FW: [t'venkatam] Sudarsana Chakram

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Dear Bhagavatas:

Here is an interesting write up Lord Sudarsana - Chakrathaazhwaar that

appeared in a sister list.

I am forwarding to you for your enjoyment and information.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

===========================================

>Bhattathiri <mpmahesh

>tiruvenkatam

>tiruvenkatam, Oppiliappan

>CC: spiritual-group,

>-owner, AYODHYA

><ayodhyatemple, aryA

>[t'venkatam] Sudarsana Chakram

>Sun, 08 Feb 2004 08:45:34 +0530

>

>Sudarsana Vaibhavam

>Sudarsana Chakram is the mighty weapon of Lord Narayana. The term Sudarsana

>means that which is beautiful to behold. The beauty of the Sudarsana

>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 Peeta Pariharam (relief from all kinds of pain

>and suffering) for the devout and Peeta Pradanam (relentless misery) for

>the evil minded. The Sudarsana Chakram also has the characteristic of Papa

>NAsanam (destroying one's sins). Papa NAsanam is the first step towards

>realizing Lord Narayana.

>

>The magnificence of the Sudarsana Chakram is very eloquently described by

>Swami Desikan in both the ShodasAyudha Stotram and the Sudarsana Ashtakam.

>Related references which offer tributes to the Chakram include the

>Mahabharata, Vishnu Sahasranamam, Padma Samhita and Ahirbudhnya Samhita

>(both of which are PaancharAtra Agama texts), Sudarsana Kavacham, and

>Srimad Bhagavatam. In addition, several Azhwars have paid tributes to the

>Chakram in their Pasurams (cf:Tirumazhisai Azhwar, Nammazhwar, Periya

>Azhwar and Tirumangai Azhwar).

>

>The Chakram transcends space and time. This is seen from Swami Desikan's

>Shodasayudha stotram salutation Jagat Chakram Kala Chakram Cha. 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 Sudarsana

>Chakram. The Vishnu Sahasranamam salutation "Ritu Sudarsana Kala Iti

>Digbandha:" also refers to the spatio-temporal aspects of the Chakram. 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 which is

>evident from the opening salutation of the Sudarshana Kavacham.

>Sahasraditya Sankasham, Sahasra Vadanam Param Sahasradam SahasrAram

>Prapadyeham Sudarsanam. Therefore, the Chakram dispels all ignorance and

>darkness.

>

>The mighty Jwala also connotes the JwAlA Narasimhar aspect. The opening

>salutation of the Mantrarajapada Stotram of the Ahirbudhnya Samhita, "Ugram

>Veeram Mahavishnum Jwalantam Sarvatomukham I Nrusimham Bheeshanam Bhadram

>Mrutyumrutyam NamAmyaham II", provdies eloquent testimony to this fact.

>Lord Narasimha destroyed Hiranyakashipu in the form of JwAlA Narasimha

>bringing instant relief (Pida Pariharam) to Prahlada from his sufferings.

>Therefore, Lord Narasimha is considered to be resident in the Chakram. The

>presence of the Sudarsana Chakram in the nails of Bhagavan Narasimha is

>indicated again by Ahirbudhnyan in the Mantra Raaja Pada Stotram in the

>salutation "NakhAgrE Shakalee ChakrE". Sudarsana and Lord Narasimha share

>deep rooted and intimate connections. The joint worship of

>Sudarsana-Narasimha is prescribed by both PaancharAtra and VaighAnasa

>Agamams. The Padma Samhita reports the presence of Lord Narasimha with

>sixteen arms in the Sudarsana Yantram. Swami Desikan glorifies the

>ShodasAyudha (sixteeen arms of Sudarsana, each bearing a potent weapon)

>aspect of the Sudarsana Chakram in the ShodasAyudha Stotram. These

>references point to the common features of the back-to-back forms of

>Sudarsana and Narasimha. The back-to-back forms of Sudarsana Narasimhar are

>seen in a single Peetam at the Srirangam Temple (ChakrathAzhwAr Sannidhi).

>Sudarsana-Narasimha SaaLagramam provides further testimony to the worship

>of this form of Lord Narasimhar.

>

>The Chakram is also the abode of the four Vyuha Murthis: Vasudeva,

>Sankarshana, Pradhyumna and Aniruddha. This is reflected in Swami Desikan's

>Sudarsana Ashtakam salutation: Nija Para Vyuha Vaibhava. The geometric form

>of the Sudarsana Yantram consists of six corners formed by two intersecting

>triangles circumscribed in a circle. The Vyuha Murthis find their abodes

>around the corners of the Sudarsana Chakram. Starting from the top right

>hand corner of the Chakram, the six vertices correspond to "A Chakram", "Vi

>Chakram", "Su Chakram", "Surya Chakram", "Jwala Chakram" and "Sahasrara

>Charkam", respectively. The Sudarsana Chakram itself is at the center of

>the Yantram along with Lord Narasimha. Therefore, offering prayers to the

>Sudarsana Chakram is equivalent to saluting Lord Narayana in Para, Vyuha,

>Vibhava, Archa and AntharyAmi forms. The glorification of the Lord in the

>Chakram form can also be found in the ShodasAyudha stotram (Chakra Rupasya

>ChakriNaha).

>

>"A Chakram" arises from the relationship of the sound "A" to Lord Vishnu.

