Whose Strength is it, Anyway?

Once, Sudarshana Chakra grew proud of his power and achievements.

“Who does the Lord rely on to protect His devotees and destroy evildoers, if not me?” he thought. “Was it not I who slew the crocodile that seized Gajendra? Was it not I who severed Shishupala’s head? And when Durvasa Rishi pursued Ambarisha, was it not I who chased the great sage across the universe and humbled his pride?”

Lord Jagannath of Puri perceived this growing pride. He summoned Sudarshana and said, “Go and tell Hanuman to come to Puri at once.”

Sudarshana was taken aback. And angry.

“I am so powerful, and the Lord sends me on an errand?”

Yet, he could not disobey the Lord. He set off to deliver the message.

Hanuman listened and replied calmly, “Very well. You go. I’ll come.”

Sudarshana hurried back to Puri, still seething with resentment. Determined to prevent Hanuman from entering the temple, he assumed four forms and whirled furiously around its four entrances, guarding each one.

Hanuman understood what was happening.

He assumed a gigantic form with eight arms. With four of them, he seized the four forms of Sudarshana Chakra. With two others, he continued to sing the Lord’s praises, while the remaining two were joined in reverence to Lord Jagannath.

To this day, this eight-armed form of Hanuman is worshipped as Chaari Chakra Hanuman at the Jagannath Temple in Puri.

Humbled, Sudarshana sought the Lord’s forgiveness. Lord Jagannath relented and, according to one account, granted him pride of place atop the temple, where he is revered as the Nila Chakra.

Another account holds that Sudarshana was punished for his arrogance and came to be represented as a pillar, or stambha, beside Lord Jagannath.
                       

Garuda, the mighty vehicle of Lord Vishnu, had a pact with the serpents, his natural prey. Each day, one serpent would be offered to him as food.

One day, it was the turn of Sumukha, a serpent whom Matali, the charioteer of Indra, had chosen as his son-in-law.

Unwilling to let Sumukha meet his fate, Matali sought Indra’s help. Indra, in turn, directed Sumukha to Lord Vishnu. The Lord granted him protection.

When Garuda learnt that Sumukha had been granted refuge, he flew to the Lord in a fury.

“How could You do this to me?” he demanded. “Is this the reward I receive for carrying You and Your consorts wherever You wish to go?”

Lord Vishnu smiled.

“Garuda, do you truly believe that it is you who carries Us? Come here. Lift My little finger. Surely, that should be an easy task for one as mighty as you!”

Confident of his strength, Garuda approached the Lord and tried to lift His little finger.

But he could not.

As he struggled, the weight became unbearable, and he found himself crushed beneath it. His strength, of which he had been so proud, was powerless before the infinite might of the Lord.

At last, Garuda understood. Whatever strength he possessed, whatever service he had rendered, had been possible only through the Lord’s grace.
                                 

Today is Ayudha Pooja, the day we worship the tools and instruments through which we carry out our work.

Sudarshana Chakra and Garuda remind us that even the mightiest instruments of the Lord have no power independent of Him.

And what of us?

We take pride in our knowledge, skills, achievements or the positions we occupy. We believe that our hard work alone has brought us success, or that an institution, a family or a team cannot function without us.

This Ayudha Pooja day, let us learn from the examples of Sudarshana and Garuda.

तेन विना तृणमपि न चलति।

Tena vinā tṛṇam api na calati.

Without Him, not even a blade of grass can move.

As we conclude this Navaratri series, let us pray that the Lord may bless us with the wisdom to recognize all the ways in which His grace guides and directs our life!