SUDARSANA CAKRA

The Ksetrapala finds place in Saivism too. According to Karanagama and Suprabhedagama, the Ksetrapala must have three eyes and the hair on the head standing erect all round head, and of blazing red colour. It may possess two, four, six or eight arms. This description agrees with the Ksetrapala concept of Sudarsana cakra.

There are separate shrines for Sudarsana in a number of temples of South India. W.E. Begley studies systematically all Sudarsana forms found in various temples in his excellent treatise "Visnu’s flaming wheel, the Iconography of the Sudarsana Cakra".

The reason for the construction of separate shrines of Sudarsana could be traced to the fact that the restrictions imposed upon Sri Vaisnavas not to worship any other god other than Vishnu, required the worship of a personal god for the satisfaction of material ends. In Srivaisnava history from the 12^th century immediately after Ramanuja, the Acaryas systematised everything pertaining to Srivaisnava philosophy and tradition. A Srivaisnava after receiving his Pancasamskara is not supposed to have any desire and not to be worried by difficulties or distress. While living in the world, it is very difficult for anyone to keep oneself free from worries. Being a Srivaisnava one is prevented from worshipping other gods. Therefore, for attaining worldly happiness Sri Vaisnavas have to depend upon the Vaisnava tradition. The Pancaratra agamas such as Ahirbudnya Samhita and Laksmitantra provided Sudarsana as the protector and relevant yantras and mantras came to their rescue.