wielded it. It travels along the shunyamarga (path of zero stress nature) and hence, can reach anywhere within a moment. When the enemy poses an obstacle, its speed increases. This is known as the hansa gati. It is noiseless

Lord Vishnu is portrayed holding the Chakra in his right rear hand of the four hands. Lord Vishnu adorns the Sudarshana Chakra is his index finger like a ring. He also holds a Shankha (conch shell), a Gada (mace), and a Padma (lotus) in his other hands.

In the Vedic period, the Sudarshana Chakra was regarded as Lord Vishnu’s symbol of the wheel of time. However, by the late medieval period, Sudarshana Chakra emerged as “Ayudha Purusha” representing a fierce form of Lord Vishnu and was regarded as the weapon of the destruction of the enemies.

In Tamil, the Sudarshan Chakra is called as the “Chakkrath Azhwar” meaning Ring or Circlet of God.

The Sudarshan Chakra has twelve spokes and six navels. Its center is composed of “Vajra.” The twelve spokes of Sudarshan Chakra are believed to represent the twelve months of the Hindu Lunar calendar as well as the twelve deities (Som, Indra, Varun, Vayu, Agni, Vij, Mitra, Indragni, Prajapati, etc.). The six navels represent the six seasons.

Various Parts of Sudarshan Chakra

The middle stable part: It is named bhruvi (equality), bhaga (radiance), nirdesha (speed) and sampada (endowed with the nectar of nutrition).
The spokes: It has twenty-seven spokes charged with the run energy of the twenty-seven feminine principles created from Prajapati. These spokes contain the yogini panchaka, that is the basic components of the five cosmic elements. The energy in all feminine principles is beyond the restrictions of direction and time.

These cosmic elements are described as:

Yogini : means the one who bestows the energy which is unattainable.
Lakshmi : The one who bestows one with the achievement of the target (lakshyam) or the absolute truth.
Narayani : All pervading
Murdhini : Murdha is the linear part included in the longitudinal section between the centre of the eyebrows and the vertebral column. It is referred to as the line of the head (mastakresha). Murdhini refers to the frequencies which intersect the head directly. These frequencies are present in rudrakshas too. Murdhini or Murdhivahini refers to that which flows through the murdha.
Randhra : The speed or energy which transforms into the subtle most.

The Parigha (periphery): It has eight masculine principles.

Parigh : This is constituted by the following eight masculine principles.
Aditya :’means the radiance which first came into existence and is still persisting.
Varuni : Varun is the deity of water. Varun exercises control over the dikbhavas, that is those created from the directions. The dikbhavas are the main centres of the directions. Hence no matter in which direction the discus travels, it is never obstructed.
Juhu : The subtle most speed which is enriched with the radiance (jyoti) derived from the lunar asterisms.
Indra : Frequencies displaying greatness.
Narayan : The one endowed with the energy of movement of the Navanarayanas, the nine serpents [from the universal spiritual energy flow system (kundalini)]
Navadha : The Navanarayana, navanaga and navavidha concept combined together mean navadha.
Gandhi : Those who can travel on the earth.
Mahisha : The Blissful principle in Mahesha

Goddess Sati , consort of Lord Shiva gave up her life in humiliation in her father Daksha’s Yagna. Shiva was restlessly roaming the three worlds with the corpse of Sati on his head, the Devas were dejected. They had prayed to Mahakali, the eternal consort of Sadashiva, to appear before Shiva and calm him down, since no one had the power to do so.

Lord Shiva started performing the dance of destruction / Rudra Tandava with the corpse of Sati on his head. The movements of his dance / Tandava were threatening to disrupt the earth / Bhoomi Devi and putting immense pressure on Ananta Shesha Naga, who held the earth on his thousands of hoods, as well as Kurma, who gave base to Ananta Naga. The whole Chandraloka began quivering as Chandra was stationed on his head. The winds emanating from his movements trembled the mountains. Everyone guessed the it was the time of untimely cosmic dissolution.

But then, the compassionate lord Vishnu reflected a little on what Mahakali’s prophecy, that “Her body will be dismembered and it’s part would establish on the earth as Shakti-peethas”. Thus, for the welfare of the three worlds, Vishnu decided to take this initiative himself at the cost of inviting immense wrath from Shiva. He uplifted his finger and hurled his Sudarshana chakra to dismember the corpse of Sati. Thus, the body divided into 51 pieces and fell down on distant locations across the world, which came to be revered as Shakti-peetha.

