Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,097

Date uploaded in London –  17 October 2025

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

xxxx  

இந்தக் கட்டுரை நாளைகுத் தமிழில் வரும்

Sudarsana Chakram is one of the main symbols of vaishnavas- Vishnu devotees. Vaishnava worship it separately in Vishnu temples under the name chakra perumal. It is in a separate shrine inside the temple.

Silpasara book describes Sudarsana to be brilliant  as fire with sixteen arms  holding thw weapons conch,  discuss, bow, axe ,sword, arrow, trident,noose, goad, lotus, thunderbolt, plough, pestle, club and spear.

The figure has protruding teeth, fiery hair and three eyes .  it is fully decorated and stands in front of a shatkona or hexagon.  Dancing thus amidst flames of the discuss, the Sudarsana is supposed to kill all enemies. sometimes the image may be represented with four or eight arms holding the discuss in all of them.

At Tirupati the Sudarsana has sixteen arms but instead of hexagon an equilateral triangle is at the back. Within that a seated Narasimha is in Yogasana posture with flames of fire proceeding from his crown. This form of Narasimha is popularly known as Jvaalaa Narasimha.

The famous Chakrapani temple at Kumbakonam  is dedicated to the discus Sudarsana of Vishnu.

The Sudarshana Chakra (Sanskrit: सुदर्शनचक्र, Sudarśanacakra) is a divine discus, attributed to the god Vishnu in the Hindu scriptures. The Sudarshana Chakra is generally portrayed on the right rear hand of the four hands of Vishnu. In the Rigveda, the Sudarshana Chakra is stated to be Vishnu’s symbol as the wheel of time according to one scholar.

IN THE EPICS

The Ramayana states that the Sudarshana Chakra was created by the divine architect, Vishvakarma. Vishnu slays a danava named Hayagriva on top of a mountain named Chakravana, seizing the discus from him.

In Mahabharata we find it in the hands of Krishna.

He beheads Shishupala with the Sudarshana Chakra at the Rajasuya yajna of Emperor Yudhishthira. He also employs it during the fourteenth day of the Kurukshetra War to obscure the sun. The Kauravas are deceived, allowing Arjuna to slay Jayadratha, avenging the death of his son. Vishnu used it to kill the crocodile which caught the leg of Gajendra. It is in the story of Gajendra Moksha sculpted from Gupta days.

 Ahirbudhnya Samhita, Vishnu emanated in 39 different forms.[10] The Samhita is characteristic for its concept of Sudarshana. It provides mantras for Sudarshana, and details the method of worship of the multi-armed Sudarshana.

The Puranas also state the Sudarshana Chakra was made by Vishvakarma, featuring a legend regarding its origin: Vishvakarma’s daughter, Sanjña, was married to the sun god, Surya. However, due to her consort’s blazing light and heat, she could not approach him. When she informed her father regarding this, Vishvakarma diminished the brilliance of the sun so that his daughter could be with him. From the splendour of the Sun, Vishvakarma produced three divine objects: the aerial vehicle Pushpaka Vimana, the Trishula of Shiva, and the Sudarshana Chakra of Vishnu.

IN HISTORY

A Vrishni silver coin from Alexander Cunningham’s Coins of Ancient India: From the Earliest Times Down to the Seventh Century (1891)

The chakra is found in the coins of many tribes with the word gana and the name of the tribe inscribed on them.

Vrishni copper coins dated to later time were found in Punjab. Another example of coins inscribed with the chakra are the Taxila coins of the 2nd century BCE with a sixteen-spoked wheel. 

A coin dated to 180 BCE, with an image of Vasudeva-Krishna, was found in the Greco-Bactrian city of Ai-Khanoum in the Kunduz area of Afghanistan, minted by Agathocles of Bactria.[18][19] In Nepal, Jaya Cakravartindra Malla of Kathmandu issued a coin with the chakra.

The Chakra Purusha in Pancharatra texts has either four, six, eight, sixteen, or thirty-two hands

The Chakra Purusha in Pancharatra texts has either four, six, eight, sixteen, or thirty-two hands.

