Chakraraj Sudarshan, Part 3
BY: SUN STAFF
Neela Chakra, residing at the top of Puri Jagannatha Temple, is made of
eight metals: gold, silver, copper, mercury, brass, lead, zinc and iron
Sep 28, 2021 — CANADA (SUN) — The last in an exposition in three parts on Sri Sudarshan, adapted from an article by Durga Madhab Dash, 'Orissa Review'.
As per Markandeya Purana, Sri Sudarshan is worshipped as the divine symbol of the Sun-god in the Grand Temple. Vaishnavites have a belief that Chakraraj is the divine prowess of Lord Jagannath. Saivites believe that Chakraraj is the Linga Purusha, the divine symbol of Lord Siva.
Sri Sudarshan goes in the front of Lord Jagannath in all His spiritual journeys. On the occasion of the Car Festival, he goes first in Pahandi and is then seated in the Debadalana Chariot of goddess Subhadra, ahead of all other images. As per another view in scriptures, the wood-god of the Adivasis (Chakraraj Sudarshan) is the foremost Deity of the Jagannath Pantheon. In one Sense, he is the pathfinder. Sri Sudarshan is the cosmic caretaker of Sri Balabhadra, Ma Subhadra and Sri Jagannath. In all public functions, he is idolised first.
Vaishnavites worship the disc-form of Sri Sudarshan, carrying his mark on their bodies as a mark of profound faith in his supreme divine prowess. In the usual spiritual order, Sri Sudarshan is illustrious in myriad ways.
On three different occasions every year, Sri Sudarshan moves out in slow procession outside the Grand Temple. These rituals take place on Sravan or Jhulan Purnima, Radhastami and Kumar Purnima in great pomp and ceremony. Sravan Purnima generally falls in July- August every year. This auspicious day is observed as the Appearance day of Lord Balabhadra. This is observed in the presence of Chakraraj Sudarshan near Markandeya Tank, not very far from the Grand Temple. After the afternoon offering, Sri Sudarshan is carried from the divine altar to Jagamohan. He is then seated in a palanquin at this place.
Next he is worshipped in a definite ritualistic order. The servitors place garlands of flower on his crest and adorn him with ceremonial robes and ornaments. He is then carried to the Jhulan Mandap nearby in the same palanquin. Here again, other rituals are observed with the blowing of trumpet and other musical instruments of the temple. Sri Sudarshan next moves around the temple under the ceremonial canopy and at last he is carried in a slow procession to Makandeya Tank.
Next follows the birth-day celebration of Lord Balaram. Sri Balaram's form is created out of the sticky soil supplied by the temple potter. The servitor thereafter infuses life into the earthen image of Sri Balaram through religious incantations. The celebration is next performed in a ritualistic order with offerings in the presence of Sri Sudarshan. Thus goes the religious celebration. After completion of the ritual, the earthen image is immersed in water. Thereafter, Sri Sudarshan returns to the Grand Temple after visiting the Ashrams of saints, Pandu, Angira and Bhrugu on the way.
Another function of Sri Sudarshan is held on the Radhastami day i.e. on the 8th day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrab month every year. Generally this auspicious day falls in the period between August and September, going on in a regular order every year. After offering of evening divine light (Sandhya Arati) on the Radhastami day, Sri Sudarshan is specially worshipped at his place on the divine altar for this ritual. After observance of all other ritualistic formalities, Chakraraj moves on to Jagamohan and is seated in a special palanquin. From there he is carried in the same palanquin to Jhulan Mandap like the Gamha Purnami function. From there, he moves around the temple once and then proceeds to Jameswar Temple, via a definite route outside in slow procession.
His palanquin is next placed near the Nandi murti of the temple. This is a ritual where the main servitor of Jameswar Temple reads out to Sri Sudarshan the detailed accounts of the Grand Temple pertaining to the previous year. Jameswar is the chief accountant of Lord Jagannath. He keeps the accounts of the temple and reads them out before Sri Sudarshan, the representative of Lord Jagannath on Radhastami day. Sri Sudarshan, for this purpose, is known as Panji Suna (listener of detailed accounts) Sudarshan. Sri Sudarshan thereafter returns to the Grand Temple on his route, which is well defined and meticulously followed.
The third annual function of Sri Sudarshan is observed on Kumar Purnami day, i.e. on the auspicious full-moon-day of Aswin month, which falls sometime during September-October. In the usual ritualistic order, Sri Sudarshan, on this day too, moves along in a slow procession to Angira Ashram in Dolamandap Street via Chotoraya Purahat (Palace Gate) and Uttar Patna (Marichakote by-lane). Sri Sudarshan is received here with a mass ovation followed by different offerings. Next, he moves along and appears in Sri Sudarashan Mahala (Harachandi Street) Jameswar Pandu Ashram, Bhrugu Ashram (Bali Street) and then he proceeds to the Western Gate of the Grand Temple via Uaasa Danda and Gandagaura Chhak. After performance of the usual rituals, he at last proceeds to the sanctum sanctorum via Jagamohan.
There is a significance to all these divine journeys. The area of his journey was once the area of Sri Kshetra Puri. Today, with the increase of population, the area of the pilgrim centre has definitely increased. But Sudarshan's area of journey still remains the same as before. There is a place called Chakratirtha at Puri. Here there is a temple of Sri Sudarshan. His disc-form is worshipped here before the images of Lord Balabhadra, Ma Subhadra and Lord Jagannath, sitting on the divine altar. Chakratirtha as a pilgrim center is as famous as the other pilgrim centers like Kasi, Narmada, Badrinath, etc.
There is a beautiful spiritual illustration in Skanda Purana which describes that Chakratirtha was created by Lord Narayan/Vishnu against the following spiritual background. Once there was a battle between the demons and Lord Narayan on behalf of the gods of heaven. The demons were wiped out by Lord Narayana with the help of Sri Sudarshan. As a result of this, Sri Sudarshan was smeared with blood-stains of the demons. To wash Sri Sudarshan of the dirty stains, the Lord created a sacred pool. This was known as Chakratirtha. He created this sacred pool in the presence of the presiding Deities of 10 million pilgrim centres. Chakratirtha is thus visited by all pilgrims who visit the Grand Temple at Puri.
There is a temple known as Chakranarayan Temple, in the flower garden situated on the side of the western gate of the Grand Temple. Here there is a beautiful image of Sri Sudarshan Mahaprabu made of black granite stone. It contains in the middle the inscription of an eight-armed Narayana image seated in lotus pose. On the right side of this image there is a tiny mark of Sri Sudarshan in disc-like form. On its left side, there is a small mark of Linga. Sri Sudarshan in this spiritual pose depicts his overall cosmic existence, accepted both in the Vaishnavite and the Saivite traditions.
Deities of Chakratirtha, Jagannatha Puri
Sri Sudarshan like Sri Jagannath is a mysterious Deity. He is the symbol of all cults and all spiritual faiths. He is the composite expression of both purusha and prakriti in actual divine dispensation. When he is seated by the side of Ma Subhadra in Debadalan Chariot on the occasion of Car Festival, he is expressive of the Adya Sakti of Lord Jagannath. On all other occasions, he is adored as the resplendent Brahma Purusha in the Pole-like form known to the devotees as Chakraraj Sudarshan.
All glories to Sri Sudarshan Chakra!
All glories to Lord Jagannatha!
