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87. Q .: please explain the life of Sudarshana Chakra.
Ans .: 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 eloquent. 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.
The Chakram transcends space and time. 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.
Jai Srimannaryana !
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