Vishnu Sahasra Namam Articles

IMPORTANCE OF SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM
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Dear Bhagavatas:
On Saturday, 22nd April 2006, there was a huge gathering of Bhagavatas in
Smt. Bhavini and Sri Rajan Gopalan's home for the Monthly recital of "Sri
VishNu Sahasranamam" etc. Kids recited several slOkas from Bhagavad GIta and
other StOtras that they had learned in Baala Vihaar classes being conducted
at the "HIndu Temple of Atlanta". After recitation of "Sahasranamam" and
"Hanuman Chalisa", the undersigned was commanded to say a few words on the
importance of "Sri VishNu Sahasranamam".

The following are the excerpts from the talk on the occasion posted for your
kind information.

Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy
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1. ORIGIN OF "SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM"
- Dharmaputra, the epitome of righteousness and virtue, was so depressed on
seeing the devastation caused by the KurukshEtra war.
- Bhishma, the grand sire and the very personification of Dharma was on his
death bed. It was feared that after his departure, his lifetime experience
in Dharma was sure to be lost to the world.
- Lord KrishNa who was himself the Eternal Dharma (KrishNam Dharmam
Sanaatanam) advised Dhramaputra to seek clarifications of his doubts from
Bhishma Pitamaha.
- Sage Veda Vyaasa and other sages and Lord KrishNa himself were personally
witnessing the exposition of Bhishma - including this ?Sri VishNu
Sahasranamam?

What more is required to exemplify the greatness of 'Sri VIshNu
Saharanaamam"?
There does not appear to be any event comparable to this galaxy of noblest
souls for this purpose.

2. THE GLORY OF SRI VEDA VYAASA
Sri Veda Vyaasa who classified the Vedas was the author of Mahabharata in
which this Sahasranamam forms an integral part.
The glory of his lineage has been succinctly encapsulated in the famous
slOkam:

?Vyaasam VasishTa naphtaaram, SaktEh poutram akalmasham,
Paraasara Atmajam vandE Sukha taatam TapOnidhim?
Meaning:
?He was the great grandson of VasishTa, grandson of Sakti, son of Paraasara
and the father of Sukha-brahmam?. It may be noted that while one derives
greatness from one?s ancestors, Sage Vyaasa?s glory was in no mean measure
enhanced by that of his son,"Sukha Brahmam" as well.
This, indeed, is a rare honor!

Besides the above, another slOka depicts him as the very incarnation of
Bhagavaan Sri VishNu Himself:

?Vyaasaaya VishNu roopaaya, Vyaasa roopaaya VishNavE?

3. SATVIKA vs RAAJASA AND TAAMASA SCRIPTURES
Besides, Mahabharata , the greatest epic of all times, Sage Vyaasa authored
at least 18 PuraNas that have been classified into 3 categories, namely,
Saatvika, Raajasa and Taamasa., the first being most authoritative, the
second less authentic and the last the least in the scale ? to satisfy the
needs of different levels of knowledge and understanding of the readers.

The litmus test to differentiate Saatvika from the rest is that in Saatvika
scriptures, questions of a general nature on deities are raised and answers
zero in on the one who fits the bill, whereas in the other categories, they
begin with questions on a specific deity requiring expatiation on the
qualities of that deity in particular.

For example, in Srimad Vaalmiki RaamaayaNam, to a genearl query by Sage
Valmiki whether there was anyone who possessed all the 16 qualities
catalogued by him, pat comes the reply from Sage Naarada that there indeed
was one and that was Sri Rama.

Similarly, here, Dhramaputra asks 6 questions:

?Kim Ekam daivatam lOkE Kim vaapi Ekam paraayaNam/
Stuvantah kam kam archantah paraapnuyur maanavaa: subham//
kO dharma: sarva dharmaaNaam bhavata: paramO mata:/
kim japan muchyatE jantu janma samsaara bandanaath//
Meaning:
- Who is the ONE Supreme deity?
- What is Supreme goal of life?
- Which deity should be praised by human beings for attaining prosperity
here and everlasting bliss in the hereafter?
- Which deity should be meditated upon by human beings to attain the above?
- Which Mantra when recited, releases human beings from the bondage of
Samsaara?
- Of the three means mentioned above, which is the best means of attaining
the grace of the Lord?
In reply, Bhishma answers his considered opinion that it is the recitation,
meditation of and prayers to the names of Sri Mahaa VishNu that can bestow
the desired results
"dhyaayan, sthuvan, namasyamscha yajamaanas tamEva cha"

4. Why only 1000 Naamas?
There are millions of naamas of Sri VishNu and they definitely fall short of
the actual qualities of Bhagavaan. Even the Vedas are reported to have
attempted and returned crestfallen unable to complete the enumeration of
Bhagavaan?s glories.

