Sudarshana Chakra
The Sudarshana Chakra (Sanskrit: सुदर्शन चक्र
is a pirouetting, disk-like super weapon with 108 serrated edges of Hindu God Vishnu. The Sudarshan Chakra is portrayed on right rear hand of the four hands of Vishnu, who also hold a Shankha (a conch shell) on right fore hand, a Gada (mace) on left rear hand, and a Padma (lotus) on left fore hand.
According to the Puranas, the use of Sudarshan Chakra is called for ultimate destruction of the enemy. The depiction of Sudarshan Chakra with Vishnu also means that Vishnu is the keeper-owner of the celestial bodies and heavens.
Within scripture
The use Sudarshana Chakra is occasionally mentioned in Hindu texts of Rigveda, Yajurveda and Puranas, as an ultimate weapon to eliminate the enemy of law, order and preservation. Such enemies are enumerated variously as rakshasas, asura, and vikrutatma. In one such instance, as scribed in the stanzas of the Mahabharat, Lord Shri Krishna, the avatar of Lord Vishnu, beheads Shishupala with the use of the Sudarshan Chakra, for his rapacious behaviour (committing 100 mistakes each worthy of death) at the Rajsuya yagna celebration of Emperor Yudhishthira. It was also used to cut mandrachal parvat for samudra manthan.
[edit]Origin of Sudarshana Chakra
According to one version, the Sudarshana chakra was made by the architect of gods, Vishvakarma.
Viswakarma's daughter Sanjana was married to Surya, the Sun God. Due to the Sun's blazing light and heat, she was unable to go near the Sun. She complained to her father about this. Viswakarma took the Sun and made him shine less so that his daughter would be able to hug the Sun. The left over Sun "dust" was collected by Viswakarma and he made three things out of it. The first one was the famous aerial vehicle Pushpaka Vimana, the second being the Trishula (Trident) of Lord Shiva, and the third was the Sudarshana Chakra of Lord Vishnu.
The chakra comprises 10 million spikes in two rows. One row of spikes moving in the opposite direction to give it a serrated edge.
It was also used to cut the Goddess Sati , consort of Lord Shiva into 51 pieces after she gave up her life in humiliation. It is said that Shiva, in grief, carried around her lifeless body and was inconsolable. The 51 parts of the Goddess' body were then tossed about in different parts of Bharatvarsha and came to be known as Shakti Peeths.
[edit]Presented to Krishna by Agni
Agni-deva (Fire God) had been suffering from a severe stomach ailment. As a remedy, Lord Brahma advised him to consume the herb-rich Khandava forest. However, Takshaka the Serpent-king and a close friend of Lord Indra , was residing there. Whenever Agni tried to consume the forest, Lord Indras thundershowers quickly extinguished the fire.
Once, Krishna and Arjuna arrived at this place. Appearing as a Brahmana, Agni-deva sought their help and they agreed.To fight Indra and His divine army , Agni-deva presented the divine weapon *Sudarshana Chakra* to Krishna and Gandheevam to Arjuna .
[edit]Other Names
In the Tamil Language, the Sudarshana Chakra is also known as 'Chakkrath Azhwar' (translated as Ring/Circlet of God).
The Chakri Dynasty, the current ruling house of Thailand is named after the weapon.