Which Hindu goddess holds the Sudarshan Chakra?

 No Hindu goddess holds Sudarshana Chakra since it is the weapon of Lord Shiva which he created from his left toe for killing Jalandhara as per Padma Purana. He also asked Vishwakarma to infuse the brilliance of divine craftsmanship into Sudarshan Chakra (therefore in Vishnu Purana it is mentioned as also being created by Vishwakarma) his very own weapon. Much later, when Lord Vishnu, the lord of the devas, prayed to him for a lethal divine weapon of unmatched brilliance, Lord Shiva bestowed Sudarshana Chakra as a divine benediction to Lord Vishnu.

Padma Purana mentions how Lord Shiva created his discus weapon Sudarsana Chakra for the destruction of Jalandhara.

Then jumping over the lustre, Lord Siva danced by roving in all directions with the hinder part of his left foot. Then gods like Indra and others, seeing Siva dancing over the lustre, joyfully sounded musical instruments. Since then, in dances roving in all directions is practised. Then due to the crushing caused by Siva's dance, a disc was produced, which had three lakhs of spokes, and which was full of a crore of bones. Due to being crushed by the foot of Siva, particles went out from the lustre.

• Padma Purana, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 9

Padma Purana and Shiva Purana describes the killing of demon Jalandhara by Lord Shiva.

Its brilliance was like that of a crore of suns and it was swallowing (the world including) the mobile and the immobile. With that disc the head of Jalandhara was cut off (by Siva).

• Padma Purana, Uttara Khanda, chapter 18

On hearing the inauspicious words of the Daitya, lord Siva laughed mockingly and became furious. Siva held in his hand the wheel Sudarsana which he had made with his toe and got ready to kill him. Lord Siva hurled the discus Sudarsana which resembled a crore suns and the fire of dissolution. Blazing the heaven and the earth, the discus hit Jalandhara and severed his head with wide gaping eyes. The body of the son of the ocean fell on the ground from the chariot making the earth resonant. The head too fell. There was a great hue and cry. His body fell in two halves like the mountain of collyrium split by the thunderbolt and hurled in the ocean.

• Shiva Purana, Rudra Samhita, Yuddha Khanda, Chapter 24

Many other Puranas including Mahabharata mentions of Sudarshan Chakra which was bestowed by Lord Shiva to Lord Vishnu.

The holy centre famous as Cakratirtha destroys sins of brahmin-slaughter etc. because it was here that lord Hari obtained his discus. The place where Lord Visnu stood and worshipped Sankara for the sake of discus is mentioned as Cakratirtha. By merely listening to it one is freed from all sins.

• Brahma Purana, Gautami Mahatmya, Chapter 39

It was by performing a very severe penance here that the Sudarsana discus that causes the destruction of all Daityas, was acquired by Krsna (Visnu) of unmeasured radiance.

• Skanda Purana, Prabhasa Kshetra Mahatmya, Chapter 155

When (the heap of) a thousand lotuses was short by one, the enemy of the Daityas (i.e. Visnu) concluded (your) worship with one of his eyes (as the wanting one-thousandth lotus). O Trident-bearing Lord, you gave him the discus Sudarsana and satisfied him.

• Skanda Purana, Arunachala Khanda Chapter 16

Salutations to that Rudra whose feet were worshipped by the flower of Visnu's eyes and who being pleased gave him the holy Chakra.

• Atharva Veda, Sharabha Upanishad

Thou (Shiva) art he unto whom Vishnu paid his adorations for obtaining his celebrated discus.

• Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva, Anusasanika Parva, Chapter 17

O Kesava! Lord Sankara had given you the Chakra, that weapon as bright as fire was created by Lord Vrisadhvaja himself and given to you, that weapon is full of amazing brilliance and has great strength.

• Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva, Danadharma Parva, Chapter 14

Sambhu has a shrine called Panchatapa, where the Visnu worshiped Sankara to obtain Chakra.