"yatO vaachO nivartantE apraapya manasaa saha"

In his infinite mercy, Sage Vyaasa compiled a few out of them to help us
meditate at least these 1000 names!.

5. NarayaNa, the greatest thief!
Vaamana PuraaNa cleverly brands Sriman NarayaNa as the known dacoit (KD)!
What does he steal?
He steals the insurmountable burden of our sins accumulated over several
lives, the moment he hears our mentioning his name.

"NarayaNO naama narO naraaNaam, prasiddha chowrah kathitha prithivyaam/
anEka janma aarjita papa sanchayam harati arishTaan sruta maatramEva//"

Hari gets his name from "Harir Harati Paapaani!"

6. What do these 1000 names signify?
Each one of these 1000 names points to a particular quality of Bhagavaan.
Let us see a few examples:
- GajEndra, when caught by the crocodile cried out ?Aadhi moolamE?, none
other deity could boast of a claim to that honorific and it was Lord
NarayaNa who sent his Chakra to save the pachyderm by cutting the throat of
the crocodile like an expert surgeon taking care to see that the foot of
GajEndra was not affected! It was thus the "name" that really saved
GajEndra!

- Draupadi while she was about to be disrobed, cried aloud the name of the
Lord as ?GOvindaa?, The "dooravaasi" that he was, he did NOT appear in
person. But, it was his "name" that saved her honor. In fact, Lord KrishNa
regretted later saying:

?Her cry wrenched my heart so deep and I feel eternally indebted to her like
an unsatisfied debt that carried usurious rate of interest?

"GOvindaa! Iti yat aakraandat krishNa maam doora vaasinam
RiNa pravruttamiva mE hridayaat na apasarpati"

- Sri AnjanEya crossed the ocean by merely reciting the "Name" of Sri Rama
whereas Sri Rama had to physiaclly build a bridge to cross over to Lanka.
Thus, ?Rama naamam? proved more powerful than Sri Rama himself!

Thus, every single name of the Lord exhibited his unique quality of
accessibility and compassion (Soulabhyam and Souseelyam)

That is why,these naamas denoting qualities were praised by one and all ?
Celestials, Parama Rishis, Azhwaars, AndaaL and many others and secured
instant relief.

Yaani naamaani gouNaani vikhyaataani mahaatmana:/
Rishibhi: pari geetaani taani vakshyaami bhootayE//

7. Commentaries on Sri VishNu Sahasra naamam
There are over 40 commentaries of Sri VishNu Sahasranaamam.

Adhi Sankara, the earliest to commentator based his work on the Advaita
philosophy according to which only "NirguNa Brahmam" (Paramaatma without
qualities) was real and others were mere illusion.

Sri Paraasara BhaTTar, a disciple of Bhagavad Ramanuja based his commentary
on VisishTaadvaita philosophy according to which the Paramaatma and the
Jeevatmas were both real and Paramaatma being SaguNa Brahmam is having all
auspicious qualities like Souseelyam and Soulabhyam and was prepared to
suspend his Paratvam and subordinate his Supramacy to the dicatates of his
sincere devotees.

The Madhva Saint Satyasanda Yatiswara commented based on Dvaita philosophy.

Besides the above Sri NilakanTar, Sri VidyaaraNyar and many others also
wrote commentaries according to their own view points.

These commentaries are complementary and NOT contradictory. We thus have a
cornucopia of delectable fare that presents different facets of the
qualities of Bhagavaan to delight our intellect.

8. Aadi Sankara?s Advice
Aadhi Sankara in his ?Bhaja GOvindam? advises that it is Bhagavad Gita and
Sri VishNu Sahasranaamam that should be sung, and the person to be
constantly meditated upon is none other than the Svaroopam of Sriya: pathi
(Consort of Mahaalakshmi)

?gEyam gitaa naama sahasram dhyEyam Sreepathi roopam ajasram?

