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SrI:
SrImathE Ramanaujaya nama:
Dearest all

Sri Muralidhar Rangaswamy had written a nice write up on Sudharsana 
vaibhavam few years ago... and it refers to the query made herein
Pl enjoy the glory of Sudharana Narasimha.. 
Thanks to Sri Muralidhar for his permission to share this.. 

Regards
namo Narayana
dasan

******

Sudarshana Vaibhavam
                        
Namaschakraya Vithmahe Sahasra JwAlaya DhEmahe
Thanno Sudarshana PrachodayAt.

Sudarshana Chakram is the mighty weapon of Lord Narayana. 
The term Sudarshana means that which is beautiful to behold. The 
beauty 
of the Sudarshana 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
Pida Pariharam (relief from all kinds of pain and suffering) 
for the devout and Pida Pradanam (relentless misery) for the evil 
minded. 
The Sudarshana Chakram also has the attribute of Papa Nashanam 
(destroying 
one's sins). Papa Nashanam is the first step towards realizing Lord
Narayana.

The magnificence of the Sudarshana Chakram is very eloquently 
described 
by Swami Desikan in both the Shodasayudha Stotram and the Sudarshana 
Ashtakam. Related references which offer tributes to the Chakram 
include 
the Mahabharata, Vishnu Sahasranamam, Padma Samhita and 
Ahirbudhnya Samhita (both of which are Pancharatra Agama texts),
Sudarshana 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 evident 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 
Sudarshana Chakram. The Vishnu Sahasranamam salutation "Ritu 
Sudarshana 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 as 
can be seen from the opening salutation of the Sudarshana Kavacham.
Sahasraditya Sankasham, Sahasra Vadanam Param
Sahasradam Sahasraram Prapadyeham Sudarshanam.
Therefore, the Chakram dispels all ignorance and darkness. 

The mighty Jwala also connotes the Jwala Narasimhar aspect. 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. 
Sudarshana and Lord Narasimha share deep connections. The joint 
worship of 
Sudarshana-Narasimha is prescribed by both Pancharatra and 
Vaighanasa 
Agamams. The Padma Samhita reports the presence of Lord Narasimha 
with 
sixteen arms in the Sudarshana Yantram. Swami Desikan glorifies the 
Shodasayudha aspect of the Sudarshana Chakram in the Shodasayudha 
Stotram. 
These references point to the common features of the back-to-back 
forms of Sudarshana and Narasimha. The back-to-back forms of 
Sudarshana 
Narasimhar are seen in a single Peetam at the Srirangam Temple 
(Chakrathazhwar 
Sannidhi). Sudarshana-Narasimha Salagramam provides further 
testimony to the 
joint worship of this form of Lord Narasimhar.

The Chakram is also the abode of the four Vyuha Murthis: Vasudeva,
Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. This is reflected in Swami 
Desikan's 
Sudarshana Ashtakam salutation: Nija Para Vyuha Vaibhava. The 
geometric form 
of the Sudarshana 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 Sudarshana 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 Sudarshana Chakram itself is 
at the center of the Yantram along with Lord Narasimha. Therefore, 
offering prayers to the Sudarshana Chakram is equivalent to saluting 
Lord Narayana in Para, Vyuha, Vibhava, Archa and Antaryamitva 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, Tiruppan 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 Bala, Aishwarya, VIrya, Shakti, Tejas, and 
Vatsalya. This aspect of the Sudarshana Yantram is inferred from 
Swami 
Desikan's Sudarshana 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 Sudarshana 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 Sudarshana 
exceeds 
that of a thousand Adityas. Testimony in support of this fact is 
seen in 
the opening salutation of the Sudarshana Kavacham, Ambarisha's 
Prapatti Stotram, and the Panchayudha stotram salutation:
Sudarshanam Bhaskara Koti Tulyam.

"Jwala Chakram" refers to the spatial aspect of the Sudarshana 
Chakram 
and the association with Kalanala, while the "Sahasrara Chakram" 
derives its name from the Bijaksharam for Sudarshana which is 
contained in the
Sudarshana Kavacham. 

Further references attesting to the greatness and auspicious 
attributes of 
the Sudarshana Chakram can be found in the Sudarshana Ashtakam of 
Swami 
Desikan (Shatamaka Brahma Vandita Shatapata Brahma Nandita). Great
scholars seek the help of Sudarshana before engaging in debates 
(Pratita 
Vidvatsa pakshita). In the Ahirbudhnya Samhita, 
Ahirbudhnya (Shiva) desires to see the glorious form of the Chakram
(Bhajata Ahirbudhnya Lakshita). Great scholars stumble in their 
attempts to 
discern the vast glory of the Chakram (Parijana Trana 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 Netas Trayeemaya Savana Teja Trayeemaya
Niravadisvatu Chinmaya Nikila ShaktE Jaganmaya.
All aspects of Yajna are embodied by Yajna Varaha Swamy. The Vishnu 
Sahasranamam salutations 971-982 establish the Yajna aspects of Lord 
Narayana. 
These tributes in conjunction with Swami Desikan's eulogy may be 
used to 
establish connections between the Sudarshana Chakram and Yajna 
Varaha Swamy.

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 Shishupala, 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 Shukracharya) 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, Poundraka 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 a Tirupputkuzhi village was suffering greatly from an 
epidemic 
fever. The residents of the village requested Swami Desikan for 
help. At
this time, Swami Desikan composed the Sudarshana Ashtakam bringing 
instant 
relief from the epidemic. Also, the Sudarshana Homam has the power 
of curing 
people under the possession of the mighty Brahma Rakshasa. 

In conclusion, performance of Sudarshana 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. 
Shuddam 
is of utmost importance in the worship of Sudarshana Chakram. 
Therefore, 
the Homam must be performed with great regard to the Deha, Manas and 
Sthana Shuddam. Purity of thought, sound and intonation while 
chanting the 
Homa mantrams gives sampurna phalam.  

Shankha Chakra GadapaNE Dwaraka Nilayachyuta
Govinda PundarIkAksha RakshamAm SharaNagatam.

Aho Viryam Aho Shouryam Aho Bahu Parakramaha
Narasimham Param Daivam Ahobilam Ahobalam

Muralidhar Rangaswamy


--- In ramanuja@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "n_kannan3" <n.kannan3@...> wrote:
>
> Azwar Thiruvadigale Sharanam
> 
> Respected Bhagavatas,
> 
>   Usually it is seen that on the reverse side of Vigraham of
> Chakratazwar, we find the vigraham of Lord Nrishimar. Can anyone
> please explain to Adiyen the philosophy behind this.
> 
> Dasan,
> Kannan
>









Azhvar EmberumAnAr JeeyAr ThiruvadigalE Saranam 
http://www.vedics.net

 
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