Sri Sudarshana Jayanthi is the festival ascribed to the worship of Sri Sudarshana, the divine weapon of Bhagwan Sri Maha Vishnu. The day denotes the holy appearance and initiation of Sudarshan chakra.
It occurs on the Shukla Paksha Dashami of Ashada month. For the Year 2023, it occurs on Wednesday, 28th June 2023. The exact duration of Dashami Tithi has to be ascertained from the respective regional calendar. It is ardently believed that worshipping Sri Sudarshan Chakra on this day is equivalent to worshipping all the ten Dashavatharam of Sri Vishnu on this day.
Sri Sudarshan Chakra is the disc like weapon in Bhagwan Vishnu’s hand. As per the legend, Bhagwan Shiv had given Sudarshan Chakra to Bhagwan Vishnu. Once, Bhagwan Vishnu was performing puja to Sri Shiv Ling with thousand lotuses. As a divine play, Bhagwan Maheshwar had hidden one flower. Unable to locate the thousandth flower, Sri Vishnu had decided to pluck His one eye and offer it as the thousandth lotus to Sri Shiv. Bhagwan Shiv was very pleased and overwhelmed with the devotion of Sri Narayana and gifted Him the Sudarshan Chakra.
Sri Sudarshana Chakra played a pivotal role in creating Shakthi Peet temples. As per the legend, Sri Vishnu had used the Sudarshan Chakra to dice the lifeless body of Sati (Sri Parvathi Devi) who had immolated Herself in the fire at the Yagna conducted by Daksha who refused to invite Rudra (Bhagwan Shiv). The diced portions then became Shakthi Peets.
Sri Sudarshan Chakra has thousand spokes. It had high velocity and is very sharp capable of breaking anything. In some of the Sri Vishnu temples, Sudarshan chakra is held by Sri Bhagwan in aiming pose. This kind of depiction is called as Prayoga Chakra.
Invariably, Bhagwan Vishnu had used Sudarshan Chakra as weapon for destruction of evil in the form of demons. Sudarshan Chakra is the provider of light; it removes darkness and adharma; it destroys the karma effects; it gives protection;
At Puri also, Sudarshan Chakra is worshipped as a Deity separately. Invariably at all Sri Vishnu temples, there is a dedicated sanctum for Sri Sudarshan Chakra with Sri Narasimha at the back. We get the darshan of Sri Sudarshana in the front and get the darshan of Sri Narasimha through the window.
Worshipping Sudarshana is believed to alleviate the devotees of all illness and ill-effects of Karma. Some devotees offer to perambulate Sri Sudarshana Sanctum 108 times for the fulfillment of their wishes.
On Sudrashana Jayanthi day, special abhishekam and puja are done to Sri Sudharshan. Sri Sudarshana Homam is conducted at homes, temples and mandapams invoking the blessings of Sri Sudarshan. Worshipping Sudarshan Chakra blesses one with peace of mind, health, wealth, good education, wisdom and prosperity.
Shree Sudharshana Gayathri
ॐ सुदर्शनाय विद्महे महाज्वालाय धीमहि तन्नश्चक्रः प्रचोदयात्
Om sudharshanaaya vidhmahae mahaa-jwaalaaya Dheemahi thannasc-chakrah prachodhayaath
ॐ सर्व सम्मोहिन्यै च विद्महे विश्व जनन्यै च धीमहि तन्नो क्रुष्न शक्ति: प्रचोदयात्
Om sarva sammohinyai cha vidhmahae vishva jananyai cha thanno kruShNa-shakthi prachodhayaath
ॐ सुदर्शनाय विद्महे हेतिराजाय धीमहि तन्नश्चक्रः प्रचोदयात्
Om sudharshanaaya vidhmahae hethiraajaaya Dheemahi thannoshchakra prachodhayath
Sudarshana Slokam