• Kurma Purana, Purva Bhaga, Chapter 42

The place where Sri Hari worshiped Jagdisvara Siva for many days with lotuses, and also with his eyes, he received Sudarsan Chakra from him.

• Harivamsha, Bhavishya Parva, Chapter 84

Satisfied, Mahadeva gave Visnu the divine Sudarsan Chakra with supreme direct radiance. That Chakra was similar to the Kalachakra, which is terrifying for all living beings, was handed over to Visnu.

• Vamana Purana, chapter 82

That supreme Mahesha who gave me (Vishnu) Discus, Sudarsana is the cause of the great power in me, capable of protecting the three worlds. Formerly, Hara created a Cakra arising out of the lines at the tip of the big toe and slew the Daitya Jalandhara who made even me tremble. That Cakra has been obtained by me by adoring the Lord with the lotus-like eye. This Cakra named Sudarsana suppresses hosts of Daityas.

• Skanda Purana, Kashi Khanda, Purvardha, chapter 21

Then, while worshipping Lord Siva, one of those thousand lotuses was missing and Lord Visnu became restless. He started thinking in his mind, 'Where did one lotus go? If it is gone, let it go. Is my eye not like a lotus?' Thinking in this way, Visnu took out one of his eyes and worshipped Lord Siva with devotion and praised him with the same hymn. Then the pleased Siva gave that Sudarsan Chakra to Visnu, which was as powerful as millions of Suns, was born from his feet and destroyed the enemies. At that time Visnu also turned towards north and after completing his rituals properly accepted that Chakra and again bowed to Mahadeva.

• Shiva Purana, Kotirudra Samhita, chapter 36

After seeing Lord Visnu, who was praying after receiving his darshan, Lord Siva, said to him - O Madhusudan! I give you the Divya Sudarsan Chakra of amazing form. O Visnu! According to my command, you should kill the demons by its virtues. After saying this, Lord Siva gave Visnu that Chakra with light equal to ten thousand suns. Due to Lord Siva's boon, Visnu became famous in the entire world as Pundarikaksha.

• Saura Purana, chapter 41

Image courtesy : Google

If Hinduism has countless gods and goddesses, then who is the true God?

God only exists in Abrahamic religions. God is actually a term in English.

In Hinduism there is no god but Devatas. There is no concept of god in Hinduism or Sanathana Dharma at all.

Hinduism has something known as Brahman.

Brahman is something that cannot be described.

Mass-energy, consciousness and time-space are just 0.0000001 percent of this Brahman.

To explain with an anology Brahman is like ocean and everything in this universe is just a tiny drop.

Devas or Devatas are supernatural beings, superior beings, evolved beings, shining ones that are just tiny part of this Brahman.

How does Hindu Gods family tree look like?

 Lord Vishnu sleeps in the cosmic ocean. Vishnu’s sister is Adi Shakti whose husband is Lord Shiva. From his navel appears a lotus and on top of it, sits Brahma. Brahma is the creator of the universe and the grandfather of all gods. His mindborn sons are the Saptarishis, Sanaka Kumara, Daksha, Narada and Rudra. Atri married Anusuya and had Durvasa, Chandra, Dattatreya as sons. Bhrigu married Khyati and had Shukracharya as a son. Vashistha married Arundhati and was a Brahmarishi. Vishwamitra was a Brahmarishi too and gave the Gayatri Mantra. Gautama married Ahalya who was redeemed by Rama. Jamdagni married Renuka and Parshuram was their child.

