The birth of Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama - The 1008 Names of Sri Maha.
The legend would have it that at the end of the epic Mahabharata war, Bhishmacharya was awaiting the sacred hour to depart from his physical body unto the lotus feet of the Lord. Yudhishtira, the eldest of the Pandavas, was desperately looking for the answers to matters relating to Dharma and Karma. Lord Sri Krishna, who understood Yudhistira’s uneasy mind, guided him to Bhishma to learn insight in to this precious knowledge. It is relevant to mention that Bhishma was acknowledged to be one of the twelve most knowledgeable people. The other eleven being Brahma , Narada , Siva , Subramanya , Kapila , Manu , Prahlada , Janaka , Bali, Suka and Yama .
As directed by the Lord, he meets Yudishtra. At their meeting, Yudhistira presented Bhishma with six questions.
1. kimEkam dhaivatam lokE?
Who is the greatest Lord in the world?
2. kim vaapyEkam parAyaNam?
Who is the one refuge of all?
3. stuvantam kam prApnuyuh mAnavah subham?
By glorifying whom, can man attain peace and prosperity?
4. kam arcanat prApnuyuh mAnavaah subham?
By worshipping whom can man reach auspiciousness?
5. kO dharmah sarva dharmANaam bhavatah paramO matah?
What is, in thy opinion, the greatest Dharma?
6. kim japam mucyatE jantur janma samsAra bandhanAth?
By doing Japa of what, can creature go beyond the bonds and cycle of birth and death?
Bhishma responded by reciting the one thousand names now hailed as the Vishnu Shasranama, and reminded him that either by meditating on these names or by invoking the names through archana (Offering), our minds can be lifted to higher consciousness.