Stories of Jagannatha

Tapasvi Hanuman/Chari Chakra Hanuman/Asta-bhuja Hanuman

This deity of Hanuman stands at the northern gate of the Sri Jagannatha temple to protect the mandir. He is also known as Chari Chakra Hanuman and Asta-bhuja Hanuman. “Chari chakra” means that he holds four chakras in his hands.

Once, the Lord’s Sudarshana chakra became very proud, thinking: “I am so close to the Lord and the dearest to Him.”

Lord Jagannatha is famous for destroying the pride of His devotees. Jagannatha did not like Sudarshana chakra’s pride and thoughts that he was the most powerful. Sudarshana began to think that it was he who protected the Lord and that the Lord was dependent on him. Lord Jagannatha accepts Sudarshana chakra’s help to complete difficult tasks. Therefore, the Lord decided to correct Sudarshana’s pride simply to protect His dear devotee.

The Lord sent Sudarshana chakra to invite Hanuman. At that time, Hanuman was busy performing tapasya (austerity) in abhayaranya (the forest of fearlessness). Sudarshana chakra immediately went to inform Hanuman that Lord Jagannatha wanted to see him, and Hanuman set out to meet the Lord. Just after informing Hanuman, Sudarshana chakra immediately returned to the temple, reaching it before Hanuman. When Hanuman approached the temple gate, Sudarshana chakra began to spin rapidly around the mandir building, blocking Hanuman’s path and preventing him from reaching the Ratna Simhasana.

Hanuman asked himself how he could meet the Lord. He took shelter of Lord Jagannatha simply by remembering Him. Immediately, by the Lord’s mercy, Hanuman gained power and grew six additional arms from his shoulders, thus becoming asta-bhuja Hanuman.

Four arms held four Sudarshana chakras. Two arms offered pranams. Two arms chanted the holy name of the Lord.

Hanuman stepped towards the ratna simhasana to meet Lord Jagannatha. After some time, Sudarshana chakra also came there, very anxious. Lord Jagannatha wanted to punish Sudarshana chakra for offending Hanuman and also wanted to destroy his great pride. Sudarshana chakra felt very ashamed to see that Hanuman was more powerful than him and that he could not prevent Hanuman from entering the temple.

Therefore, the Lord cursed Sudarshana chakra that in the age of Kali he would lose his disc shape and become pillar-shaped, which would always be on the left of Lord Jagannatha.