Vishnu Sahasra Nama Stotram

[SS91]

The Glorious Thousand Names  
 
Once Adi Sankara Bhagavadpada asked his disciple to get for him the palm-leaf manuscript of 'Sahasranama'. He meant 'Lalitha Sahasranama', as he was a great devotee of 'Ambal' (the Universal Mother). His disciple, however, thought that his preceptor must have meant 'Vishnu Sahasranama' and brought it accordingly. Sankara corrected him and asked specifically for 'Lalita Sahasranama'.

Universal Mother prefers Vishnu Sahasranama

Once again, the disciple brought 'Vishnu Sahasranama'. A little annoyed, Sankara chastised the disciple and stressed again that he wanted 'Lalita Sahasranama' and not 'Vishnu Sahasranama'. For the third time, the disciple brought the 'hymnal thousand' on Lord Vishnu. When reprimanded severely by the Bhagavadpada, the disciple replied, 'Venerable Sire, I was about to pick up the 'Lalita Sahasranama' only, but there was a most charming little girl, dazzling in her form, who commanded me, with her pointed little finger, to take the 'Vishnu Sahasranama' and not the 'Lalita Sahasranama'.

Sankara's realisation

Sankara realised that Ambal wanted him to give special importance to the 1000 hymns on Sri Narayana. That was why, it is said, he wrote a commentary on Vishnu Sahasranama, the first of all the several commentaries written by him. Apart from this commentary, the Acharya has written commentaries on the principal Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita (the Prasthana Traya - the three canonical texts; the commentator gets recognised as an Acharya only on this count), and several other 'Laghu Bashyas' (minor commentaries).

The Vishnu Sahasranama occurs in the Santhi Parva of sage Vyasa's epic the Mahabharatam. Yudhisthira, the newly-crowned emperor of Bharata Varsha, and the eldest of the Pandavas, asked of Bheeshma, the grandsire, lying on a bed of arrows, six questions, from a spiritual standpoint.

These six questions were: (1) Who is the greatest Lord (God) in this world? (2) Who is the sole refuge for everyone everywhere? (3) By worshipping whom can one attain peace and prosperity? (4) Who can confer auspiciousness on man? (5) What is the greatest dharma? (6) By meditating on whom can 'beings' transcend transmigratory existence (the cycle of endless births and deaths : 'Samsara')?

In one of the minor Upanishads more or less similar questions are asked of Creator Brahma and one gets the same reply. The reply in both cases was: 'Sri Narayana is, indisputably, the greatest of all deities, meditating on whom by repetition of His myriad names and glories one can achieve eternal liberation.'

Bheeshmacharya states most emphatically to king Yudhisthira : "Lord Vishnu is the God of Gods, Who is the sole refuge for all, Who is the most auspicious of all, Who can confer auspiciousness on all, Who sanctifies everyone, Who is the Supreme Being, by constant meditation on Whom one can transcend all bondages!"

There are one thousand and thirty one sacred names of Sri Vishnu in this hymnal composition glorified as Vishnu Sahasranama. There are many repetitions (about thirty), but scholarly commentators give varied interpretations to each of these repetitions. There are several other names which do appear as repetitions.

For the recitation of the Vishnu Sahasranama, the author sage Vyasa is to be invoked first as the 'Rishi' special. In fact, Vyasa is an incarnation of Lord Narayana Himself.

R Srinivasan




subhasrini
OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI!!!
Let us pray at the feet of Sai Baba who is the incarnation of all gods and protector of all, to show mercy on us, and increase our devotion towards him.

[Dipika]

Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Strotram

http://www.floridashirdisai.org/SaiLib/vishnusnama.html


Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

Vishnu Sahasranam, just like Bhagavad Gita is an integral part of Mahabharata and is written by Maharshi Vyasa. It contains thousand names of Lord Vishnu in 107 stanzas in anushtup chanda (a meter of poetry) depicting praise and glory of the Lord. It is interesting to know the history or origin behind Vishnu Sahasranama.

