Significance of Vishnu Sahasranama Introduction It is interesting to contemplate on the circumstances under which Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram came into existence. Yudhishthira, the eldest of the five Pandavas, was mentally depleted because of the war with the Kauravas and the misery of death and suffering that was created by the war in which he had been a major player. Bhishma, his dear grandfather, was lying on his deathbed. With his passing away, his irreplaceable wisdom, based on the experiences of his long life of virtue, righteousness and devotion, was about to be lost to the world. Sage Vyasa and Sri Krishna advised Yudhishthira, who himself was an epitome of righteousness and virtue, to seek the advice of Bhishma on any and all aspects of life on which he had any doubts. Yudhishthira did as advised, and a series of dialogs ensued between the two, witnessed by Lord Krishna Himself, and by other great sages including Vedavyasa. Yudhishtira, after listening to the discourse on dharma from Bhishma, asked him six questions. 1. ‘Kimekam dhaivatham loke’, who is the supreme deity? 2. ‘Kimvaapyekam parayanam’, which is the supreme goal? 3&4. Sthuvanthah kam, kamarchanthah praapnuyurmaanavaasshubham’, praising whom and worshipping whom men attain happiness? 5.Ko dharmah sarvadharmaanaam bhavathah paramo mathah,’ what is, in your opinion , the best dharma of all? 6.Kim japan muchyathe janthuh janma samsarabhandhanaath,’ meditation on whom leads one to salvation? Bhishma replies the last question first, ‘Jagatprabhum devadevam anantham purushoththamam’, meditating on the Lord of devas, who is the Master of the world, the infinite being , and the Supreme Purusha leads one to salvation. Jagat denotes the world of sentient and insentient beings. The Lord is called Jagatprabhu as He is the one who ordains salvation as well as dharma. This answers the sixth question fully. Devadevam means ‘Lord of gods,’ devas, including Brahma. He is also Anantha, infinite, which implies desakalavasthuparichchinnarahithathvam , not limited by space, time and form. He is Purshoththama, The Supreme Person as He is ksharaaksharaabhyaam kaaryakaaranaabhyam uthkrshtah, who is above the mutable and immutable, above cause and effect, that is, He is transcendent and imminent. Poornathvath purushah, all pervading and puri sayanaath purushah, indweller of all bodies Pura is the whole universe which is His sarira. Then Bhishma proceeds to answer the third and fourth questions, ‘By praising and worshipping whom men attain their wishes.’ Sthuvannamasahasrena and thameva archayan nithyam, only through reciting His thousand names and worshipping Him daily men attain their goal, namely, salvation. He is avyaya, changeless and akshayagunasampanna endowed with innumerable auspicious qualities enjoyed always by His devotees sadha anubhavanthyah. Then Bhishma goes on to say how to worship Him. Nithyam and bhakthya. Nithyam, every moment and bhakthya, with pure devotion. The ritual of worship is outlined asdhyaayan, sthuvan, namasyan and yajamaana. Contemplation like continuous drip of nectar, avichchinna amrthadhara is dhyana, namaskaara, bowing down is physical while sthuthi, namasankirthana, singing His praise, is verbal worship. Yajamaana implies atmasamarpana , offering our self to the Lord. This describes the pure worship performed with enthusiasm, endeavouring to please the Lord and to show gratitude for making the devotee His own, however undeserving, through His infinite mercy. This is the bhakthiyoga in a nutshell as outlined in the Vedas and which is shown as the royal path to salvation. Merits of Recitation: Believers in the recitation of the Sahasranama claim that it brings unwavering calm of mind, complete freedom from stress and eternal knowledge. Sections from Swami Tapasyanandas translation of the concluding verses of Vishnu sahasranama, state the following: Nothing evil or inauspicious will befall a man here or hereafter who daily hears or repeats these names.. Whichever devoted man, getting up early in the morning and purifying himself, repeats this hymn devoted to Vasudeva, with a mind that is concentrated on Him, that man attains to great fame, leadership among his peers, wealth that is secure and the supreme good unsurpassed by anything. He will be free from all fears and be endowed with great courage and energy and he will be free from diseases. Beauty of form, strength of body and mind, and virtous character will be natural to him.... One who reads this hymn every day with devotion and attention attains to peace of mind, patience, prosperity, mental stability, memory and reputation.... Whoever desires advancement and happiness should repeat this devotional hymn on Vishnu composed by Vyasa....Never will defeat attend on a man who adores the Lotus-Eyed One [KamalNayani], who is the Master of all the worlds, who is birthless, and out of whom the worlds have originated and into whom they dissolve. Six reasons are generally identified for the greatness of the Stotram. These are: 1. It is the essence of the Mahabharata. 2. Sages such as Narada, the Alwars, and composers including Saint Tyagaraja have made repeated references to the Thousand Names of Vishnu in their devotional works. 3. The person who strung together the thousand names as part of the Mahabharata and preserved it for the world was none other than Sage Vedavyasa, the foremost knower of the vedas, and considered an incarnation of Vishnu (vyasaya vishnu rupaya vyasa rupaya vishnave namo...). 4. It is the considered opinion of Bhishma that it is the best and easiest of all dharmas, or the means to attain relief from all bondage. 5. It is widely accepted that the chanting of this Stotram gives relief from all sorrows and leads to happiness and peace of mind. 6. It is in conformity with the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, Narayaneeya, etc.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 05:57:08 +0000
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