The Legend of Lord Krishna's Sudarshan Chakra and the Destruction of Kashi
The Sudarshan Chakra of Lord Krishna
Lord Krishna's Sudarshan Chakra – Kashi, the city of Lord Shiva, is revered as a significant spiritual center in Hinduism.
It is believed that this sacred city was created by Lord Shiva himself, resting on his trident.
Today, Lord Shiva resides in Kashi as Kashi Vishwanath, attracting devotees from across the globe. However, it may surprise you to learn that this city was once reduced to ashes by Lord Krishna using his Sudarshan Chakra.
The tale behind this destruction is rooted in the Dvapara Yuga and is quite well-known.
The Story of King Jarasandha
King Jarasandha arranged the marriage of his daughters to Kansa
According to ancient texts, King Jarasandha ruled over Magadha during the Dvapara Yuga, instilling fear among his subjects due to his tyranny. His cruelty and formidable army intimidated many neighboring kings, leading him to marry his daughters, Asthi and Prasthi, to the wicked King Kansa of Mathura, who was also Krishna's uncle.
Kansa was a maternal uncle of Lord Krishna
Legend states that Kansa was cursed to be killed by the eighth son of his sister Devaki. Upon learning this, Kansa imprisoned Devaki and her husband Vasudeva, killing all their children. However, the eighth child, Krishna, was saved by Vasudeva, who secretly left him with Yashoda, who raised him.
Krishna's Confrontation with Kansa
Krishna killed his uncle Kansa
As Krishna grew up, he ultimately became the cause of Kansa's demise. When King Jarasandha learned of Kansa's death, he plotted to kill Krishna in a fit of rage but failed in his attempts.
Consequently, Jarasandha allied with the king of Kashi to devise a new plan to eliminate Krishna, launching several attacks on Mathura. Despite these assaults, Krishna remained unharmed, but the king of Kashi lost his life during one of these encounters.
The Vow for Revenge
The son of the Kashi king sought revenge against Krishna
In retaliation for his father's death, the son of the Kashi king performed intense penance to please Lord Shiva. When Shiva appeared, the prince requested a boon to kill Krishna.
Despite Shiva's attempts to dissuade him, the prince remained adamant, leading Shiva to grant him a boon. Shiva provided him with a weapon, stating that wherever it struck, that place would be destroyed, but it would have no effect if thrown at a Brahmin devotee.
The Destruction of Kashi
Kashi turned to ashes by Krishna's Sudarshan Chakra
Using the weapon granted by Shiva, the Kashi prince attacked Krishna in Dwarka, forgetting that Krishna was a Brahmin devotee. Consequently, the weapon returned to Kashi. To prevent this, Krishna unleashed his Sudarshan Chakra after the weapon.
The Sudarshan Chakra pursued the weapon to Kashi, where it incinerated it. However, the Chakra's wrath did not end there, resulting in the complete destruction of Kashi and its inhabitants.
The Rebirth of Kashi
Lord Shiva's city reborn
After the devastation caused by the Sudarshan Chakra, Kashi was eventually rebuilt. It is said that due to its location between the Varuna and Asi rivers, the city was named Varanasi, symbolizing the rebirth of Kashi.