vishnu - Why do images of Sudarshana have Yoga Narasimha...

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Why do images of Sudarshana have Yoga Narasimha on the other side?

I'm currently visiting India, and in the Vishnu temple in my native village of Poondi, I saw a shrine dedicated to Chakrathalwar. For those
who don't know, that is the Sri Vaishnava name for Sudarshana, the deity of the Sudarshana Chakra, the famous discus weapon of
Vishnu. (I discuss the origins of the Sudarshana Chakra and how Vishnu acquired it in this answer, and how Krishna got it in this
answer.) Sudarshana is generally depicted with 16 hands holding various weapons. But what's interesting is on the other side of images
of Sudarshana is an image of Yoga Narasimha:

Yoga Narasimha is a form of Vishnu's incarnation as Narasimha the man-lion, seated cross-legged in a Yogic posture. Here is how
Wikipedia describes the story of Yoga Narasimha:
And the 87th chapter of the Uttara Kanda of the Brahmanda Purana says the sage did penance on the banks of the Padma
Thadagam, as it was filled with lotus flowers, near the Gajagiri Kshetram (the present Anaimalai) seeking progeny, and wanted the
Lord to appear in His Narasimha avatar. The Lord appeared as Ugra Narasimha and the heat that emanated from Him was
unbearable. Even the celestials were affected by it and they all came to Gajagiri Kshetram and prayed to the Lord to calm down. The
Lord could not be pacified and then they sought the help of Prahlada, whose arrival quietened Him to some extent. They prayed to
the Goddess Mahalakshmi, who also took Her abode in Him as Narasingavalli, after which He became Yoga Narasimha.
But my question is, why is Yoga Narasimha depicted on the back of images of Sudarshana? I've seen various symbolic justifications for
this, like Yoga Narasimha being the Shakti behind the Sudarshana Chakra, or Yoga Narasimha and Sudarshana representing Purusha
and Prakriti, but what does Hindu scripture say on the subject?
The only scriptural citation I've found which seems to explicitly discuss the reason is from this page on Yahoo! Answers, which quotes
the Ahibudhnya Samhita, one of the Pancharatra texts which were foundational in the development of Vaishnavism. (For more
information on Pancharatra texts, see my question here.) Here is what the Ahirbudhhnya Samhita says:
Yoganarasimha:
tanmadhye yoganrsimhalekhanam tanmadhye yogapattena pinaddhaggam sanatanam | narasimham caturbahum
catuscakradharam param || 26-62
samasinam asokasya mule kalanaladyutim | sarvabharana samyuktam sarvabhaktartiharinam || 26-63
apara samkhya kalyana guna purnamaharnavam | bhaktanukampinam nityam sarvalokaika nayakam || 26-64
ekatra kalpita sudarsana narasimha- manyatra kevala sudarsanamujjvalaggam | (Some text has 'kalpita' for 'kevala')
samkalpitobhayamukham ghatitastrajalam srivisnupajjaragatam yutamantrajalam || 25-25
Sudarsana Murti;
atasca bhagavan visnuscakrarupi vyavasthita | hanyante tena cakrea visve daiteyadanavah || 30-16
astrani tani nirjagmurviurupat sudarsanat | amoghani tato'strai bhisanani mahanti ca || 30-19
prajah srastum manascakre cakrarupi jagatpati | sraumastrani sarvani svasmadrupanmahamune || 30-20
(Meaning in essence: Sri Sudarsana Murti and Sri Yoga Narasimha Murti are here with dual combination. The Sudatsana Murti is in
violent form with 16 hands. Sri Narasimha has four hands. Both save bhaktas from the actions of enemies, diseases and save from
Graha Doshas.)
Can anyone provide a fuller translation of this passage? It might contain the explanation.
Also, this answer on Quora also claims that the Pancharatra texts address this question:
According to [Pancharatra] Aagama Sastras - there is a need for Sudarshana Azhwar to be always backed up by some form of

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vishnu - Why do images of Sudarshana have Yoga Narasimha...

http://hinduism.stackexchange.com/questions/5207/why-do-...

Narasimha
is typically any
counted
as themoorthy
fourth avatar
energy. Ideally it is supposed to be a "Simha [Lion]
Moorthy"simha
forof that matter - for the same pursposes as
Vishnu's Dashavatara.
mentioned that the Sudarshana derives his energy from Yoga Narasimha - although no mention has been made of the Avatar. It has
frequent info top users
been put into practice by our aacharyas and guru's
who decided to modify the aagama slightly (or could have crept in) - that
Narasimha would be the most apt moorthy behind the Sudarshanazhwar.

So where in the Pancharatra texts does it say that you should put a lion on the back of images of Sudarshana?
Does anyone know any other scriptures which explicitly address why Yoga Narasimha is put on the back? And on a side note, does
Vishnu's actual Sudarshana Chakra have a carving of Yoga Narasimha on it?
vishnu

weapon

idols

pancharatra

narasimha

edited Jan 22 at 3:19

asked Jan 17 at 12:04

Keshav Srinivasan !
20.1k

1 Answer

The meaning of the verses are as follows:

"In the middle (of what), is the image of Yoga Narasimha, who is Eternal, and is bound by a
Yoga Patta. He is four armed, and bears four Chakras (!) in his four arms. He is situated
under the Ashoka Tree, and is radiantly adorned, ever willing to destroy his devotees'
troubles.
He is the Supreme One, who is the ocean of countless Kalyana Gunas, excellent qualities,
who causes his Bhaktas to tremble with fear. Sometimes both Yoga Narasimha and
Sudarshana are contemplated upon; other times only the radiant Sudarshana is
contemplated upon. (I am not sure of the next line: The contemplation of both of them
is enough to destroy a multitude of astras, for they are verily the sacred Vishnu
Mantras personified).
Thus, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in his form as Sudarshana Chakra, destroys all
Danavas and Daityas, with its infallible powers, which manifest as astras from His person.
To control these bad elements, the Lord took upon this form of the Chakra, and thus is
able to protect his devotees."
So the purported meaning, I think, is the bolded letters.
answered 23 hours ago
Surya
216

OK, so this quote doesn't actually talk about the relation between Yoga Narasimha and the Sudarshana
Chakra, other than the fact that they're worshipped together? Keshav Srinivasan ! 22 hours ago

32

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