Sudarshana

About Sudarshana

Sudarshana is Vishnu's flaming discus worshipped as a deity in his own right — called Chakrathazhwar or Chakra Perumal in Tamil tradition. The Brahmavaivarta Purana gives him sixteen sharp spokes; temple icons show him as a fierce figure with multiple arms holding bow, mace, noose and conch, framed inside a six-pointed star of fire. The Skanda Purana says Vishwakarma forged him from excess sunlight. Krishna sent him to behead Shishupala at the Rajasuya yajna. Pancharatra temples like Srirangam pair his yantra with Narasimha's. Vedanta Desika's Sudarshana Ashtakam is his signature hymn, chanted to burn away enemies and disease.