Stories from the Shiva Purana - 17 (Acquisition of Sudarshana Chakra by Vishnu)
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S Jayanarayanan
Nov 16, 2025, 1:52:53 PM (2 days ago) Nov 16
to Chaturamnaya List, A. Discussion Group for Advaita Vedanta, Advaitin Google-Groups
(Continued from the previous post. Vishnu gifts the world with the Shiva Sahasranama:
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226535.html
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226536.html
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226537.html
Section 4, Chapters 34-36)
By propitiating Harishvara, Vishnu acquired his discus Sudarshana. On a certain occasion, the Daityas became very powerful. They harassed the worlds
and violated sacred rites. Tormented by the Daityas of great strength and exploit, the gods narrated their misery to Vishnu, their saviour.
For the victory of the gods, Vishnu worshipped Shiva, the Lord of all the gods, the Imperishable and the Cosmic Witness of all. He went to Kailasa
and dug a pit there wherein he kindled fire and performed penance. He worshipped Shiva joyously with various mantras and hymns prescribed for the
worship of earthen image. He worshipped with the lotus-flowers growing in the Manasa lake. He sat firmly in the Yogic posture and did not move at all.
Vishnu, endowed with great devotion, eulogised Lord Shiva by reciting His thousand names with pleasure.
On hearing the eulogy made by Vishnu consisting of the hymn of His thousand divine names, Lord Shiva became delighted. In order to test Vishnu, Shiva,
the Lord of the worlds, concealed one of the lotus-flowers. There was a shortage of one lotus-flower from among the thousand lotuses. Hence Vishnu
was distressed in the course of his worship of Shiva.
He thought within himself, “Where could the lotus-flower have gone? If it has gone, let it go for good. Is not my own eye a lotus?”
After thinking thus, he plucked out his eye and repeated the last name Sarvasattvavalambana. Full of emotion he worshipped and eulogised Shiva.
Lord Shiva descended from the pedestal of that earthern phallic image installed by Vishnu. Bowing to Shiva, rising up in the form of a mass of splendour
as mentioned before, Vishnu stood in front of Him and eulogised Him particularly.
Shiva said, “O Vishnu, all the desires in your mind, particularly the task of the gods have been understood by Me. Indeed you are engaged in the task
of the gods. For the achievement of the task of the gods and for the destruction of the Daityas without strain, I shall give the auspicious discus
Sudarshana to you.”
After saying this, the Lord gave the discus of the brilliance of ten thousand suns, born of His own feet and destructive of all enemies, to Vishnu.
After securing the auspicious discus and hearing the words of Shiva, Lord Vishnu was extremely delighted in his mind. Meditating on Shiva, he repeated
the hymn incessantly and instructed the devotees too in this.
(To be Continued)
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226535.html
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226536.html
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226537.html
Section 4, Chapters 34-36)
By propitiating Harishvara, Vishnu acquired his discus Sudarshana. On a certain occasion, the Daityas became very powerful. They harassed the worlds
and violated sacred rites. Tormented by the Daityas of great strength and exploit, the gods narrated their misery to Vishnu, their saviour.
For the victory of the gods, Vishnu worshipped Shiva, the Lord of all the gods, the Imperishable and the Cosmic Witness of all. He went to Kailasa
and dug a pit there wherein he kindled fire and performed penance. He worshipped Shiva joyously with various mantras and hymns prescribed for the
worship of earthen image. He worshipped with the lotus-flowers growing in the Manasa lake. He sat firmly in the Yogic posture and did not move at all.
Vishnu, endowed with great devotion, eulogised Lord Shiva by reciting His thousand names with pleasure.
On hearing the eulogy made by Vishnu consisting of the hymn of His thousand divine names, Lord Shiva became delighted. In order to test Vishnu, Shiva,
the Lord of the worlds, concealed one of the lotus-flowers. There was a shortage of one lotus-flower from among the thousand lotuses. Hence Vishnu
was distressed in the course of his worship of Shiva.
He thought within himself, “Where could the lotus-flower have gone? If it has gone, let it go for good. Is not my own eye a lotus?”
After thinking thus, he plucked out his eye and repeated the last name Sarvasattvavalambana. Full of emotion he worshipped and eulogised Shiva.
Lord Shiva descended from the pedestal of that earthern phallic image installed by Vishnu. Bowing to Shiva, rising up in the form of a mass of splendour
as mentioned before, Vishnu stood in front of Him and eulogised Him particularly.
Shiva said, “O Vishnu, all the desires in your mind, particularly the task of the gods have been understood by Me. Indeed you are engaged in the task
of the gods. For the achievement of the task of the gods and for the destruction of the Daityas without strain, I shall give the auspicious discus
Sudarshana to you.”
After saying this, the Lord gave the discus of the brilliance of ten thousand suns, born of His own feet and destructive of all enemies, to Vishnu.
After securing the auspicious discus and hearing the words of Shiva, Lord Vishnu was extremely delighted in his mind. Meditating on Shiva, he repeated
the hymn incessantly and instructed the devotees too in this.
(To be Continued)
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