Importance of Vishnu Sahasranamam
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.
In one of these sessions, Yudhishthira sought Bhishma's advice on the easiest
and best means by which mankind can attain lasting happiness, peace of mind,
and relief from all bondage and sorrows. This was the setting in which Sri
Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram was imparted, with the welfare of future generations
also in mind, by Bhishma to Yudhishthira, as part of the advice given by
Bhishma in response to the above question.
The Composition
The following sloka in the prolog to Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram identifies
some important aspects pertaining to the composition of the stotram:
vishnor nama sahasrasya vedavyaso mahamunih |
chandonustup tatha devo bhagavan devaki sutah ||
Sri Vedavyasa is the rishi of Sri Vishnu's one thousand names, i.e. the sage
who strung together the thousand names as they were revealed by Bhishma to
Yudhishthira. Anushtup (eight syllables per quarter) is its meter. Lord
Krishna, the son of Devaki, is the Lord being worshiped.
There are over forty commentaries on Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram. Sri Adi
Sankara's commentary is the earliest of them. Sri Parasara Bhatta, a disciple
of a disciple of Sri Ramanuja,
has written a detailed commentary. Sri Satyasandha Yatiswara from the Dvaita
school is another prominant commentator. Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram, along
with the Bhagavad Gita,
is an integral part of the epic Mahabharata composed by Sage Vedavyasa (Vyasa
is also the one who organized the vedas into the classifications as we know
them today).
Of all the commentaries written by Sri Sankara for our religious scriptures
(the Bhagavad Gita, the Brahma Sutras, etc.), that on Sri Vishnu Sahasranama
Stotram was the very first one.
Sri Sankara emphasizes the importance of reciting the Vishnu Sahasranama
Stotram in his Bhaja Govindam (geyam gita nama sahasram...).
Six reasons are generally identified for the greatness of the Stotram. These
are:
* It is the essence of the Mahabharata.
* 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.
* 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...).
* 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.
* It is widely accepted that the chanting of this Stotram gives relief from
all sorrows and leads to happiness and peace of mind.
* It is in conformity with the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, Narayaneeya,
etc.
The above reasons given to illustrate the importance of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama
Stotram become all the more obvious when we recount the personalities involved
in the events that resulted in the stotram.
It was no ordinary person's advice that was sought. No ordinary person was
seeking the advice, and at no ordinary person's urging was the advice being
sought. Bhishma was the son of the Mother Ganga and a person sanctified by his
unswerving devotion to Lord Krishna, and one who had controlled and conquered
all his senses.
Yudhishthira was the son of Dharma, and himself a practitioner of justice,
righteousness, truth, honesty and integrity. Vyasa was the knower of all vedas.
Lord Krishna was a witness to the whole event involving the advice and
revelation of the easiest and best means to achieve happiness and peace of
mind, given by Bhishma to Yudhishthira. As we know, the advice is in the form
of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram. No other justification is needed to
recognize the greatness of the education that is imparted to the human race
through the medium of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram by Vyasa and Bhishma.
--
The Nrisimha Gayatris
Om Nrisimhaye vidmahe
vajranakhaya dhimahi
tan no simhah prachodayat
Translation
"Om. Let us think well aware of Nrisimha, the lightning-nailed.
May the Lion promote our thought and actions."
