Sudarshana Ashtakamसुदर्शानाष्टकम् సుదర్శానాష్టకమ్ ஸுதர்ஶாநாஷ்டகம் ಸುದರ್ಶಾನಾಷ್ಟಕಮ್ સુદર્શાનાષ્ટકમ્ সুদর্শানাষ্টকম্ ସୁଦର୍ଶାନାଷ୍ଟକମ୍ സുദര്ശാനാഷ്ടകമ്

{|| sudarshAnAShTakam ||}
by shrI V. Sadagopan
October 2, 1995
This year on Swami Desikan's birthday, I have translated the
sudarshana Ashtakam at the request of a devotee of shrI
Ranganatha Swami Sannadhi at Pomona, NY. This poem in
melodious and lilting Sanskrit is a pleasure to recite and listen to.
Traditionally, this stotram is recited in homes, when some one has
fever or illness of other kinds. Swami Desikan is said to have composed
it to help the residents of Tirupputkuzhi, when they suffered from the
grip of a epidemic fever. Alternatively, It is said that he composed it
at Tiruvahindrapuram prior to a major debate with a leader of another
sampradaya. Swami Desikan won that debate and thereby established the
supremacy of shrIman Narayana and Visishtadvaita.
Swami Desikan chose the 'dhrithas' chandas as a meter for the eight
verses praising sudarshana. He chose the 'aupachandasikam' meter
for the phala-Sruti sloka. Both these meters hint at the
Vedic origin of sudarshana as indicated by Swami Desikan in
one or more verses of this Stotram.
shrImate nigamAnta mahAdeshikAya namaH
shrImAn venkaTanAthAryaH kavitArkika kesarI |