Chakram or chakra rings

eli · 5th June 2006, 06:20 AM

Hello I have always been curios about Chakra rings as weapons as well there spiritual meaning. I know their used by the Sikhs of Punjab but that's about it does anybody know more about these curios weapons? I also know of only one written book about them by Charles Button and unfortunately its in French so I can't read it. Does anybody know of an English translation of that book or others books on Chakra rings?

Jens Nordlunde · 5th June 2006, 10:56 AM

Temple, Sir Richard Carnac (ed.): The Itinerary of Ludovico di Varthema of Bologna, 1510. Reprint 1970, Da Capo Press.
In the above mentioned book the author describes how two of his friends were wounded/killed with quoits near Calicut (Sind), but he only uses two or three lines for the description.
I don't know of any books specialised on the subject, maybe others do.

PUFF · 5th June 2006, 12:07 PM

I heard about a vdo clip wich a Chakra sliced through a watermelon. Is there anybody saw such a clip.

katana · 6th June 2006, 08:44 PM

I believe the term is chakar or chakram. ( one or other or both) They can be carried/worn over the head(turban) as added protection or thrown. Being a circle they symbolise the endless cycle of life and god .
Here is an interesting link to a video about Sikh warriors you may find interesting. It is not the video Puff is refering to, but there are scenes with many familiar weapons

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...89731&q=nihang

or a longer one

http://video.google.com/videoplay?d...03&q=nihang

drdavid · 9th June 2006, 05:54 AM

I was reading 'Bali, Sekala and Niskala' by Fred Eiseman when I came across a reference to Wisnu (Vishnu) hurling a Cakra at at demon who was in the act of drinking the elixir of immortality. This had the interesting effect of leaving his head alive (and immortal) but his body was separated and died. The demon's head intermittantly chases the sun and moon across the sky and eats them (hence causing eclipses. The Cakra is described as a discus like weapon (so probably the same as chakar or chakram). The whole tale is apparently a well know episode from the Mahabharata and hence gives the Cakra a very long history indeed.
DrD

eli · 9th June 2006, 06:58 AM

Yes i have heard that to. Vishnu is famous for carrying a discus known as Sudarshana

This is what i got from wikipedia
"The chakra, a sharp-spinning discus-like weapon, named "Sudarshana", held by the upper right hand (of vishnu), which symbolizes the mind. The name Sudarshana is derived from two words - Su, which means good, and Darshan, which means vision. The chakra as a weapon thus indicates the necessity of destroying one's ego and illusory self-existence and developing the vision to identify the eternal truth. The discus has six spokes and symbolizes a lotus with six petals, thus representing the power seasonsthat controls all six ."

Also a definaition of The chakra as a weapon from wikipedia

"The chakram is a throwing weapon that was used by the ancient Indians; it is a flat metal ring with a sharp outer edge from 5 to 12 inches in diameter.

The word comes from Sanskrit and means round, circle, or wheel. Earliest references come from Ramayana and Mahabharata epics (here chakram is the weapon of the god Vishnu). It was used by Indian armies, mostly by Sikhs.

It has an effective range of 40 to 50 meters. Because of its aerodynamic shape (similar to an aeroplane wing) it is not easily deflected by wind."

How ever the one Lord Vishnu uses has spokes unlike the ones I have seen that the sikhs of punjab use.

5th June 2006, 06:20 AM	#1
eli Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon US Posts: 21	Chakram or chakra rings Hello I have always been curios about Chakra rings as weapons as well there spiritual meaning. I know their used by the Sikhs of Punjab but that's about it does anybody know more about these curios weapons? I also know of only one written book about them by Charles Button and unfortunately its in French so I can't read it. Does anybody know of an English translation of that book or others books on Chakra rings?

6th June 2006, 08:44 PM	#4
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	I believe the term is chakar or chakram. ( one or other or both) They can be carried/worn over the head(turban) as added protection or thrown. Being a circle they symbolise the endless cycle of life and god . Here is an interesting link to a video about Sikh warriors you may find interesting. It is not the video Puff is refering to, but there are scenes with many familiar weapons http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...89731&q=nihang or a longer one http://video.google.com/videoplay?d...03&q=nihang Last edited by katana; 6th June 2006 at 09:17 PM.

9th June 2006, 05:54 AM	#5
drdavid Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 371	the cause of eclipses I was reading 'Bali, Sekala and Niskala' by Fred Eiseman when I came across a reference to Wisnu (Vishnu) hurling a Cakra at at demon who was in the act of drinking the elixir of immortality. This had the interesting effect of leaving his head alive (and immortal) but his body was separated and died. The demon's head intermittantly chases the sun and moon across the sky and eats them (hence causing eclipses. The Cakra is described as a discus like weapon (so probably the same as chakar or chakram). The whole tale is apparently a well know episode from the Mahabharata and hence gives the Cakra a very long history indeed. DrD

5th June 2006, 10:56 AM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Temple, Sir Richard Carnac (ed.): The Itinerary of Ludovico di Varthema of Bologna, 1510. Reprint 1970, Da Capo Press. In the above mentioned book the author describes how two of his friends were wounded/killed with quoits near Calicut (Sind), but he only uses two or three lines for the description. I don't know of any books specialised on the subject, maybe others do.

5th June 2006, 12:07 PM	#3
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	I heard about a vdo clip wich a Chakra sliced through a watermelon. Is there anybody saw such a clip.

9th June 2006, 06:58 AM	#6
eli Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon US Posts: 21	Yes i have heard that to. Vishnu is famous for carrying a discus known as Sudarshana This is what i got from wikipedia "The chakra, a sharp-spinning discus-like weapon, named "Sudarshana", held by the upper right hand (of vishnu), which symbolizes the mind. The name Sudarshana is derived from two words - Su, which means good, and Darshan, which means vision. The chakra as a weapon thus indicates the necessity of destroying one's ego and illusory self-existence and developing the vision to identify the eternal truth. The discus has six spokes and symbolizes a lotus with six petals, thus representing the power seasonsthat controls all six ." Also a definaition of The chakra as a weapon from wikipedia "The chakram is a throwing weapon that was used by the ancient Indians; it is a flat metal ring with a sharp outer edge from 5 to 12 inches in diameter. The word comes from Sanskrit and means round, circle, or wheel. Earliest references come from Ramayana and Mahabharata epics (here chakram is the weapon of the god Vishnu). It was used by Indian armies, mostly by Sikhs. It has an effective range of 40 to 50 meters. Because of its aerodynamic shape (similar to an aeroplane wing) it is not easily deflected by wind." How ever the one Lord Vishnu uses has spokes unlike the ones I have seen that the sikhs of punjab use.