The Sudarshana Chakra (meaning The Wheel of Auspicious Vision) is a divine weapon that looks like a disc and is serrated along the periphery with a hole in the center. Lord Vishnu is always depicted as wielding it in his index finger of the right rear hand. It was also the prime weapon of Lord Krishna. The discus has 108 serrated edges. It is one of the most potent weapons mentioned in the Hindu scriptures and is nearly inexorable. When someone mentions Lord Vishnu, the first thing that comes into mind is the Sudarshana Chakra.

It is a symbol of Lord Vishnu that symbolizes a time wheel per the Rig Veda, but in the Puranas, it is an indomitable weapon of Lord Vishnu.

The First Possible Mention of the Sudarshana Chakra:

In the Rig Veda, there is a hymn dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Indra in which a rounded wheel is mentioned. It could be its possible origin.

“He, like a rounded wheel, hath in swift motion set his ninety racing steeds together with the four. Developed, vast in form, with those who sing forth praise, a youth, no more a child, he cometh to our call.” (Rig Veda 1.155.6)

How was the Sudarshana Chakra created?

Many stories tell us who gave it to Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna but there is a story in the Vishnu Purana (Part 3, Ch. 2) that tells us how it was created.

Sanjana was the wife of Lord Surya (the Sun god) and the daughter of Vishwakarma (chief architect of gods). She was finding it difficult to go near her husband because of his heat. She complained about this to her father. He then ground off some of the effulgence of Surya.

Vishwakarma then used that effulgence to create the Sudarshana Chakra of Lord Vishnu, Trishula of Lord Shiva, and other weapons of gods.

Who gave the Sudarshana Chakra to Lord Vishnu?

There are at least three stories related to this. One of those is discussed above.

Lord Shiva gives the Sudarshana Chakra to Lord Vishnu:

It is the most widely accepted story about how Lord Vishnu got the divine weapon. It is in the Linga Purana (1.98.20-26).

Once there was a war going on between gods and demons. Demons were proving to be very powerful and were about to defeat the gods. The only possible way to defeat them was with the Sudarshana Chakra that Lord Shiva used to kill Jalandhara. Therefore, the gods went to Lord Vishnu and requested his help.

Lord Vishnu promised them to help. Then, he remembered Lord Shiva, installed the linga, and started offering lotus flowers to him. To test Lord Vishnu’s devotion, Lord Shiva hid one of the thousand lotus flowers that Lord Vishnu had collected to offer to him. When Lord Vishnu realized that one lotus flower was missing, he plucked one of his eyes and offered it to Lord Shiva. Thus propitiated by his devotion, he gave the Sudarshana Chakra to Lord Vishnu and restored his eye.

Lord Vishnu Acquires it from an Asura:

Narayana killed an Asura named Hayagriva on top of a mountain named Chakravana constructed by Vishwakarma and took the Sudarshana Chakra from him.

Lord Krishna and the Sudarshana Chakra:

Krishna is the only incarnation of Lord Vishnu who seems to have used this weapon.

Who gave the Sudarshana Chakra to Lord Krishna?

There are three stories related to this.

Krishna receives the discus from Agni:

Once Agni, the fire god, was having some stomach issues. So he wanted to consume a large forest of Khandava, but Indra was thwarting his attempts to do so. Therefore, he approached Lord Krishna and Arjuna. He gifted Arjuna the Gandiva bow and Lord Krishna the Sudarshana Chakra. With the help of these weapons and their skills, they managed to keep Indra out of the business while the fire god consumed the forest.

Lord Parashurama gives the Sudarshana to Lord Krishna:

When Lord Krishna was at the hermitage of Sage Sandipani, Lord Parashurama came there. Lord Krishna attended and served him. After that Lord Krishna sought his blessings. As Lord Krishna was the Supreme Lord himself, he said that what blessing could he gave to him. Therefore, he gave him the Sudarshana Chakra that is the ultimate weapon.

Lord Krishna already had it:

Some people believe that as Lord Krishna was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, he already possessed it. So no one gave him the chakra.

The first person Lord Krishna killed with the Sudarshana Chakra:

At that time, the king of Karveer (Kolhapur) was a despotic ruler. His name was Shringal. Therefore, Lord Krishna attacked him with his army. When the king came before him, he threatened Lord Krishna. Therefore, Lord Krishna chanted the mantra to launch the Sudarshana and commanded it to sever the king’s head. In a splash of a second, king Shringal was dead. Then Lord Krishna made Shringal’s son the king of Karveer.

Stories Related to the Sudarshana Chakra:

Shishupala Vadha:

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 commits 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 to 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.

Lord Krishna Saves Arjuna’s Life:

Arjuna vowed to kill Jayadratha before the sunset of the next day because he had dishonored the dead body of Abhimanyu, his son. Otherwise, he was going to self-immolate. Kauravas sensed the opportunity and gave full protection to Jayadratha making it impossible for Arjuna to kill him. Then Lord Krishna covered the sun with his Sudarshana Chakra making everybody on the battlefield believe that the sun was set. The coward Jayadratha came out of his hide as he knew warriors were not allowed to fight after the sunset. Seeing this, Lord Krishna removed the Sudarshana Chakra and told Arjuna to kill Jayadratha. Arjuna killed Jayadratha and completed his vow.