Prajapati Daksha’s thirteen daughters were married to Kashyap. One was Aditi and another was Diti. Aditi had 12 sons named Adityas or Devas and was the mother of Upendra, Indra, Surya, Agni, Varuna, Tvashta and all the other Devas. These Devas had sons in Mahabharata. One of the Adityas, Manu had a whole lineage of Suryavansh in Ramayana and grandfather of Dhruva. Diti had sons named Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashyap. Hiranyaksha had an adopted son named Andhaka who was originally the son of Mahadev. Hiranyaksha was killed by Varaha Avatar and his brother by Narsimha. Hiranyakashyap’s son was Prahlada who was the Daityaraja. Prahlada’s son was Virochana. Virochana’s son was Bali. For Bali, arrived Upendra Avatar of Vishnu. Bali’s son was Banasura whose daughter was married to Krishna’s grandson. Kashyapa had wives Kadru and Vinata who were the mothers of Snakes and Garuda respectively. Any personality or figure in Hinduism is definetely related somehow to Brahma’s family.

Yagna and the Transfer of Power to Elemental Gods: A Detailed Analysis

Introduction

In Hinduism, Yagna (also spelled Yajna) is a sacred Vedic ritual performed to invoke divine blessings, maintain cosmic order, and strengthen the relationship between humans and the gods. It is believed that Yagna transfers spiritual energy and offerings to the Devas (elemental gods), who in turn bestow prosperity, health, and balance upon the world. This analysis explores the philosophical, ritualistic, and mythological aspects of Yagna, explaining how it acts as a conduit for divine power.

Concept of Yagna in Vedic Tradition

The term Yagna originates from the Sanskrit root ‘Yaj’, meaning ‘to worship’ or ‘to sacrifice.’ In ancient Vedic culture, Yagna was an essential practice, described extensively in the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharva Veda. It involves the offering of ghee, grains, herbs, and other materials into a sacred fire (Agni), which acts as a messenger between humans and the gods.

Elemental Gods and Their Role in Yagna

Hindu mythology identifies several Devas who govern natural elements and cosmic forces. The major elemental gods include:

• Agni (Fire) – The primary carrier of offerings in Yagna.
• Vayu (Wind) – Facilitates the movement of offerings through space.
• Indra (Rain/Thunder) – Governs rain and warfare.
• Varuna (Water/Ocean) – Ensures purity and cosmic law.
• Surya (Sun) – Represents light and sustains life.
• Soma (Moon/Elixir) – Governs emotions and nourishment.

These gods receive the offerings through Agni, consume their essence, and reciprocate with divine blessings.

Mechanism of Power Transfer in Yagna

1. Invocation of Deities

• The ritual begins with chanting mantras from the Vedas, invoking the presence of the Devas.
• Each deity is addressed specifically through precise hymns to ensure their participation.

2. Fire as a Divine Messenger

• Agni is central to Yagna, symbolizing transformation and transmission.
• Offerings are placed into the fire, and Agni converts them into subtle energy, which reaches the gods.

3. Transformation of Offerings

• Physical substances like clarified butter (ghee), grains, and herbs are converted into ethereal forms.
• The energy released through fire ascends to the divine realms, where the gods absorb it as nourishment.

4. Cosmic Reciprocity and Blessings

• Once the gods receive their share, they respond by maintaining cosmic harmony.
• Rainfall, agricultural fertility, health, and prosperity result from this divine exchange.

Types of Yagna and Their Purposes

1. Agnihotra Yagna – Performed daily to purify the atmosphere.
2. Ashwamedha Yagna – A royal sacrifice for sovereignty.
3. Putrakameshti Yagna – Performed for progeny (as seen in the Ramayana for the birth of Rama).
4. Rajasuya Yagna – A grand ritual for imperial authority.
5. Soma Yagna – Offered to Soma, the deity of the moon and nectar.

Philosophical Significance

• The Bhagavad Gita emphasizes that Yagna is a selfless act that upholds Dharma.
• It represents the interconnectedness of all existence, linking humans, nature, and divine forces.

Conclusion

Yagna serves as a spiritual mechanism for transferring power to elemental gods, ensuring cosmic harmony. Through fire, mantras, and offerings, it sustains the relationship between humanity and the divine. The practice of Yagna highlights the core Hindu belief in reciprocity, balance, and the sacred duty of maintaining equilibrium within the universe.