On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Bhisma - the great grandfather of Kauravas and Pandavas was lying on his deathbed. With Bhishma's death, an era of great wisdom and knowledge was about to come to an end. There for, Lord Krishna advised Yudhisthir to seek Bhishma's counsel on any and all aspects of life. The dialogue, which was witnessed by Sage Vyasa and Lord Krishna as well, reflects essence of Bhishma's life. During the dialogue, in response to a question by Yudhisthir on what is the easiest mean by which mankind can get everlasting happiness, eternal peace and become free from misery and sorrow, Bhishma mentioned thousand names of Lord Vishnu.

Vishnu Sahasranam, a part and partial of great epic Mahabharata is an extraordinary creation of Ved Vyasa. Humanity will forever be indebted to this great sage for his timeless creations - Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, Puranas and various Stotras.

 Truly exceptional to the richness of language used inside its magnificent verses, Vishu Sahasranam contains 1008 names of Lord Vishnu. Recitation of God's glories eradicates evil in us and gives us a chance to reconnect with the divine within. It also fills us with devotional fervor and uplifting mood.

http://www.swargarohan.org/Vishnu-sahasranama/main.htm

Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

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 Jai Srimannarayana

  SIGNIFICANCE OF BHEESHMA EKADASI AND SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM:
Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama was revealed in the month of Magha, according to lunar calendar, on the 11th day of waxing moon, that is sukla paksha ekadasi which comes exactly after 2 months of Githopadesa. Bheeshma Ekadasi is an auspicious occasion, the birth day of Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Sthothram. This sthothram was revealed to Pandavas by Bheeshmacharya when he was on the bed of arrows, after the Mahabharatha war. Lord Krishna revealed Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna. Though Arjuna was able to converse with Lord Krishna and clear many of his doubts, he couldn't absorb it completely as-it-is from the view point of the Lord. Fortunately, Sanjaya who is televiewing and explaining the happenings of the war to the blind King Dhrutharashtra was able to view this upadesam also through whom Bhagavad Githa came into this world. Ekadasi day(11th day of the full/new moon phase) is considered to be very holy day on which devotees take minimum food and spend most of their time contemplating on the Lord. It is the day on which the Saththvik nature in man blossoms more easily and opens up the way for one's enlightenment. How fortunate we are if we are with our Acharya taking upadesam from Him about the best of the secrets a man needs to know in his life !!
In the Kurukshethra war, between Pandavas and Kauravas, Krishna was the sarathi(charioteer) for Arjuna. After the day's battle, when they returned to the camp, Arjuna asked Krishna to get down and open the gate. This request baffled Krishna as He did not get the respect of a Guru who taught him Bhagavad Gita. Hence He concluded that, all His teaching was a waste. Then Krishna decided to choose an acharya who can teach dharma to Pandavas. According to Bhagavad Gita’s Chapter 4 sloka 34, Thath viddhi pranipathena pariprasnena sevaya Upadekshyanthi the jnanam jnaninah thathva-darsinaha The path of spiritual realization is difficult. Krishna therefore advises Pandavas to approach an enlightened master for the realization of dharma. The above sloka dictates the principle behavior of a student, to his teacher, before anything could be learnt from the master. The student should surrender and this should be shown by a few activities which are dictated in the sloka. Prostrating before Guru, without any inhibition or ego Pranipatha. When the students are being taught, the disciple should be able to understand the essence of all those teachings. Thus, if the student gets a doubt, he should wait for the proper time and present them before his Guru in a prescribed way Pariprasnena. Gurus’ may not clarify the doubts at once, at times they wait few months or even years to test the disciples’ commitment and curiosity, and it may take a long time to get the answers. Till then the student should serve the master in a pleasing way which is called the "seva". Atlast the teacher who is a seer of the truth will reveal the ultimate secrets. Krishna realizes that the most eligible person to talk about the ultimate truth would be Bheeshma, who at that time was lying on the bed of arrows in the battlefield, ready to leave his mortal body. Krishna took Pandavas to Bheeshma and requested pithamaha(grandsire) to teach the Pandavas about the Ultimate Truth and Dharma. Krishna promised pithamaha that He would restore his memory that was buried deep due to the pains in his body.

As it was imparted from a great acharya chosen by the Lord Himself, Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama is considered the essence of Gita and all the Vedas. Bheeshmacharya was lying on the bed of arrows after being put down by Arjuna during the war. After the war, Pandavas approached Bheeshma to teach them the higher principles of life and wisdom, from all his great experiences. Bheeshma who is a great Man of Action and Sacrifice, mastered the whole Dharma Sastra and practiced it strictly throughout his life. Even the Lord of Death feared to approach Bheeshma without his permission. Dharmaraja asks him to tell them the greatest of the secrets that made him so great and that he thinks is the best that can liberate all beings from the cycle of births and deaths and lead them to planes of highest Happiness, Bliss, The Lord. Then Bheeshmacharya having obtained boon from Lord Krishna to be able to speak in clear voice and memorise his past deeds reveals the essence of all that he learnt from a number of sages who had the vision of Lord in different forms. Bheeshma observed a number of austerities imposed by the sages, served them for long periods, satisfied them that he deserves to be taught the secret they have obtained after strenuous efforts, and finally obtained from them the secrets. Like a honey bee that collects the honey drops from all the flowers, Bheeshmacharya collected all the manthras from different sages and composed Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Sthothram which he used to practice daily. When Dharmaraja asked him to reveal the greatest of secrets, Bheeshma reveals this to Pandavas on Magha Suddha Ekadasi day in presence of Lord Krishna, showing Him and telling them that He is Lord of all Lords and praying Him with all 1000 names is all one can ever do to become more dear to Him which itself leads to salvation. Reciting it regularly or even listening to it is itself a great thing that empowers one with the strength to overcome all the difficulties and get on to the right path of Salvation.

The Benefits
As was pointed out earlier, traditionally our prayers end with a phala sruti - a section on the benefits of reciting the prayer. The Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram is no exception.

The necessity of cleansing our body regularly to maintain our physical hygiene and good health is recognized by every one. But perhaps because we do not "see" our mind the same way as we see our body (i.e., as an externally visible entity), the necessity of keeping our minds clean is not as clearly recognized. However, those who do not "cleanse" their mind on a regular basis become "mentally" sick over a period of time, just as they become physically sick if they do not cleanse their body on a regular basis. Prayers are a means to mental cleansing when they are chanted with sincerity and devotion.

The importance of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram is that the deity being worshipped is none other than Vasudeva: Perhaps the most important of the benefits attained by one who chants the Stotram with devotion and sincerity is the cleansing of one's mind from all evil thoughts, and this is a very important and desirable benefit since this is the first step towards achieving pure happiness and absolute bliss. Firmness of mind, good memory, happiness of the self (inner happiness), and freedom from anger, jealousy, and greed, are some of the benefits that accrue to one who recites the stotram with devotion and eagerness. The key is: sincerity of purpose and devotion. The person who chants or recites is not the only one who benefits. Those who for whatever reason are unable to chant benefit by just hearing the chanting (ya idam srunuyan nityam )

Importance of Chanting

Some might say that they do not understand the meaning of the Sanskrit words in the stotram and therefore do not feel comfortable chanting it. The chanting of prayers even without knowing the meaning is a worthwhile act, and can be compared to finding a box of treasure without the key. As long as we have the box, we can open it whenever we get the key of knowledge later, but the treasure will be already there. Some could feel that they do not know the correct pronunciation, and so do not want to chant incorrectly. Here is the analogy of a mother to whom a child goes and asks for an orange. The child does not know how to pronounce the word "orange", and so asks for "ange". The mother does not turn away the child and does not refuse to give the child the orange just because the child does not know how to pronounce the word. It is the spirit or bhava that matters; so as long as one chants the name of God with sincerity, considerations such as not knowing the meaning, not knowing the pronunciation, etc., do not matter, and God who is the Mother of all of us will confer His blessings on us.
   
 
http://www.jetwashingtondc.com/vsn.asp

Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

Including the Vishnu Sahasranam, Lalita Sahasranam, Shiva Sahasranam (3 different versions), Ganesh Sahasranam, Surya Sahasranam, Ganga Sahasranam, Lakshmi Sahasranam, Gayatri Sahasranam, Saraswati Sahasranam, Durga Sahasranam (2 different versions), RadhaKrishna Sahasranam, Rama Sahasranam, and Subrahmanya Sahasranam

http://sanskrit.safire.com/Sanskrit.html#Sahasranama


Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

http://www.hindutempleofrochester.com/HTPages/Calendar/DisplayEvent.aspx?Type=1&Id=128





Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

http://www.anandamayi.org/ashram/Vishnusaeng.htm



http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Sahasranama/id/221188


http://www.hinduism.co.za/vishnu.htm


http://www.srivaishnavam.com/stotras/vishnu_itrans.htm


http://www.experiencefestival.com/sahasranama


Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

http://www.shradhasaburi.org/vsn.htm





Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[SS91]

Bheeshma Uvacha:-

Jagat Prabhum devadevam Anantham Purushottamam,

Stuvan nama Sahasrena, Purusha Sathathothida, 9

Tameva charchayan nityam, Bhaktya purushamavyayam,

Dhyayan sthuvan namasyancha yajamanasthameva cha, 10

Anadi nidhanam vishnum sarva loka Maheswaram

Lokadyaksham stuvannityam Sarva dukkhago bhaved, 11

Brahmanyam sarva dharmagnam Lokanam keerthi vardhanam,

Lokanatham Mahadbhootham Sarva Bhootha bhavodbhavam 12

Aeshame sarva dharmanam dharmadhika tamo matha,

Yad bhaktyo pundarikaksham Stuvyr-archanayr-nara sada, 13

Paramam yo mahatteja, paramam yo mahattapa

Paramam yo mahad brahma paramam ya parayanam 14

Pavithranam Pavithram yo mangalanam cha mangalam,

Dhaivatham devathanam cha bhootanam yo vya pitha 15

Yatha sarvani bhoothani bhavandyathi yugagame

Yasmincha pralayam yanthi punareve yuga kshaye 16

Tasya Loka pradhanasya Jagannatathasya bhoopathe

Vishno nama sahasram me Srunu papa bhayapaham 17


 

Bheeshma Replied:-

 

That purusha with endless devotion,

Who chants the thousand names ,

Of He who is the lord of the Universe,

Of He who is the God of Gods,

Of He who is limitless,

Would get free ,

From these bondage of life, cruel

He who also worships and prays,

Daily without break,

That Purusha who does not change,

That Vishnu who does not end or begin,

That God who is the lord of all worlds,

And Him, who presides over the universe,

Would loose without fail,

All the miseries in this life.

Chanting the praises,

Worshipping and singing,

With devotion great,

Of the lotus eyed one ,

Who is partial to the Vedas,

Who is the only one , who knows the dharma,

Who increases the fame ,

Of those who live in this world,

Who is the master of the universe,

Who is the truth among all those who has life,

And who decides the life of all living,

Is the dharma that is great.

That which is the greatest light,

That which is the greatest penance,

That which is the greatest brahmam,

Is the greatest shelter that I know.

Please hear from me,

The thousand holy names,

Which wash away all sins,

Of Him who is purest of the pure,

Of That which is holiest of holies,

Of Him who is God among Gods,

Of That father who lives Without death,

Among all that lives in this world,

Of Him whom all the souls,

Were born at the start of the world,

Of Him in whom, all that lives,

Will disappear at the end of the world,

And of that the chief of all this world ,

Who bears the burden of this world..

I would teach you without fail,

Of those names with fame.

Which deal of His qualities great,

And which the sages sing,

So that beings of this wide world,

Become happy and great.

 



subhasrini
OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI!!!
Let us pray at the feet of Sai Baba who is the incarnation of all gods and protector of all, to show mercy on us, and increase our devotion towards him.

[SS91]

Rishir Namnam Sahsrasya Veda Vyaso Maha Muni

Chando aunustup stada devo bhagawan devaki sutha 19

Amruthamsu Bhavo Bhhejam Shakthir devaki nandana

Trisama hridayam tasya santhyarthe viniyujyade 20

Vishnum Jishnum Mahavishnum Prabha vishnun Maheswaram

Aneka Roopa Daityantham Namami purushottamam 21

These thousand names Yudishtra

Are Sung for peace,

And has Vyasa as the sage,

And is composed in Anusthup metre,

And has its God the son of Devaki,

And its root is Amrutamsudbhava

And its strength the baby of Devaki,

And its heart is Trissama

Bow I before Him,

Who is everywhere,

Who is ever victorious,

Who is in every being,

Who is God of Gods,

Who is the killer of asuras,

And who is the greatest,

Among all purushas.



subhasrini
OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI!!!
Let us pray at the feet of Sai Baba who is the incarnation of all gods and protector of all, to show mercy on us, and increase our devotion towards him.