The Killing of Paundraka:

Paundraka was the king of the Paundra kingdom who considered himself real Lord Krishna and called the real Krishna fake. He imitated Lord Krishna in every aspect. Lord Krishna ordered him to stop imitating him, but he declined. Therefore, Lord Krishna attacked him and severed his head with the Sudarshana Chakra. The son of the king of Kashi, Sudakshina, created a demon using black magic to destroy Dvaraka with the help of some corrupt priests. However, Krishna’s Sudarshana Chakra set fire around Kashi. The whole kingdom was burnt, and Sudakshina and all his priests were killed.

Lord Vishnu Cuts the Dead Body of the Goddess Sati:

When the goddess Sati self-immolated, Lord Shiva wandered for ages carrying her body in his arm. It disturbed the administration of the universe as Lord Shiva is a prominent god and plays an important role. Therefore, Lord Vishnu cut the body of the goddess Sati into 51 pieces with the Sudarshana Chakra. The places where her body parts fell on the Earth are called Shakti Peethas.

The Slaying of Rahu During Samudra Manthan:

When the nectar came out of the ocean, a demon named Rahu stole and drank it, but before it went below his throat, Lord Vishnu cut his head with the Sudarshana Chakra.

Killing of Narakasura:

Narakasura was a mighty demon who had abducted 16,100 Kshatriya women. Lord Krishna, along with Satyabhama and his army, attacked his kingdom. There was an asura named Muru who had installed many sharp stakes around Narakasura’s city. But Krishna sliced off these stakes with his Sudarshana Chakra. When Muru attacked him, Krishna killed Muru and his seven thousand sons with the chakra. He also killed two others, Hayagriva and Panchajana, and arrived at Pragyotishapura.

A terrible war raged between the armies of Narakasura and Krishna. Krishna killed thousands and thousands of asuras and sliced Narakasura in two with his chakra.

There are many other stories related to it as it is a primary weapon of Lord Vishnu.

The Sudarshana Chakra for Transportation:

Chakradhari Shri Krishna, who is considered to be the greatest among kings, after killing the enemy came out of the cave and used his Sudarshana Chakra (his weapon) to send a few young soldiers to the abode of Yamaraja (Jarasandha Mahakavyam). 

Structure of the Sudarshana Chakra:

Its description varies from scripture to scripture. Per some sources, the middle part is made of Vajra. It has a hole in the center to wield it. “Om Sahasraat Hum Phat” is inscribed on each edge. It looks yellow. It is unknown which material is used to make it.

Size: It can be as small as to fit onto a basil leaf and as large as the universe.

Per the Vamana Purana 82.23-26:

It has 12 spokes. It includes all the months, zodiacs, and seasons.

Also, the following 12 gods dwell in it:

1. Soma.

2. Mitra.

3. Varuna.

4. Indra.

5. Vishwadeva.

6. Prajapati gana.

7. Vayu.

8. Ashwin Kumar.

9. Dhanvantari.

10. Tapasya.

11. Umratap.

12. Agni.

Per Srimad Bhagavatam (3.21.18):

The wheel of the universe that with a tremendous speed spins around the axle of the imperishable of You [Brahmân] with three naves [sun, moon, and stars], [twelve to] thirteen spokes [as lunar months] three hundred and sixty joints [as days in a demigod year], six rims, [as seasons] and innumerable leaves [moments], does not at all diminish the lives of the devotees.

Features of the Sudarshana Chakra:

1. It is a thought-operated weapon. Whenever Lord Vishnu or Lord Krishna thinks of killing someone, it is released.

2. It is not clear at what speed it travels, but Lord Vishnu can control its speed also. I think there is no speed limit for it.

3. Once released, it comes back to Lord Vishnu after completing its work.

4. It is spinning continuously and does not stop.

5. Only Trishula can stop it. The only way perhaps to save oneself is to surrender to Lord Vishnu.

6. It is noiseless.

7. It followed the path of minimum resistance to reach its target.

Who can wield the Sudarshan Chakra other than Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna?

1. Goddess Parvati.

2. Goddess Radha.

3. Lord Shiva.

4. Lord Kartikeya.

5. Sage Vishwamitra.

6. Pradyumna – the son of Lord Krishna.

The personification of the Sudarshana Chakra:

Chakra Perumal or Chakrathazhwar is the personified form of it. There are a few separate temples dedicated to it.

1. Sri Sudarshana Bhagavan Temple in Nagamangala.

2. Chakrapani Temple in Kumbakonam.

The Science Behind the Sudarshana Chakra:

Modern science still is unable to make or even understand it. In the Puranas, it is mentioned as a divine weapon. It could be a symbolic representation of an atom also. That is why it is continuously spinning.

1. Material: It is made up of yellow metal. It must be some unique material that can withstand any powerful blow and cut through any material.

2. Operation: It seems to be operating on the thought waves of the wielder. It correctly identifies its target, destroys it, and then comes back to the wielder. For such technology to work, we need satellites. Gods must be having some advanced technology where they would not need any satellites.

3. Energy source: I think it must be using light energy to operate. It is made from solar dust, which corroborates this assumption.

The Sudarshana Chakra Mantra:

ॐ सुदर्शन महाज्वाल कोटीसूर्य समप्रभ ।

अज्ञानं तस्यमे देव विष्णोर्मार्गम् प्रदर्शय॥

Sudarśana mahājvāla koṭi sūrya Samaprabha |

Ajñānāndhasye me deva viṣṇor mārgaṃ pradarśaya ||