***

The Sudarshana Homam is performed by invoking Sudarshana along with his consort Vijayavalli into the sacrificial fire. This homam is very popular in South India.

*** 

IN TEMPLES

Though Chakraperumal or Chakratalvar shrines (sannidhis) are found inside Vishnu’s temples, there are very few temples dedicated to Chakraperumal alone as the main deity (moolavar):

Sri Sudarshana Bhagavan Temple, Nagamangala

Chakrapani Temple, Kumbakonam – located on the banks of the Chakra Bathing Ghat of the Kaveri river. Here, the god is Chakra Rājan and his consort is Vijayavalli.

Jagannath Temple, Puri, where Jagannath (a form of Vishnu-Krishna), Subhadra, Balabhadra and Sudarshana are the main deities.

The temple of Chakraperumal in Gingee on the banks of Varahanadi is now defunct

***

 form of Shatrughna

In Kerala, Sudharsana Chakra is worshiped both directly and in the form of Shatrughna, one of four sons of King Dasharatha, and brother to Lord Rama, considered an avatar of Sudharsana Moorthy. 

Alathiyur Pavelikkara Narayanathu Kavu Sudarshana Temple, Triprangode, Malappuram. A rare sudarshana temple complex in Kerala dedicated to Lord Sudarshana. Along with the main deity, Badrakali, Shastha and naga are worshipped here. The temple is also the paradevatha of mangalassery.

Thuravoor Sree Narasimha Moorthy Temple, Alappuzha- One of the rare temple complexes in Kerala, where two sanctum sanctorums are situated within a single Nalambalam (temple structure), one of the sanctums in dedicated to Lord Narasimha and the other to Maha Sudarsana Moorthy. The Sudarsana Moorthy Temple is believed to be 1300 years old.

Sreevallabha Temple, Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta – One of the oldest and largest temples in Kerala and one of the 108 Divya Desams, Sudharsana Moorthy is worshipped along with Sreevallabha in this temple. The temple for Sudarshana Chakra was built by Sreedevi Antherjanam of Sankramangalathu Illam, and was rebuilt by Queen Cherumthevi in 59 BC.

Thrichakrapuram Temple, Puthanchira- The main deity is Sudharsana Moorthy.

Ayyarvattom Sree Maha Sudharshana Temple, Eravannur, Kozhikode

Pallikkara Sri Mahavishnu Sudharsana Temple, Kozhikode

Payammal Sree Shatrughna Swami Temple, Thrissur

Methiri Sree Sathrughnaswamy Temple, Kottayam

Nedungaattu Sree Shatrugna Swami Temple(Mammalassery), Ernakulam

Naranathu Shatrughna Swami Temple, Malappuram

Payam Sri Mahavishu (Shatrughna) Temple, Kannur

Sree Shatrughna Swami Temple, Kalkulam, Kuthannur, Palakkad

The Chakraperumal shrine inside the Simhachalam Temple is home to the rare 16-armed form.

Other temples with shrines to Sudarshana Chakra are Veeraraghava Swamy Temple, Thiruevvul; Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangapatna; Thirumohoor Kalamegaperumal temple, Madurai; and Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram.

—subham—

Tags- Vishnu, discus, Sudarsana, Chakra, weapon, temples for Sudharsana, Hinduism through 500 Pictures in Tamil and English; படங்கள் மூலம் இந்து மதம் கற்போம்-16

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,049

Date uploaded in London –  3 October 2025

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

xxxx   

95.

Let us continue with Akananuru Wonders

Battle fields mentioned in the Tamil book Akanaanuuru:

Paranthalai is the word for battle field in Tamil. It also means crematorium, dilapidated place.

பறந்தலை – ஆமூர்ப் பறந்தலை, கழுமலம், குறுக்கை, கூடல், தலையாலங்கானம் , பருவூர், பாழி, பெருந்துறை, மணவாயிலுறுத் தூர் , முசிறி, வல்லம், வாகை, வெண்ணிப் பறந்தலை.

