Sri Chakkarathazhwar (Sudarshanar)

The Sannidhi

The deity enshrined in the Sri Chakkarathazhwar Sannidhi is known as Sudarsana Azhwar. He appears with eight divine hands, holding the conch (shanku), discus (chakram) and goad (angusam) among his attributes. Behind him, the imprint of the chakra emblem can be seen. Devotees believe that worshipping him bestows many benefits. Every Saturday, large numbers of devotees visit and light ghee lamps (nei vilakku) as an offering. The Moolavar (presiding deity) here has sixteen divine hands. Devotees believe that the weapons held in his hands have the power to remove their troubles and obstacles; these are regarded as yoga yanthras — mystic instruments of divine energy. Behind the Moolavar Chakkarathazhwar, one can see the sacred form of Yoga Narasimhar. Thirumanjanam (ceremonial ablution) is performed for Chakkarathazhwar on all days except Saturdays.

The Sudarshana Chakra — Puranic Background

The Sudarshana Chakra is the divine weapon of Sri Mahavishnu. It is a spinning, disc-shaped weapon with 108 serrated edges. Among Vishnu's four divine hands, the Sudarshana Chakra is held in the right rear hand, the conch Panchajanyam in the left fore hand, the mace Kaumodaki in the left rear hand, and the lotus bud (Padmam) in the right fore hand.

Origin

Sanjna Devi, the wife of Surya the Sun God, was the daughter of Vishwakarma, the divine architect. Unable to bear the Sun's intense radiance and heat, she could not approach her husband and appealed to her father for help. Vishwakarma placed the Sun on his grinding wheel and trimmed away the excess brilliance. From the solar dust that fell away, he fashioned three wondrous creations: the first was the Pushpaka Vimana, the famed aerial chariot (later belonging to Kubera and then to Ravana); the second was the Trishula (Trident) of Lord Shiva; and the third was the Sudarshana Chakra of Lord Vishnu. The Chakra carries millions of spike-like serrations arranged in two rows that spin in opposite directions, giving it its fearsome cutting edge.

The Sudarshana Chakra in the Puranas

The Sudarshana Chakra is referenced in the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda and the Puranas as the ultimate weapon for the protection of dharma — deployed against rakshasas, asuras and those who walk the path of adharma.

In the Mahabharata, during Emperor Yudhishthira's Rajasuya Yagna, Sri Krishna employed the Sudarshana Chakra to slay Shishupala, who had committed a hundred offences each worthy of death. The Chakra was also used to shape the Mandara mountain for the Churning of the Ocean of Milk (Samudra Manthan).

When Sati Devi, the consort of Lord Shiva, gave up her life at her father Daksha's sacrificial fire, Shiva, consumed by grief, carried her lifeless body and wandered inconsolably. Lord Vishnu then used the Sudarshana Chakra to divide Sati's body into 51 pieces. These fell at various places across Bharatavarsha and are venerated today as the Shakti Peethas — the sacred seats of the Goddess.

Sudarshana Ashtakam — Swami Vedanta Desika

The following is the opening verse of the Sudarshana Ashtakam, composed in praise of Sri Chakkarathazhwar by Swami Vedanta Desika:

Pratibhata Shreni Bhishana

Varaguṇa Stoma Bhushana

Janibhaya Sthana Karana

Jagadavasthana Karana

Nikhila Dushkarma Karshana

Nigamana Saddhama Darshana

Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarshana