Vishnu Worships Shankar
One day the god Vishnu left his abode Vaikunth. He was riding his "garud" (eagle) towards Kashi (Benares), where at that time the god Shankar (Shiva) was residing. He had decided to worship Shankar with great devotion. For this purpose he picked up one thousand lotuses ("kamal"), which he knew was a flower very dear to Shankar, one flower for everyone of Shankar’s thou-sand names. Vishnu went to get the flowers at Manas Sarovar, a lake in the Himalayas. Flying fast he reached Kashi before dark. The dome of Vishvanath’s temple was shining with the golden rays of the setting sun. That was Shankar’s temple.
After taking bath in the river Manikarnika, Vishnu once more counted the one thousand lotuses and with full satisfaction went to Vishvanath’s temple. Shankar welcomed him with a smile, and Vishnu with great devotion bowed to Shankar. Vishnu began to offer the flowers one by one at the feet of Shankar, with each flower he repeated one of Shankar’s names: "Shivay namaha", "Mahadevay namaha", "Pashupataya namaha",... At every name Vishnu bowed and dropped one flower on Shankar’s "pindi" (Linga or phallus). Vishnu became fully absorbed in the worship of Shankar. Shankar was pleased but he wanted to test Vishnu’s devotion. Without Vishnu noticing it, Shankar put aside one of the lotuses.
One day the god Vishnu left his abode Vaikunth. He was riding his "garud" (eagle) towards Kashi (Benares), where at that time the god Shankar (Shiva) was residing. He had decided to worship Shankar with great devotion. For this purpose he picked up one thousand lotuses ("kamal"), which he knew was a flower very dear to Shankar, one flower for everyone of Shankar’s thou-sand names. Vishnu went to get the flowers at Manas Sarovar, a lake in the Himalayas. Flying fast he reached Kashi before dark. The dome of Vishvanath’s temple was shining with the golden rays of the setting sun. That was Shankar’s temple.
After taking bath in the river Manikarnika, Vishnu once more counted the one thousand lotuses and with full satisfaction went to Vishvanath’s temple. Shankar welcomed him with a smile, and Vishnu with great devotion bowed to Shankar. Vishnu began to offer the flowers one by one at the feet of Shankar, with each flower he repeated one of Shankar’s names: "Shivay namaha", "Mahadevay namaha", "Pashupataya namaha",... At every name Vishnu bowed and dropped one flower on Shankar’s "pindi" (Linga or phallus). Vishnu became fully absorbed in the worship of Shankar. Shankar was pleased but he wanted to test Vishnu’s devotion. Without Vishnu noticing it, Shankar put aside one of the lotuses.
One Flower Is Missing
When Vishnu uttered the thousandth name, "Vishveshwaray namaha", he was dismayed to realize that the thousandth lotus was missing. Actually, the 1000th. lotus was stolen by Lord Shiva himelf to test Vishnu's dedication. He was deeply disturbed. Several times he had counted the flowers and he was sure they were one thousand. Night was coming to an end and it was not possible to return to Manasarovar to bring one more lotus. He thought for a while, and finally he found the right solution. "They call me ‘kamalnayan’ (the lotus-eyed), which means that my eyes are like lotus. If I offer one of my eyes to Shankar it won’t be too big a loss," Vishnu thought. He plucked one of his eyes and repeating the name of Vishvanath he dropped it on Shankar’s pindi.
"Dhanya, dhanya" (blessed, blessed), said Shankar, and from the stone pindi he said solemnly, "Vishnu, the lotus-eyed. There is no other devotee like you." Shankar embraced Vishnu with great love, and placing his hand on his face, Vishnu’s eye was immediately restored to its place. Then full of satisfaction Shankar asked Vishnu, "Now, what shall I give you?"
"I expect nothing, Vishvanatha!" Vishnu replied."You will be the supreme commander of the three worlds," Shankar announced.
Vishnu-Shiva Dialogue
When Vishnu uttered the thousandth name, "Vishveshwaray namaha", he was dismayed to realize that the thousandth lotus was missing. Actually, the 1000th. lotus was stolen by Lord Shiva himelf to test Vishnu's dedication. He was deeply disturbed. Several times he had counted the flowers and he was sure they were one thousand. Night was coming to an end and it was not possible to return to Manasarovar to bring one more lotus. He thought for a while, and finally he found the right solution. "They call me ‘kamalnayan’ (the lotus-eyed), which means that my eyes are like lotus. If I offer one of my eyes to Shankar it won’t be too big a loss," Vishnu thought. He plucked one of his eyes and repeating the name of Vishvanath he dropped it on Shankar’s pindi.
"Dhanya, dhanya" (blessed, blessed), said Shankar, and from the stone pindi he said solemnly, "Vishnu, the lotus-eyed. There is no other devotee like you." Shankar embraced Vishnu with great love, and placing his hand on his face, Vishnu’s eye was immediately restored to its place. Then full of satisfaction Shankar asked Vishnu, "Now, what shall I give you?"
"I expect nothing, Vishvanatha!" Vishnu replied."You will be the supreme commander of the three worlds," Shankar announced.
Vishnu-Shiva Dialogue
Vishnu replied, "Mahadeva, people call you ‘Bhola Samba’ (the Simple One). It is alright if you give boons to people like me. But you are equally generous to the demons. They become haughty and the whole world begins to clamour for my intervention to destroy the demons.""Yes, that is correct," Shankar said smilingly. "My nature is like that. But I am giving you one means of destroying thedemons. I know you have no need of it. But, please, accept what I give you." Saying this Shankar placed the wheel in the hand of Vishnu. From that time Vishnu holds the wheel in his hand and is therefore known as "Chakrapani" ("chakra" = wheel, "pani" = hand). Shankar is known as "Shulpani" because he holds the trishul (trident) in his hand.
This wheel or chakra came to be known as Sudarshan Chakra.
However the chakra was too powerful for Vishnu to hold. So God made it into three parts, one given to Vishnu, one to Shakti and one kept with Himself. With that chakra the reverend Lord Vishnu is protecting all the worlds. The form of Lord Shiva blessing Vishnu with the disc is the Chakra prada Murti.
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