Aamur Paranthalai, Kazumalam, Kurukkai Koodal, Thalaiyaalankaanam , Paruvoor, Paazi, Perunthurai, Manavaayiuraththuur, Musiri , Valla, Vaakai, Venni  etc

Of these, Thalaiyaalankaanam battle is celebrated much.

As I mentioned earlier Tamil kings fought among themselves and killed each other. Bards sang about the victorious kings or chieftains or the commanders and got prizes. No where in the world we such a long fighting. They fought for 1500 years continuously among themselves. We will see more in Pura naanuuru.

****

96.

Mountains mentioned in this book:

அதகன் மலை , ஆவி, ஆன்குன்று,  இமய மலை, ஏழி ல், கவிர, கன்மா, குதிரை,  குறும்பொறை , கொல்லி, கோடை , சிராப்பள்ளி, சிறுமலை, திருப்பரங்குன்றம், நள்ளி, பறம்பு, பாழி, பொதியின், பொதினீ, முதுகுன்றம், முள்ளூர், மோரியர் குறைத்த மலை, வேங்கட மலை,வேங்கை சேர்ந்த வெற்பகம்.

Malai மலை is the word used for mountain in Tamil.

Athakan malai, aavi, aan kundru, Imaya malai (Himalaya), Aezil, kavira, Kanmaa, Kuthirai, Kurumporai, Kolli, Kodai, Siraappalli, Sirumalai, Thirupparamkundram, Nalli, Parambu, Paazi, Pothiyin, Pothini, Muthukundram, Mulluur, Venkatam, Venkai serntha verpakam, Moriyar kuraitha malai .

Of these, Venkatam is famous because of the Venkata achala pathi Vishnu temple, which is the world’s richest temple. Neither Vatican nor Mecca attract such a large crowd in the world. The oldest book Tolkappiam said Tamil language was spoken only up to that point.

வடவேங்கடம் தென்குமரி

ஆயிடைத்

தமிழ்கூறு நல்லுலகத்து

(தொல்காப்பியம், சிறப்புப்பாயிரம்:1-3)

Another interesting historical reference is to the Mauryan Invasion of Tamil Nadu. The words used by the poet Maamuulanaar is the mountain that was levelled by Mauryans. It shows that the Mauryan army laid road route across that hill. We have references from Jain books that Chandra Gupta Maurya spent his last days in Karnataka as a Jain devotee. This reference, coupled with Asoka’s reference to Tami kingdoms, give a clear history for the Tamil Kings from Third Century BCE.

Kolli Malai was also famous in those days for the presence of Kollip Paavai, a goddess who had mysterious powers.

The name Agastya is not at all mentioned in Sangam Tamil Literature. But the word Pothiyin Malai shows that it became famous because of Agastya’s residence there.  In other verses the hill is compared with Himalayas in reverence. It is part of the  1000 mile long Western Ghats called Sahyaadri in Sanskrit.

Tamil words Malai, Kundram and Sanskrit words Achala, Adri , all meant mountain.

Tirupparam Kundram is famous until this day because of Lord Skanda (Murugan in Tamil) temple.

Imayam, i.e. Himalaya is mentioned in several places. They used the Sanskrit word Hima (snow) in many places in addition to Vada Varai (Northern chain of mountains).

Sirumalai is famous for its sweetest, smallest banana fruits till this day.

Parambu Malai became most famous hill in Sangam Tamil Literature, because of the philanthropist chieftain Paari. Three Tamil kings ganged themselves and killed him. Brahmin poet Kapilar, the greatest of the 450+++ Sangam poets gave us lot of interesting information about this Parampu hills. When the jealous Tamil kings laid a siege, Kapilar trained the birds to bring grains for the people. Moreover Kapilar says that Paari gave all the three hundred towns to the poor. This statistic is very important. If a a small Parambu area has 300 towns 2000 years ago, one could imagine how many towns Tamils had in the vast area of Chera, Choza, Pandya kingdoms!

Muthu kundram hill is known as Vriddhachalam and Chirappali is called Trichy nowadays.

