Sudarshan-Chakra

This image celebrates Krishna’s appearance on the battlefield of Kurukshetra at the climax of a war of succession. As recounted in the epic Mahabharata, the Pandavas and their cousins, the Kauravas, fought a protracted and deadly war for the right to rule the kingdom of Bharata. In observance of his vow not to appear as a combatant, Krishna occupies the middle ground that separates the assembled armies. He strides forward, wielding his discus (chakra)—which here resembles a chariot wheel—on a raised finger. In his lower hand he holds the conch (shanka) that serves as his war trumpet. He is depicted as a beautiful youth with long locks of dark hair and his iconic blue complexion.