Sri Sudarashana Ashtakam is a divine stotram dedicated to Lord Sudarshana one of the mighty deities of Hinduism. Lord Sudarshana is represented in the form of a spiral disc with serrated edges held by God Vishnu in one of his hands.
Known to be one of the popular Ashtakam to remove illness and negative energy – Sudarshana Ashtakam explains the glory of Lord Sudarshana and his bestowing nature on Devotees. Composed by Swami Desikan who is one of the stalwarts of Sri Vaishnavism and a magnificent Vedanata Philosopher of the post-Ramanuja period; Swamy Sri Vedanta Desikan had beautifully bedded this ashtakam as a beautiful garland on Lord Sudarshana.
Sudarshana Ashtakam Lyrics and Meaning
Pratibhatashreni Bheeshana Vargunastomabhushana
Janibhaya-Stana-tarana JagadavaStana-Karana
Nikhila-Dhushkarma-Karshana Nigama-sdharma-Dharshana
Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarshana Jaya Jaya SriSudarshana
O the one who terrifies devotees’ enemies, you are the treasured source of the highest qualities
The one who helps us to cross the cycle of birth and death, the source of stability for the entire universe
The one who eliminates all sins and the one who shows the path to Vedas.
O the Auspicious Lord Sudarshana; I bow to you the Victorious one
Shubha-Jagad-rupa-mandana Suragana-Trasa-Khandana
ShataMakhaBrahma Vandita ShataPathaBrahma Nandita
Prathita-Vidvat-saPakshita Bhajadahirbudhnya Lakshita
Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarshana Jaya Jaya SriSudarshana
O Lord Sudarshana, you are the adornment of the auspicious world; the one who removes the fear of the Devas
One who is praised by Lord Indra and Brahma; O the one praised by Shatapatha Brahmana (Commentary of the Sukla Yajurveda)
The one who is the companion of the Scholars in their Victories
O the Auspicious Lord Sudarshana I bow to you the Victorious one
Sputa-tatijaalaPinjara Pruthutara JawalaPanjara
ParigataPragnyan Vigraha Parimita pragya durgraha
praharaNa graama mandita parijana-traana-pandita
Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarshana Jaya Jaya SriSudarshana
The one whose body shines like bursts of lightning and is encircled with fires.
O the divine form who is worshipped since ancient times; the one who is capable of removing the limit of one’s perception or knowledge
The one who is equipped with a collection of weapons and the wiser in protecting the devotees
O the Auspicious Lord Sudarshana I bow to you the Victorious one
NijaPada PreetaSatgana Nirupadhi-sphita Shadguna
Nigama nirvyooDa vaibhava nijapara vyooha vaibhava
Harihaya Devshi daarana hara puraplosha kaarana
Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarshana Jaya Jaya SriSudarshana
The one whose feet always set the righteous path; the one who is absolute and abundant of six virtues (Truth & honesty, Kindness, Non Violence, Purity, Austerity and Forgiveness)
Whose greatness is hailed in Vedas; the one with forms of Nija and Para (Lord Vishnu manifests in five forms i.e. Para, Vyuha, Vibhava, Antaryami and Archa)
O the one who eliminated the enemies of Indra the one who burned down the city of Harapura
O the Auspicious Lord Sudarshana I bow to you the Victorious one
Dhanuja Vistaara Kartana Janitamistraa-vikartana
Danuja Vidyaa Nikartana Bhajadavidyaa-nivartana
Amara-drasta svavikrama samarajushta-bhramikrama
Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarshana Jaya Jaya SriSudarshana
The one who destroys the growth of Asuras; the one who removes the darkness of rebirths, death, age, and illness
The one who exterminates the unrighteous black magic; O the one who removes the devotees from ignorance and lack of proper knowledge
O the one whose magnificent acts were inspiring to Devas; O the one who eliminates all the enemies in the battlefield moving like a Whirlpool
O the Auspicious Lord Sudarshana I bow to you the Victorious one
Pratimukhaaleedha bandhura pruthumahaaheti dantura
Vikatamaayaa bahishkruta vivdhamaala parishkruta
Sthiramaha Yantra Tantrita drudha dayaa tantra yantrita
Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarshana Jaya Jaya SriSudarshana
O the one whose stance is always in a readiness posture; Surrounded by innumerable weapons-Your appearance itself frightens the enemies
The one who wards off the wicked acts or power against his devotes; O the one adorned with magnificent and different types of garland
The one who is invoked by reciting mantras and stationing on powerful yantras; O the one who can be controlled by compassion
O the Auspicious Lord Sudarshana I bow to you the Victorious one
Mahita sampat sadakshara vihita sampat shadakshara
Shadarachakra pratishthita sakala tatva pratishthita
Vividha sankalpa kalpaka vibhudha sankalpa kalpaka
Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarshana Jaya Jaya SriSudarshana
O the one who bestows the devotees with eternal knowledge and Moksha; on reciting the six-lettered Sudarshana mantra
O the one who is consecrated and worshipped on the six patterns Yatra; the one who supports all the tattvas
The one who grants wishes of all; the one who is like a wish-fulfilling tree (Kalpavriksha)
O the Auspicious Lord Sudarshana I bow to you the Victorious one
Bhuvana Netra-strayeemaya savana tejas-trayeemaya
Niravadhi svaadu Chinmaya Nikhila shaktejaganmaya
Amita Vishvakriyamaya shamita vishvagbhayaamaya
Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarshana Jaya Jaya SriSudarshana
O the one who is the three eyes of this world; the one who is symbolic of three types of fire (Ahaviniyam, Dakshinagni and Anvaharyapachanam)
O the one with the extensive amount of knowledge; O the one who is a powerhouse of several energies(shaktis)
O the source of various activities of this infinite universe; the one who removes all fears and applications of the world
O the Auspicious Lord Sudarshana I bow to you the Victorious one
PhalaSthuti
Dvichathushkamidam Prabhootasaram
Patataam Venkatanaayaka Praneetam
Vishamepi Manoradhaha pradhaavan
Na Vihanyet rathaanga Dhuryaguptaha
This divine poem with two groups of four stanzas (8 verses )
That was composed and presented by Venkatanayaka
Those who want to attain worldly desires.
For them, Lord Sudarshana without any fail protects them as the unfailing chariot and shows the correct path
Kavitaarkika simhaaya Kalayana Gunashaaline
Shreemate Venkateshaaya Vedaantagurave Namaha
The lion amongst the Philosophers a person with auspicious qualities – Sri Venkatanathan
I bow to you, Lord Venkatesha, and to the Vedanata Guru
Sudarshana Ashtakam Benefits
Lord Sudarshana is depicted as a powerful weapon held by God Vishnu to sling against demonic forces when they were harming devotees or creating an imbalance in the universe.
There are instances in sacred books such as Mahabharat and Ramayana where Lord Krishna and Lord Balaram used this fearsome wheel against their enemies to gain an upper hand over the enemies.
In Vaishnavism, Sudarshana Chakra has immense importance, it is seen as a sacred object and given almost equal importance to the main deity. There are special rituals such as Sudarshana Yagam and Sudarshana Homam which were carried out on auspicious occasions to bestow the power of Lord Sudarshana over devotees.
Reciting Sri Sudarshana Ashtakam benefits the devotee to overcome illness, depression, fear, and anxiety.
When to Recite Sudarshana Ashtakam
The best way to recite and feel the bliss of Sudarshana Ashtakam can be observed when the state of our mind and soul are clean and free of thoughts – This is best observed from 4am to 8 am and 4 pm to 8 pm this duration of the day have Sattvic nature
You can have a bath and leave the thoughts for a while and sit in front of your pooja mandir peacefully; light a diya and slowly observe Bhagavan Vishnu for a while and then start reciting the Sudarshana Ashtakam in a meditative position.
To prevent distraction, you can hold the lotus bead Japamala and start meditating. You can also Chant this mantra along with Sudarshana Maha Mantra which is another divine mantra dedicated to Lord Sudarshana that possesses equal power and healing nature.
