The Lord Chakrapani Temple in Kumbakonam

One of the rarest temples dedicated to Sudarshana Chakra, the famed weapon of Lord Vishnu is present in Kumbakonum, Tamil Nadu. Read on...

- Srikant K

The Lord Chakrapani temple in Kumbakonum is a very rare and ancient temple that was built in honour of “Sudarshana Chakra” (Divine Discus), the infallible and most potent weapon of Lord Vishnu. The main Deity of this temple is Lord Chakrapani, a form of Lord Vishnu. This ancient temple is situated on the southern banks of the Cauvery River. This temple is one of the important holy places that devotees should visit, when they go for a pilgrimage tour to the city of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu.

As per the temple mythology, once Lord Vishnu released His Sudarshana Chakra to kill the demon Jalandarasura. The Sudarshana Chakra pierced Pathalaloka (the world below Earth) and destroyed the demon. When the Sudarshana Chakra rose up to the Earth after accomplishing its mission, it rested on the Hands of Lord Brahma, who was performing a Yagna (sacrifice) on the banks of the river Cauvery. Lord Brahma was pleased and installed the Sudarshana Chakra there itself, on the holy banks of the Cauvery River!

The temple mythology further states that during that Kaala (time period), Lord Surya, the Sun God, was very proud of the fact that He was the only God who gave tremendous light and brightness to the entire Universe. Lord Surya considered Himself to be unmatched among all the Gods! Lord Vishnu decided to put down the vanity of Lord Surya. Lord Vishnu made the Sudarshana Chakra shine brighter than the light of Lord Surya, as it was ascending up from the Cauvery River.