Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam

 Sri Vishnusahasranamam contains 1008 Names of Sri Mahavishnu. This entire compiling was done after the Mahabharata war & Saint Vyasa Mahamuni wrote the entire versus with answers for the queries raised by respective personnel they were part of that time. 

 Every Name of Sri Vishnu has a meaning to it; quite apart - the phonetic vibrations by chanting each Name known as "Nama" & the chain of names known as "Namavali" produces very fantastic results of vibrations that are very essential for humans knowledge & wisdom. What the phonetic sound vibrations create to the chanter or to the one who hears it is very well established by many eminent scholars. For attainment of spiritual liberation, one must involve himself/herself to the glories of the Lord Sri Mahavishnu, by reciting the entire slokhas.

 This not only strengthens the brain neuron chips but also emits the brain wave at a very conducive limits that can revibrate the energies into one's own body. Besides, the thought & thinking of a person can also be regulated to divine path. That's the exact value, which bring every Bhakta known as devotees of Sri Maha Vishnu.

The birth of Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama - The 1008 Names of Sri MahaVishnu.

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 & 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, & 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.

Indeed, such a long recital of nAmAs glorifying the Lord & His splendor is rare in the world. Indeed the expression NaMa is made up of Na for Naramandala and Ma for manas, our Mind.  NaMa, the chanting of which helps to unite our nervous system & Mind.

The main body of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama consists of 107 stanzas which contain the one thousand names of Sri Maha Vishnu.  Every one of the one thousand names is full of significance & refers to one particular guna (quality, characteristic, or attribute) of Paramatma. 

These names invoke a sense of bonding with the Lord.  The meanings of the names give us an understanding and depth of God as there is a deep connection between the name and the named.

 Why were these 1008 names chosen?

Does the Lord get absolutely defined by these one thousand names?  The Vedas affirm that God is neither accessible to words nor to mind.  It is said that you cannot comprehend the Paramatma with the human mind alone, even if you spend all your life trying!  Given this infinite nature of the Paramatma, who is not governed or constrained by any of the physical laws as we know them, the choice of a thousand names of Vishnu by Bhishma should be recognized as a representation of some of his better known qualities that are repeatedly described in our great epics.

Some might say that they do not understand the meaning of the Sanskrit words, & therefore do not feel comfortable chanting them.  But learning the chanting of prayers even without knowing the meaning is a worthwhile act, & 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.  The treasure will be there already.

Others might feel that they do not know the correct Sanskrit pronunciation, & do not want to chant incorrectly.  There is an 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 & does not refuse to give the child the orange just because the child does not know how to pronounce the word. 

It is the bhaava (spirit) 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, & God will confer His blessings on us, there is no way a devotee of Vishnu can meet with any dishonor or disgrace of any kind.

Phala Sruti - The Benefits:

Traditionally our prayers end with a phala sruti - a section on the benefits of reciting the prayer.  The Vishnu Sahasranama is no exception.

The necessity of cleansing our body regularly to maintain hygiene & good health is recognized by everyone.  But with the busy nature of today's world, we do not see our mind the same way as we see our body.  As a consequence, the need for keeping our minds clean is not appreciated.

Those who do not cleanse their mind on a regular basis become mentally ill over a period of time..  Prayers are a means to mental cleansing when they are chanted with sincerity & devotion.  The importance of chanting Sri Vishnu Sahasranama is that the deity being worshiped is none other than Vasudeva.  Sri Vedavyasa, who was responsible for stringing the naamas together in a poetic form, points out that it is by the power and command of Vasudeva that the Sun, the Moon, the stars, the world & the oceans are controlled. 

The whole universe of the Gods, Asuras and Gandharavas is under the sway of Lord Krishna.  In Bhishma's expert judgment, chanting Vasudevas's name with devotion & sincerity will ensure relief from sorrows & bondage.  The person who recites is not the only one who benefits, but also those who for whatever reason are unable to chant benefit by just hearing the chanting as well.

Have a blissful life chanting Vishnu Sahasranamam