The Legend of Sudarshana Chakra

There is a very popular legend behind the origin of the Sudarshan Chakra. According to this theory, the Sudarshan Chakra was created from the Sun’s rays. Viswakarma, the architect of the cosmic Gods, had married his daughter Sanjana to Surya Deva. However, due to the intense heat and light of Surya, Sanjana was unable to look at him and could not approach him. Sanjana told this misery to her father, Vishwakarma.

On hearing this request, Vishwakarma decided to lessen Surya’s shine. He collected Sun dust and made three objects. One was Lord Shiva’s Trishul, the next was Pushpaka Vamana, and the third was Sudarshan Chakra.

The sacred disc is always in a spinning motion and has 108 serrated edges. The Sudarshan Chakra is used for the destruction of evil and negative forces. The movement of this sacred wheel is initiated by mind control and the power of the will. Once the Chakra leaves the finger, it is still under the control of the wielder. The sacred wheel goes after the enemy relentlessly and does not return until the task at hand is accomplished. The sacred disc follows the path of zero-stress nature and can reach the target within the blink of an eye. The Sudarshan Chakra is noiseless, and in case of any obstacle in the path, it amplifies the speed. The Chakra has tremendous spiritual and supernatural powers.

The Sudarshan Chakra has six spokes and the Vajra at the center. The Chakra finds occasional mention in the ancient holy Vedic texts of the Rigveda, Yajurveda, and Puranas. The Sudarshan Chakra is a symbol of preserving law and order and annihilating the enemy.

According to popular belief, during the Dwapara Yuga, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, Krishna is said to have acquired the Sudarshan Chakra from the fire God, Agni. When Sage Parashurama came to know this, he taught Krishna everything about the mastery of the weapon.

Another belief is that when Lord Krishna took incarnation Shri Vishnu gave him this Chakra which he could use immediately at any time, it was his own property. (Vishnu Purana Part-3 Cha.2). During Samudra Manthan, Lord Vishnu used the Sudarshan Chakra to cut through the Demon Swarbanu who then became Rahu and Ketu. During Daksha Yagna, Shri Vishnu used it to cut Sati's body into 51 parts which fell on Earth and became Shakti Peeths, holy places for worshipping Goddess Shakti.

The Mahabharata mentions that both Sri Krishna and the famous Pandava Arjuna assisted Agni Deva in burning the Khandava forest. Agni Deva was believed to be suffering from a severe stomach ailment. Brahma, the Creator, advised the Fire God to consume the Khandava forest, which was rich in herbs. However, Agni Deva found it difficult to enter the forest as Takshaka, the serpent king, resided in the Khandava forest. He was close to Indra, the King of Gods.

When Agni Deva tried to consume the forest, Indra would send thundershowers to extinguish the fire of Agni Deva. Sri Krishna and Arjuna arrived at the place one day. Donning the guise of a Brahmin, Agni Deva approached them for help, and they agreed. To fight Indra and his divine army, Agni Deva presented Sri Krishna with the divine Sudarshana Chakra and gave Arjuna the Gandheevam. Sri Krishna and Arjuna helped the Fire God burn down the Khandava forest. Thus, Sri Krishna received the Sudarshan Chakra.

Here are other three more popular stories where Sudarhana Chakra was used:-

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 Shishupala was one of the relatives of Lord Krishna. When he was born, he had three eyes and four arms. It was prophesied that his surplus body parts would disappear when a certain person would take him on his lap, and the same person would kill him. The body parts of Shishupala disappeared when Lord Krishna took him on his lap when he was an infant. Shishupala’s mother requested Lord Krishna not to kill him. Therefore, Lord Krishna promised her that he would not do so until Shishupala committed 100 offenses. In the Pandavas’ Rajsuya yajna, Lord Krishna was honored as the chief guest of the ceremony. It infuriated Shishupala because Lord Krishna had married Rukmini whom he wished to marry. He also must have heard about the prophecy of his death. Therefore, he started verbally abusing Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna remained calm but warned him before his 100th offense, but it was in vain. He continued to abuse him and Pandavas. Therefore, Lord Krishna conjured the Sudarshana Chakra and ordered it to kill Shishupala. He ran here and there but was killed by the Sudarshana at last.

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According to the ancient Puranas, Sri Krishna held up the mighty Govardhan mountain when he was a child. The elderly people of Braj, including his father Nanda Maharaj, were preparing for the pooja for Indra, King of Gods when the child Sri Krishna asked them the purpose of the preparations. They explained that the pooja was performed every year to please Indra so that he would bestow abundant rain whenever they required. Sri Krishna replied that the farmers should concentrate on fulfilling their duties, by focusing on farming and protecting their cattle, instead of conducting poojas for a natural phenomenon such as rain. Upon hearing this, the villagers were convinced and did not perform the pooja.

Indra became furious, and he punished the people of Braj for listening to Sri Krishna. He sent terrible rainclouds and heavy showers to flood Vrindavan. The King of the heavens called upon the Samavartaka clouds of destruction to lash Vrindavan with torrents of rains and thunderstorms that would cause extensive damage to the crops and livelihood of the villagers. The thunderstorms and torrential rains lashed Vrindavan, which became submerged. Frightened villagers ran to Sri Krishna for help. Understanding the situation immediately, the child Sri Krishna lifted the Govardhan mountain at once with his left finger. He held it up like an umbrella, and all the villagers and their cattle took shelter under the mountain. For seven days, the villagers and cattle stayed safe under the mountain, without hunger or thirst, surprisingly. They were astounded and completely taken aback to see a child lift a mighty mountain with his finger.

It is said that Sri Krishna used the divine Sudarshan Chakra to support the Govardhan mountain from below as he lifted the mountain with his finger. It is said he used the celestial and sacred disc below the mountain for support. A stunned Indra called back the clouds of devastation. The skies became clear, and Sri Krishna bade the villagers return to the village with their cattle. Later, Indra came down and, with folded hands, asked Sri Krishna for forgiveness. Sri Krishna bestowed his grace upon Indra and enlightened him about Dharma and his duties.

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Sri Krishna is believed to have used the Sudarshan Chakra in the epic Mahabharat, during the Kurukshetra war. Arjuna’s son Abhimanyu had been brutally killed by the Kauravas the previous day in war, and Arjuna had vowed to avenge his son’s death. Jayadrath was the main culprit. Arjuna had taken a terrible vow to kill Jayadrath before sunset the next day. If he failed in his mission, he would jump into a burning pyre and end his life. The Kauravas had planned to give all protection to Jayadrath as they knew the Pandavas, especially Arjuna would want revenge. They kept Jayadrath in hiding until it was time for sunset. The sunset and Jayadrath came in front of Arjuna, confident the latter had lost the challenge. The sun suddenly reappeared, and Sri Krishna advised Arjuna to shoot an arrow at Jayadrath quickly. Arjuna sent an arrow that beheaded Jayadrath. The sun stayed on for a while during this process and then set a second time.

It is widely believed that Sri Krishna used the divine Sudarshan Chakra to create a false sunset the first time around, forcing Jayadrath out into the open, and lulling him into a false sense of security that Arjuna had lost the challenge. As the eighth avatar of Vishnu, Sri Krishna used the Sudarshan Chakra on a few occasions.

 However, it is believed he never used the divine disc directly in the Kurukshetra battlefield to kill anyone.