***

97.

Tamil Forests

in Tamil is Kaanam or Kaadu. கானம், காடு is forest

அழும்பிற்காடு ஆ அய்கானம், ஆலங்கானம், உம்பற்பெறுங்காடு, உறந்தைப்புறங்காடு ஓரிக்கானம், குடவாயில் மிளை  சாய்க்கானம்,, முள்ளூர்க்கானம், வல்லத்துப்புற மிளை

We have the Names of the following forests in Akananuru :

Azampirkaadu, Aalangkaanam, Aay kaanam,  umbar, Uranthai, Ori, Kudavaayinmilai, Saay, Mulluur, Ellaththuppura milai

Of these Aalangkaanam is famous because it was a battlefield.

***

98.Holy Towns

Tamils have been great Hindus, and they worshipped all the Six Gods mentioned by Adi Shankara and in addition they worshipped local heroes as Village Gods.

Following shrines are mentioned in the book:

அரங்கம், அலைவாய், அழுந்தூர், ஆலமுற்றம், கூடல், செல்லூர் , தனுஷ்கோடி, பரங்குன்று, பாவத்திரி, வேங்கடம், வேளூர்

Arangam, Alaivaay, Alunthuur, AAlamutram, Koodal, Sellur, Dhanushkodi, Parangkundru, Bavaththiri, Venkatam, Velur

Arangam is Sri Rangam  with very big Vishnu Temple and Venkatam also. Alaivaay/Tiru Chendur and Parankundru/Tirupparamkundram are famous Skanda/Murugan temples.

Dhanushkoti via Rameswaram is famous because one of the 12 Jyotirlinga Shrines.

***

99

Hindu Festivals

உள்ளி விழவு, உறந்தை, கழார்ப்புதுப்புனல் , கார்த்திகை , கூடல், பங்குனி, பரங்குன்ற, பூந்தொடை யாழ் , வேல் விழவு

Tamils celebrated following festivals according to Akananuru:

Vizavu விழவு, is the word for festival in Tamil. Now it is called Vizaa.

Ulli Vizavu, Urantha Vizavu, kazaar Puthuppunal Vizavu, Kaarthikai, Pankuni , Parangkundra, Poonthodai, Yaaz/Lyre, Vel Vizavu.

Most of these are religious events.

Of these Kartikai and Panguni are Sanskrit words used for Tamil months. In fact all Tamil months in the present day calendar are Sanskrit names. Most of these festivals are celebrated until this day.

The 12 month system shows that Tamils knew zodiac for at least 2000 years. Purananuru mentions zodiac signs. It shows that we followed our own Hindu system and not the Greek one.

***

100.

Holy Rivers of Hindus

நீர்த்துறைகள்

ஆன்பொருநைத்துறை, உறையூர் காவிரித்துறை,  தொழுனை , தனுஷ்கோடி, கூடல், கொற்கை, தொண்டி  முன்றுரை ; 

Tamils being Pukka Hindus treated all the water sources as holy and took ritual baths in the rivers and seas. The safest point for anyone to take a holy dip is called Thurai in Tamil and Ghat in Sanskrit.

Rig Veda, the oldest book in the world has the highest number of hymns in praise of water. The greatest wonder is that Brahmins around the world recite those Water Mantras three times a day. In all Hindu ceremonies water filled pot is a must. It is called Poorna Kumbha; even in death ceremonies they break water pots to show that the soul has merged with water and earth.

Tamil Akananuru mentioned at least 16 Ghats/Thurais. Following are important:

Aanporunai / Tambrbarani river Thurai, Uraiyur Kaviri Thurai, Thozunai (River Yamuna) Dhanuskodi, Thondi, Koodal and Korkai. The last three are not used anymore because of natural changes.

We will see more wonders in the next part

To be continued………………………

Tags- Ancient Tamil Encyclopaedia- Part 15; One Thousand Interesting Facts! – Part 15 , Tamil festivals, Tamil shrines, Tamil holy rivers, Akanauru wonders,