>"A" is the first syllable of PraNavam (AUM) which is associated with Lord

>Narayana from the vedic salutation: AkAra UkAra MakAra Iti. Furthermore,

>ThiruppAn Azhwar's Amalanatipiran, Swami Desikan's Bhagavad Dhyana Sobanam

>and Munivahana Bhogam, and Narayana Bhattadripad's NarayaNeeyam commence

>with the syllable "A". These facts may be used to infer that "A" is

>VishNoraksharam.

>

>"Vi Chakram" denotes the Akshara Vi, which is the starting Aksharam of Lord

>VishNu's name. Parashara Bhattar, in his VishNu Sahasranamam commentary,

>expounds on VishNu as: CharAchara Bhuteshu VeshaNAth Iti VishNu: Uchyathe

>(that which enters the sentinent and insentinent beings is called Vishnu).

>The Vi Chakram symbolizes this aspect of Lord VishNu.

>

>"Su Chakram" denotes the abode of all auspicous attributes, i.e., the

>Kalyana GuNams of JnAna Bala, Aishwarya, Shakti, Tejas, and Vatsalya. This

>aspect of the Sudarsana Yantram is inferred from Swami Desikan's Sudarsana

>Ashtakam salutation: Nirupatsipeeta Shad GuNa. Due to the synergy between

>the Chakram and Lord Narayana, one is led to wonder whether the Lord's

>right hand is beautiful on account of being adorned by the Sudarsana

>Chakram or whether the touch of the Lord's hand imparts added beauty and

>effulgence to the Chakram.

>

>"Surya Chakram" refers to the fact that the radiance of Sudarsana exceeds

>that of a thousand Adityas. Testimony in support of this fact is seen in

>the opening salutation of the Sudarsana Kavacham, Ambarisha's Prapatti

>Stotram, and the PanchAyudha stotram salutation: Sudarsanam Bhaskara Koti

>Tulyam.

>

>"Jwala Chakram" refers to the spatial aspect of the Sudarsana Chakram and

>the association with KaalAnala, while the "Sahasrara Chakram" derives its

>name from the BijAksharAm for Sudarsana which is contained in the Sudarsana

>Kavacham.

>

>Further references attesting to the greatness and auspicious attributes of

>the Sudarsana Chakram can be found in the Sudarsana Ashtakam of Swami

>Desikan. Vedic tributes to the Sudarsana Chakram can be seen from the

>salutation "Shatamaka Brahma Vandita Shatapata Brahma Nandita. Great

>scholars seek the help of Sudarsana before engaging in debates (Pratita

>Vidvatsa pakshita). In the Ahirbudhnya Samhita, Ahirbudhnya (Siva) desires

>to see the glorious form of the Chakram (Bhajata Ahirbudhnya Lakshita).

>Great scholars stumble in their attempts to discern the vast extent of the

>Chakram's glory (Parijana ThraNa Pandita). The Chakram is the protector of

>the Devas, the destroyer of the Asuras and is the bestower of true

>knowledge, while tearing to shreds all pretence of false knowledge. This is

>seen from the passage: Dhanujavistara Kartana Janitamisravikartana Dhanuja

>Vidya Nikartana Bhajata Vidya Nivartana. Amara Drushtasva Vikrama

>Samarajushta Bramikrama. This is interpreted as the Chakram being the

>destroyer of Tamo Guna and enhancing or protecting Satva Guna. The Chakram

>is also the eye of the universe, the three Vedas and the three sacrifical

>fires as can be seen from: Bhuvana NEthra Trayeemaya Savana Teja Trayeemaya

>Niravadisvatu Chinmaya Nikila ShaktE Jaganmaya.

>

>The Chakram unfailingly comes to the rescue of the Lord's devotees as seen

>from the following instances: *The relentless pursuit of Durvasa, who tried

>to kill Ambarisha with his fiendish creation (cf: Srimad Bhagavatam). *The

>destruction of Sisupala, when he offended Yudhishtira and Bhishma(cf:

>Mahabharata). *Arjuna was able to kill Jayadratha despite great odds only

>on account of the Chakram masking the Sun (cf:Mahabharata). *In the Vamana

>Avataram, the blade of grass used to clear the opening of the jar (which

>had been blocked by SukrAcharya) containing water for Mahabali's Sankalpam

>(cf: Kalakshepam of Sri Srivatsankachariar Swamigal).

>

>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, Poundra 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.

>

>The Chakram also has the power of healing and curing illness. It is

>believed that Tirupputkuzhi village was suffering greatly from an epidemic

>fever. The residents of the village requested Swami Desikan for help.

>Accordingly, Swami Desikan composed the Sudarsana Ashtakam bringing instant

>relief from the epidemic. Also, the Sudarsana Homam has the power of curing

>people under the possession of the mighty Brahma Rakshasa.

>

>In conclusion, performance of Sudarsana Homam confers health, wealth and

>prosperity on the seeker. If one desires material benefit, the Chakram

>grants him all the riches he wants. If the seeker desires spiritual

>benefit, he begets this upon performance of the Homam. Suddam (cleanliness)

>is of utmost importance in the worship of Sudarsana Chakram. Therefore, the

>Homam must be performed with great regard to the Deha (body), Manas (mind)

>and Sthana (place) Suddam. Purity of thought, sound and intonation while

>chanting the Homa mantrams gives sampurna phalam (benefit to the utmost

>extent).

 

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