9. Why Sankara wrote commentary on ?VishNu Sahasranaamam??
The story goes that after completing his commentaries on Brahma Sutram,
Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita (called Prastaana Trayam) he desired to write a
commentary on ?Lalitaa Sahasranaamam? and asked his disciple to bring that
book from his personal library. When he opened the book, it was NOT the one
on ?Lalitaa? but was on ?Lord VishNu?. He sent him back but again the
disciple brought another copy of Sri VishNu Sahasranaamam and told him that
a spinster ordered him to take only this book. When Sankara went in to
check, she had disappeared. He took it as an order of Lalitaa (His aardahaka
dEvata) that he should write commentary on ?VishNu?.

Thus, the word ?Sahasranaamam? even when it is?stand alone? came to mean
exclusively
?Sri VishNu Sahasranaamam?

10. Can women recite Sahasranaamam?
This is a FAQ that has been raised and answered a million times. The
prohibition relates only to the recital of Vedas because they are required
to be practiced without break during the years of adhyayanam in Gurukulam
extending to several years and women being subject to biological
disabilities would not be able to do so, they were EXEMPTED from recital of
Vedas; It is NOT correct to say that they were prohibited.

They are, however, advised to read Itihaasas and PuraaNas that explain the
purport of the Vedas. Mahaabhaarata is an Itihaasa. Bhagavad Gita and
Sahasranaamam are integral part of this Itihaasa.
So, there appears to be no such restrictions in reciting them.
There is a SlOkam that permits this:

?Sthree Soodra Dvija bhandoonaam trayee na sruti gOcharaa:/
iti Bhaaratam aakhyaanam kripayaa muninaa kritam//
(Vide page 29 Sri VishNu Sahasra naama StOtram? by Keezhaatur
Srinivasaachariar published Lifco)

11. Why ?Naama Samkeerthanam? is so important?
There is a SlOkam that says: ?What one can obtain only by YoganishTa or
Dhyaana (Concentrated meditation) in Krita Yuga, only by yagjna (severe
penance) in TrEtaa Yuga, only by intense worship (archana) in Dvaapara Yuga,
can be achieved by merely reciting the names of Bhagavaan known as ?Naama
Samkeerthanam? in Kali Yuga?

?Dhyaayan kritE yajan yagjnE TrEtaayaam DvaaparE archayan/
Yad aapnOti tad aapnOti kalou Samkeerthya kEsavam//?

Thaayumaanavar adds that Group recitation of ?Naama Samkeerthanam? is almost
infectious in a healthy sense. He cites an example saying that as in a bunch
of bananas, one ripe fruit ripens the rest, the mellifluous vibrations
imperceptibly draws even the one who is indifferent in the beginning.

12. Kabir Daasar and Naama DEvar
Kabir Daasar suggested feeding mud in the mouth of one who refused to recite
the names of Bhagavaan:
?jasE mukha naama nahi vO mukha dhooLi bhari?

On hearing this Naama DEvar said:?Don?t do this. By chance, the mud might
have been purified by the touch of the feet of Saadhus who might have
treaded the path and so such people might escape punishment. Let their
tongues putrefy with worms? ?
?naama nakE raagOpaasE kite paTO dyaasi vaachE?
(p.6 of Sri VishNu Sahasra naama StOtram? by Keezhaatur Srinivasaachariar
published by LIfco)

13. What happens when one is drawn into the vortex of devotion?
The mind of the person who is deeply attached to enjoying the GuNa-anubhavam
of Bhagavaan automatically gets detached from sensual objects and gets
purified so as to deserve the grace of the Lord and the person attains the
Kingdom of God.

?Paramaatmani yO raktO viraktO a-paraatmani? (Barhaspatya Smriti).

Just as we cleanse our body by taking bath, the recital of Lord?s names
purifies our mind.
And, no special or strenuous effort is needed for doing this!

14. Let us consider the meanings of some of the more familiar ?naamas?
Achyuta: One who never forsakes or lets down those who seek refuge in him
Anantha: Endless, limitless by space, time or object
GOvinda: Rescuer of Earth, Cows representing all living beings
KEsava: The Lord of Brahma and Siva (Ka: = Brahma; Isa= Siva)
NarayaNa: The Universal abode, Supporter of hosts of souls
Madhava: The Consort of ?Maa? or Mahaalakshmi
VishNu: One who pervades naturally without constraints of space, time or
object
Madhusudana: The destroyer of Madhu
Trivikrama: Conqueror of three worlds
Vamana: The resplendent dwarf, literally, deserving praise and conferring
praise
Sridhara: Bearer of Sri or fortune
HrishikEsa: Controller of the emotions )Literally heart) and other senses
Padmanaabha: One who has a lotus in his navel
DamOdara: the Self-restrained, One who holds the worlds in his tummy
All names of the Supreme Lord Sriman NarayaNa.

