Gālava’s Stotra to Sudarśana
This is a short stotra (hymn of praise) to the Sudarśana cakra, the discus of Bhagavān Vishṇu. The ṛshi Gālava sang it at the Dharma Pushkariṇī, in the Setu-kshetra, just after the cakra cut off the head of the rākshasa Durgamu, who had attacked him. It is found in the Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Setu Māhātmya, Chapter 3.
The stotra praises Sudarśana as the ornament of Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa’s lotus hands, as the one who has taken the vow of protecting all the worlds, as the destroyer of the rākshasa forces and as the one who removes the ārti (distress) of devotees. Gālava asks the cakra to stay for ever at the Dharma tīrtha, and Sudarśana agrees. The tīrtha then became known as Cakratīrtha.
The setting
The ṛshi Gālava was living at the Dharma Pushkariṇī on the Gandhamādana mountain, in the Setu-kshetra. He was doing tapas (austerity) and the pūjā of Bhagavān Vishṇu.
The rākshasa Durgamu came to the tīrtha to eat Gālava. Durgamu was a gandharva who had been put under a śāpa (curse) by Vasishṭha for sixteen years. Gālava was full of fear and cried out to Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa for protection.
Bhagavān Vishṇu heard his devoted bhakta and sent the Sudarśana cakra to the Dharma Pushkariṇī. The cakra blazed with the light of countless suns and fires and made a tremendous roar. It cut off the head of the rākshasa as he fled, and Durgamu was released at once.
Gālava saw the rākshasa fall. He was filled with joy and thanks, and he offered this stotra to the Sudarśana cakra.
The stotra
Gālava sang it to the Sudarśana cakra at the Dharma Pushkariṇī. It has three verses.
- O Vishṇu-cakra, namaskāra (salutation) to you. O you who have taken the vow of protecting all the worlds, namaskāra to you. O ornament on the lotus hands of Nārāyaṇa, namaskāra to you.
- O you of tremendous sound. O you who are supremely able in battle against the rākshasa forces. O Sudarśana, who destroys the ārti of devotees, namaskāra to you.
- Protect me, who am full of fear, from all pāpa (sin). O all-pervading Sudarśana, may you always stay in this Dharma tīrtha, for the welfare and the moksha of all the worlds that seek moksha.
Sudarśana’s answer
The Sudarśana cakra was pleased with Gālava’s stotra and answered with kind and comforting words.
“O Gālava, this Dharma tīrtha is supremely holy and excellent. For the welfare of all the worlds I shall stay here always. I saw the wicked rākshasa tormenting you, and I decided to remain here. Bhagavān Vishṇu sent me swiftly, and I came and killed this lowest of rākshasas. You are now free from this fear. You are a devotee of Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa in every way.
“O best of munis (munīśreshṭha), in this Dharma Pushkariṇī of Dharma I shall live always, to protect all the worlds. Because I am here, neither you nor anyone else will from now on suffer harm from bhūtas, rākshasas or any other beings. This Dharma Pushkariṇī destroys all pāpa. Dharma made it, stretching from Darbhaśayana to Devīpattana. I shall remain throughout it always.”
Having said this, the Sudarśana cakra entered the Dharma Pushkariṇī and became unseen. Gālava and all the munis who had gathered there watched. The cakra took up its permanent, unseen home in the tīrtha. In this way the tīrtha became known throughout the worlds as Cakratīrtha.
The merit of Cakratīrtha
Sudarśana declared the merit (phala) of the tīrtha.
- Those who bathe in Cakratīrtha, together with their sons, grandsons and all their descendants, will be freed from all pāpa and will reach the paramapadha (supreme abode) of Bhagavān Vishṇu.
- Those who offer piṇḍadāna here for their ancestors will send all those ancestors to svarga. The pitṛs (ancestors) will be satisfied (tṛpta) and will rise.
Sources
- Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Setu Māhātmya, Chapter 3