Sudharshana - சுதர்சன

Sudarshana Chakra is the discus weapon of Lord Vishnu/Krishna, which is usually used for the ultimate destruction of an enemy and protecting good over evil. Sudarshana Chakra adorns the right rear hand of the four hands of Mahavishnu. This disk-like weapon consists of thousands of sharp edges and produces intolerable heat.

The correct version of the text is: The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word Sudarshana is "auspicious vision." It is a combination of the words "Su," which means "Divine/auspicious," and "Darshana," which means "Vision." Sudarshana is worshipped by Vaishnavas and regarded as the Deity who helps the devotees to clear the difficult path to attain the Lord.

Merciful Sri Hari is Parama sowlabya and ready to protect his devotees. He plays all to uphold Dharma in Krishna Avatara. In Kurukshetra Yuddha, HE uses his Sudarshana Chakra to hide Adithya, the Glorious Sun, to protect Arjuna from Agni Pravesham.

In Krishna Avatara, he creates an illusion and turns day into night. He changes the appearance of nature. Krishna uses his Sudarshana Chakra to hide the sun. How could Sudarshana hide the glorious sun?

सहस्रादित्य सन्गसम् सहस्रवदनं प्रभुम् |

सहस्रदं सहस्रारं पप्रपद्येsहं सुदर्शनम् ||

ஸஹஸ்ராதித்யஸங்காசம் ஸஹஸ்ரவதநம் ப்ரபும்

ஸஹஸ்ரதம் ஸஹஸ்ராரம் ப்ரபத்யேsஹம் ஸுதர்சநம்

sahasrAditya-sankASam sahasra-vadanam prabhum |

sahasradam sahasrAram prapadye aham sudarSanam ||

Meaning:

Perform prapatti at the sacred feet of Lord Sudarshana, who has the effulgence of thousands of suns emanating from his thousand faces. I seek the protection of this Lord with thousands of spokes in his wheel-like form.

The radiance of Sri Sudarshana is koti sUrya: (crores of suns) that he playfully hides the Sun.

Here are a few glories of Vishnu Chakram Sudarshanam - Who holds 16 weapons (Shodashayudham) in 16 hands. The names of which are given in the attached picture. 🙏

1. Sudarshana Chakram is the mighty weapon of Lord Narayana.

The term Sudarshana means that which is beautiful to behold. The beauty

of the Sudarshana Chakram arises from the fact that the Chakram leads

the seeker to the path of Lord Narayana. The Chakram has many auspicious attributes. The foremost amongst these attributes is Peeda Pariharam (relief from all kinds of pain and suffering).

2. The Chakram is the mighty jwala which forms the center of the Kalanala

(fire at the end of time). This Jwala has the radiance of a thousand suns as

can be seen from the opening salutation of the Sudarshana Kavacham. Therefore, the Chakram dispels all ignorance and darkness.

3. The magnificence of the Sudarshana Chakram is very eloquently described by several Acharyas, referencing Sudarshana Satakam by Sri KooraNarayana Jeer, Shodasayudha Stotram, and the Sudarshana Ashtakam by Sri Vedantha Acharyan. Related references that offer tributes to the Sudarshana Chakram include Mahabharata, Vishnu Sahasranamam, Padma Samhita, and Ahirbudhnya Samhita (both of which are Pancharatra Agama texts)...

Sudarshana Kavacham and Srimad Bhagavatam. In addition, several Azhwars (Vaishnavite Saints) have paid tributes to the Chakram in their Pasurams (ref. Tirumazhisai Azhwar, Nammazhvar, Periya Azhvar, and Tirumangai Azhvar).

4.The Chakram transcends space and time. Shodasayudha stotram salutation

यदायत्तं जगच्च क्रं कालचक्रं च शाश्वतम्। पातु वस्तत्परं चक्रं चक्र रूपस्य चक्रिणः

Yadyattam jaga chakram kAla chakram cha sAswatham pAdhu vastatparam chakram chakra rUpasya chakra:

Meaning: The Universe is rotating eternally driven by the tatthvam of Kaalam/Kala (second-minute-hour day-month-year). This Kaala tatthavm is under the control of the ChakrA yudham (Sudharshana), which is the chief among the weapons of the Lord Sree Hari. He (The Lord) Himself takes on the form of this Chakram (Sudarsana Roopam).

Therefore, the Chakram is an Amsham of Para Vasudeva. The Mahabharata refers to the wheel of time (Kala Chakram), denoting the temporal aspect of the Sudarshana Chakram. The Vishnu Sahasranamam salutation...

ऋतुः सुदर्शनः काल इति दिग्बन्धः

Ritu: Sudarshana Kala Iti Digbandha:

Also refers to the spatio-temporal aspects of the Chakram.

5. The Sudarshana Chakram unfailingly comes to the rescue of the Lord's devotees as seen from the following instances:

a) The relentless pursuit of Durvasa, who tried to kill Ambarisha with his fiendish creation (cf: Srimad Bhagavatam).

b) The destruction of Shishupala, when he offended Yudhishtira and Bhishma (Ref Mahabharata).

c) Arjuna was able to kill Jayadratha despite great odds only on account of the Chakram masking the Sun (Ref Mahabharata).

d) In the Vamana Avataram, the blade of grass was used to clear the opening of the jar (which had been blocked by Shukracharya) containing water for Mahabali's Sankalpam.

e) Sudarshana decorated Lord Narasimha's sharp nails to eliminate Hiranyakashipu.