Let us remember to recite His holy names at all times.

SarvE jana: SukhinO Bhavantu/
Samastha San MangaLaani santu//

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Dear Sri Vishnu Baktakas,

This is the article i had sent to Times of India for Speaking Tree
Column, and was published on 2 feb 2002


THE POWER OF CHANTING VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM

The chanting of the Divine Name or nama japa has an important place
in bhakti tradition. Nama japa can be in the form of japa or stotra.
Japa is silent repetition of a mantra while stotra is uttered out
loud.
The sahasranama stotra is perhaps the most popular of all stotras.
There are sahasranamas of most of the deities of the Hindu pantheon
of which two have attained great popularity. These are the Lalita
Sahasranama in praise of the Divine Mother and Vishnu Sahasranama in
praise of the Lord conceived as Vishnu.
Vishnu Sahasranama is a part of the Santhi Parva of the Mahabharata.
Towards the end of the great war, Bhisma lies on a bed of arrows,
waiting for uttarayana to dawn so that he can give up his mortal
coils.
He is questioned by Yudhistira who wonders who the Supreme Lord of
all is, by praising and worshipping whom one can gain good and attain
salvation. Bhisma answers Yudhistira's query by reciting the Vishnu
Sahasranama in Sri Krishna's presence. Reciting the thousand names of
Vishnu, Bhisma tells Yudhistira that Vishnu is the Jagat Prabhu or
Lord of the Universe, Bhuta-Bhavya-Bhavan-Natha ? Lord of past,
present and future. The Almighty is depicted in terms of space and
time as being immanent. He is one in many things to many.
The body of Lord Vishnu consists of the three worlds. His feet being
the earth, His naval the sky and His head the Heavens. The life
breath is air, His eyes are the sun and the moon. His ears are the
directions, His face the flames of fire, His abode the milky ocean,
He is Himself the universe. He is the origin of all that originated.
He is Adhoksajah, the one who doesn't degenerate. There is no change
in His original nature.
Vishnu is also Pavanah Pavano Nala or one who is air among all
purifying agents. He is Saptajihvah, the Lord in His manifestation as
fire having seven tongues of flame, that which cannot be adulterated.
He is Vasavanujah or the one who is born as the younger brother of
Indra (Vasava) in His incarnation as Vamana, the dwarf. Even the Lord
had to resort to the dwarf's form while begging for a gift of land
from King Bali. He is also Suparno vayu vahana.
Here Suparna is Garuda who carries the Lord. Vishnu in this nama is
described as one who has Garuda as His vehicle, but who instead rides
on Vayu the wind.
The many weapons of Vishnu are described by the various names that
occur towards the end of Sahasranama. Samkha - the panchajanya,
Nandaki - the sword, Chakri - the sudharsana chakra, Sarnga dhanva -
the divine bow, Gadadhara - the mace and Rathangapaani - the one who
has the wheel of ratha in His hand. It is said that during the great
Mahabharata war Krishna gave his word to the Kauravas that He would
not use any weapon in the battle. But on the ninth day He wanted to
control the fierce onslaught of Bhisma. He forgot the word given to
the Kauravas. He jumped down the chariot and dropped the whip he was
holding. Realising that He had no weapon in His hand, He is stated to
have grabbed a wheel from one of the chariots and rushed towards
Bhisma.
Bhisma seeing Krishna running toward him in this fashion reminds Him
of His promise. That sight of Krishna running with the wheel of a
ratha in His hand was fresh in Bhisma's memory even when Bhisma was
lying on the bed of arrows. And the one-thousandth nama depicts
Vishnu as Sarva Praharnayudha.
There is no rule that the Lord has got only the above-mentioned
weapons to fight the unlawful and protect Dharma. In His
manifestation as Varaha, He used His mighty tusks to kill Hiranyaksha
and as Narasimha, He used His fingernails to rip open the belly of
Hiranyakashipu to save Prahalada. He also used His foot to crush the
ego of King Bali in His incarnation as Vamana the dwarf.
The Vishnu Sahasranama is open to all; anyone can chant it without
any distinction of caste, creed or sex. It can be chanted at any time
and no special rituals are obligatory to do so. There are no hurdles
in chanting the praise of the Lord.