Sudarshana Chakra

An iconographic representation of the Sudarshana Chakra may be seen revolving above the index finger of the right hand of Vishnu herewith. Within the iconography of Sanatana Dharma, the right hand, as the succi (Sanskrit: "pure") is extrovertive and projective, for giving and eating; whereas, the left hand as a mucci (Sanskrit:"unclean") is the introvertive and receptive hand, for attending to personal hygiene.

Sudarshana Chakra (Sanskrit: सुदर्शन चक्रम्) is a spinning disc like weapon with very sharp edge, which serves as an attribute of the Hindu God Vishnu. Lord Vishnu, also called Narayana, is portrayed with four hands, holding a Shankha (a conch shell), the Sudarshana, a Gada (mace) and a Padma (lotus). According to Professor D.D.Kosambi, the Sudarshana Chakra is a stone-age sharp wheel, discus-type weapon, which is not known to the Vedas and went out of fashion well before the time of the Buddha; but its historicity is attested by 800 B.C. cave paintings in Mirzapur,U.P., North India, which show raiding horse-charioteers (clearly enemies of the aboriginal stone-age artists) one of whom is about to hurl such a wheel. This 800 B.C. cave painting of a figure at Mirzapur,U.P.,North India, could potentially be identified as Krishna. .

Lord Vishnu is depicted holding the chakra from a central hole, with his index finger. The disc spins around his finger. According to the Puranas, he would release it and it would do the required deed and return to his finger. It is revered as a divine weapon. In another version, Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Devi jointly have the capability of operating the chakra.

Within scripture

The Sudarshana Chakra is mentioned numerous times in Hindu texts, where Lord Vishnu decapitated various rakshasas, asuras and others — one of them being in Mahabharata, where Sri Krishna decapitates Shishupala for his misbehaviour.

The Sudarshana Chakra has lots of abstract imagery as well. It is believed that Lord Vishnu is like the Sun, and the planets of the solar system revolve around Him, in a disc-like form, creating the impression of the Sudarshan Chakra.

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 other version is "Jalandharasura, a rakshasa, who conquered all the worlds finally landed in Kailasa to conquer it. Lord Shiva drew a Chakra by his big toe on the ground and asked the asura to lift it. Jalandhara lifted the chakra and when it reached near his neck it severed his head. Mahavishnu prayed to Lord Shiva for a proper weapon to kill the Asuras thus saving the livelihood of Devas. Vishnu did tapasya and offered 1008 lotus to the Shiva Linga. To test Vishnu's devotion Mahadeva hide one lotus flower. At the end of his Tapas(pooja) Vishnu found one lotus was missing and without hesitation he offered one of his own eyes and completed the Pooja. Lord Shiva pleased and appeared before him and gave him the Chakra which is called Sudharshana and also gave him the title name as "Tamaraikannan" (lotus eyed).

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 52 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 52 parts of the Goddess' body were then tossed about in different parts of Bharatvarsha and came to be known as Shakti Peeths.

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.

Further reading

• Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, "How did Lord Krishna acquire Sudarshan Chakra?" and the composition of Sudarshan Chakra
• Vishnu’s Flaming Wheel: The Iconography of the Sudarsana-Cakra (New York, 1973) by W. E. Begley
• "Ancient Vishnu idol found in Russian town", Times of India (4 Jan 2007)