[rajtiruthani]

ASYA SRIVIISHNO R DIVYA SAHASRANAMA STROTRAMAHAMANTRASYA
SHRIVEDAVYASOBHAGAVAN RUSHIHIANUSHTUP CHANDAHASHRIMAHAVISHNU
PARAMATMA SHRIMANNARAYANO DEVATHA/AMRUTHAAMSHUUDHBAVOBHANURITHI BHEEJAM

[SS91]

DHYANAM
 

Ksheerodanvath pradese suchimani vilasad saikathe Maukthikanam

Malaklupthasanastha Spatikamani nibhai maukthiker mandithanga

Shubrai-rabrai-rathabrai ruparivirachitai muktha peeyusha varshai

Anandi na puniyadari nalina Gadha sankapanir Mukunda                           1
 

 

Let that Mukunda makes us all holy,

Who wears all  over his body

Pearls made of spatika,

Who sits on the throne of garland of  pearls ,

Located in the sand of precious stones,

By the side of the sea of milk,

Who gets happy of the white cloud,

Sprayed  of drops of nectar,

And who has the mace , the wheel and the lotus in His hands.



subhasrini
OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI!!!
Let us pray at the feet of Sai Baba who is the incarnation of all gods and protector of all, to show mercy on us, and increase our devotion towards him.

[SS91]

Bhoo padau  yasya nabhi r viyadasu ranila schandra suryaau cha nether

Karnavasasiro dhaumugamabhi dhahano yasya vasteyamabhdhi

Anthastham yasya viswam sura nara khaga go bhogi gandharva dhaityai,

Chitram ram ramyathe  tham thribhuvana vapusham vishnumeesam namami            2
 

I bow before that God, Vishnu

Who is the lord of three worlds,

Who has earth as his feet,

Who has air as his soul,

Who has sky as his belly,

Who has moon and sun  as eyes,

Who has the four directions as ears,

Who has the land of gods as head,

Who has fire as his mouth,

Who has sea as his stomach,

And in whose belly play and enjoy,

Gods, men birds, animals,

Serpent men, Gandharvas and Asuras.



subhasrini
OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI!!!
Let us pray at the feet of Sai Baba who is the incarnation of all gods and protector of all, to show mercy on us, and increase our devotion towards him.

[SS91]

Santhakaram Bujaga sayanam Padmanabham suresam,

Viswadharam Gagana sadrusam Megha varnam shubangam

Lakshmi kantham kamala nayanam Yogi hrid dyana gamyam

Vande vishnum bava bhayaharam sava lokaika nadham                              3
 

I bow before the God Vishnu,

Who is personification of peace,

Who sleeps on his folded arms,

Who has a lotus on his belly,

Who is the God of gods,

Who is the basis of earth,

Who is similar to the sky,

Who is of the colour of the cloud,

Who has beautiful limbs,

Who is the consort of Lakshmi,

Who has lotus like eyes,

Who is seen by saints through thought,

Who kills all worries and fears,

And who is the lord of all the worlds.



subhasrini
OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI!!!
Let us pray at the feet of Sai Baba who is the incarnation of all gods and protector of all, to show mercy on us, and increase our devotion towards him.

[SS91]

Megha syamam Peetha kouseys vasam Srivatsangam Kausthuboth bhasithangam

Punyopetham pundareekayathaksham  Vishnum vande sarva lokaika natham           4
 

I bow before that  God Vishnu,

Who is the lord of all the universe,

Who is black like a cloud,

Who wears yellow silks,

Who has the sreevatsa on him,

Whose limbs shine because of Kousthubha,

Who has eyes like an open lotus,

And who is surrounded by the blessed always.


subhasrini
OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI!!!
Let us pray at the feet of Sai Baba who is the incarnation of all gods and protector of all, to show mercy on us, and increase our devotion towards him.