6. The Chakram confers Moksham to anyone who surrenders to it as well as

anyone killed by it. Examples of people attaining Moksham by being killed

by the Chakram are: Shishupala, Narakasura, Poundraka Vasudeva, and the crocodile in Gajendra Moksham. Ambarisha is an example of a devout

person who was protected by the Chakram and ultimately graced by the

Lord.

7. Ahirbudhnya Samhita states that Ahirbudhnya (Shiva) worships Sudarshana and sought the boon to see the beautiful form with His own eyes.

Thus the list will go on, mere words from the Human Mouth are not enough to describe the glory of Vishnu Chakram Sudarshanam.

Sudarśana mantra

sudarśana mahājvāla koṭi sūrya samaprabhā |

ajñānāndhasye me deva viṣṇor mārgaṃ pradarśaya ||

"O Sudarshana, great flame, as refulgent as a hundred thousand suns, lead me, O Lord, from the darkness of ignorance and guide me towards Lord Vishnu’s path."

Sudarśana gāyatri

ॐ सुदर्शनाय विद्महे महाज्वालाय धीमहि।

तन्नश्चक्रः प्रचोदयात्॥

oṁ sudarśanāya vidmahe mahājvālāya dhīmahi |

tannaścakraḥ pracodayāt

Sudarshana Homam is performed to invoke the ‘Sudarshana Chakra’ or Sudarshana disc of Lord Sriman Narayanan, which is a powerful tool to alleviate difficulties and is protective in nature as well.

Significance of Sudarshana Homam:

The Homam is said to protect against evil and enemies. It is said to protect against all forms of danger that may threaten life and family. The homam protects against enemies, conspiracies, threats to life, etc. Mainly, the Sudarshana homam is invoked for its healing properties. It is also said to cure people of their diseases and long-term chronic illnesses. The Homam, once performed, is also said to cure people of ten types of doshas, as depicted in the tantric texts.

Steps

• Kumbha Ava hanam, Punyahavachanam.

• Japam of Sri Maha Sudarshana Mantra ( Below is the Mantra in Tamil)

ஓம் ஸ்ரீம் ஹ்ரீம் க்லீம் கிருஷ்ணாய கோவிந்தாய கோபீ ஜனவல்லபாய், பராய பரமபுருஷாய பரமாத்மனே பரகர்ம மந்த்ர யந்த்ர தந்த்ர ஔஷத அஸ்த்ர சஸ்த்ராணி ஸம்ஹர ஸம்ஹர ! ம்ருத்யோர் மோசய மோசய !!

ஓம் நமோ பகவதே மஹா ஸுதர்சனாய தீப்த்ரே ஜ்வாலா பரீதாய

ஸர்வதிக் க்ஷோபண ஹராய

ஹும்பட் ப்ரம்மனே

'பரஞ் ஜ்யோதிஷே ஸ்வாஹா !

ஸ்ரீ சக்ர ராஜாய மங்களம்.

• Sudarshana Ashttottaram recitation

• Performing Sri Sudarsana Homa Maha Sankalpa for Lokaskhemam.

• Invoking of all the deities by the priest and performing of the Shodasopachara Aaradhana

• Agni Pratishtha for the homam

• Beginning of the homam with performance of 108/1008/10008 .... Sri Sudarsana Shadakshari with aahuthi

• Aahuti is followed by Poornahuti.

• Going around the Agni Kundam while reciting Sri Sudarshan Ashtakam/Sudarsana Sathakam

• Hom or homam concludes with kumb Prokshanam to all devotees.

Below is an artwork created by a follower of Sri Tridhandhi Chinna Jeer Swami.

Benefits of Worshipping Sudarshana

• bhUta-preta-piSAsAdi samasta dushTa graha bAdhA nivrtti, (relief from fears of ghosts/evil spirits/malefic planets)

• shatru bAdhA nivrtti (dispelling - fear of enemies)

• Arogya druDha gAtra siddhi (Improvement in Health - even from critical illness)

• chintita sakala manoratha prApti ( Desires will be fulfilled & prayers will be answered)

• nAnA prakAra sambhAvita aSubhAnAm durita nivAraNam (relief fromi in-auspiciousness)

• sarIre, gruha, ArAma kshetrAtishU ca, parakrta mantra, yantra, aushada,

astra, sastra AbhicAra, visha prayogAdi janita sakala mangaLa nivrtti.

( Relief from all types of evils in home or in physical body - rising out of mantra/yantra/abhichara - black magic/poison...and negativity)

Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarshana ! 🙏

Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarshana ! 🙏

ThiruMogur Chakrathaazhwar

Aazhwar Emberumanaar Jeer ThiruVadigale Saranam

Sources: Mrs. Geetha Vasudevan, Puja Stores website, Kesavabashyam