Sri Sudarshana Jayanti 2024 Celebrations LIVE | ISKCON Vaikuntha Hill

ISKCON Bangalore celebrates Sri Sudarshana Jayanti every year at ISKCON Vaikuntha Hill, Vasanthapura, by performing a grand abhisheka to Sri Sudarshana Narasimha followed by a pravachan and special arati.

The abhisheka involves ceremoniously bathing Sri Sudarshana Narasimha with various auspicious substances, including pancha-gavya and panchamrita, amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras and singing of kirtans. The pravachan highlights the glories of Sri Sudarshana, the disc weapon of Lord Krishna. Following this, a special arati is offered to the gorgeously decorated Deity of Their Lordships.

This festival is celebrated in the month of Ashadha (June-July) to commemorate the auspicious appearance day of the Sudarshana chakra. Sudarshana, the disc weapon of Lord Krishna, is widely revered as one of the most powerful weapons. It was used by Lord Krishna to protect Dharma from the forces of evil. Sudarshana is said to be able to move with immense speed and possess unlimited power. It is described as having the ability to cut through anything, even mountains. The disc is said to be so sharp that it can split atoms and destroy entire cities with a single throw.

The Lord, His paraphernalia, His devotees and even our true forms as spirit souls are all sat-chit-ananda-vigraha, embodiments of eternity, knowledge and bliss. They are not like the material forms we experience in this world. To favour us with this realisation, the Lord and His devotees incarnate in this world again and again and remind us of our true nature. It is said in the Padma Purana:
ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi
na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ
sevonmukhe hi jihvādau
svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ

“No one can understand the transcendental nature of the name, form, quality and pastimes of Sri Krishna through his materially contaminated senses. Only when one becomes spiritually saturated by transcendental service to the Lord are the transcendental name, form, quality and pastimes of the Lord revealed to him.”

Devotees celebrate this festival in all the Vaishnava temples. Usually, Sri Sudarshana is seen alongside Sri Yoga Narasimha.