After the transcendental form of Devi Sati split into many parts because of Sudarshana Chakra, Lord Shiva in anger swallowed the Sudarshana Chakra and went into Samadhi Sthithi. This empowered asuras, they attacked the Devas. The asuras, enslaved and tortured the Devas. The Devas were suffering so much from the attacks of the Asuras that they offered prayers Lord Vishnu to seek his help in defeating the Asuras.

Vishnu said to them, “I do not have enough power to defeat or destroy the Asuras as they have received the Varahs from Lord Shiva and he is in the State of Samadhi. I must seek help from Shiva. I will ask him to give me the Sudharshana Asthra that will help me defeat the Asuras.”

Lord Vishnu went to Kailasa mountain to do his penance. But even his tremendous penance was not enough to disrupt the Lord Shiva’s Samadhi.

Lord Vishnu started the penance / Tapasya to evoke Shiva with the hope that one day he would come out of his Samadhi. Every day for thousands of years, Vishnu prayed to Shiva, meditated on Shiva. He offered 1008 lotus blossoms to Shiva each day. Each time Vishnu offered lotus blossoms, he would chant lord Shiva’s Sahasranamas.

This went on for such a long time and Shiva remained rapt in Samadhi. The Auras continued tormenting devas by inflicting them with weaknesses and Lord Vishnu was unable to save them.

Ten thousand years later, Shiva came out of his Samadhi sthithi. Understanding the situation around 3 Lokas, He wanted to test the devotion of lord Vishnu. As part of his routine, Lord Vishnu gathered 1008 lotus blossoms so that he could make an offerings to Lord Shiva.

Vishnu had placed the lotus blossoms assuming there were 1008 of them, But 9 flowers were missing, only 999 flowers.

After making all his preparations, Lord Vishnu began to worship the Linga and offering the flowers One by one, as he chanted Shiva’s name. When he reached 999th flower, he realised that 9 flowers were missing. That meant he had to go discontinue the chantings and find 9 more lotuses to resume. To make up for this deficiency, lord Vishnu offered his one eye to lord Shiva – Lord Vishnu’s eyes are compared to lotus flowers.

Pleased with Lord Shiva devotional offering, Seeking Shivas’s blessings, Vishnu says“Please give me asthra that will help me to conquer and annihilate the asuras,”, Lord Shiva gives him the Sudharshana chakra. and says “This Chakra will uphold the dharma of time.” Lord Shiva then preaches on the five duties (Panchakritya) saying that ‘Srishti’ (creation), ‘Sthithi’ (position), Samhara (annihilation), Tirobhava (concealment) and ‘Anugraha’ (obligation or kindness) are the five duties by which this world functions.

The Sudarshana Chakra holds tremendous occult and spiritual power to destroy everything.

Apart from destroying the Adharma, noble attributes like knowledge, stability, vision beyond the samsara and upholding the righteous are also associated with the powers of Sudarshana Chakra.

Invoke the goodness of the Sudarshana Chakra by rendition of the Sudarshana Gayatri Mantra:

Om Sudarshanaya Vidmahe Maha Jwalaya Dhimahi
Tanno Chakrah Prachodayat.

Meaning:
Om. I appeal to be allowed to meditate upon the holy discus of Sudarshana. That will holds profound brilliance, bless me with intellect and illuminate my mind”

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About Author:
Subhasini BA, is a Screenplay writer, Director, creative director, costume designer and producer, whose work has featured in some of the most prestigious film festivals in the country and internationally. She has collaborated on several film projects juggling different roles. 

In beginning of her career, she worked as Associate director and Costume Designer with the acclaimed director Girish Kasaravalli. She’s written and directed a documentary film on the famed Krishna Temple in Udupi, and also written plays, screenplays for films and short form content for some of the leading technology companies in India, including Microsoft, Akamai Technologies, LAM Research, and SAP. 

With Knowledge in Sanskrit, Subhasini is a seeker of the Eternal Truth / Santana Dharma, writes on dharma. She is passionate about History, Mythology, Philosophy and Spirituality. She believes Dharma is the manifestation of the natural strength of every living soul.
She lives in Cincinnati.

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