Vishnu Sahasra Nama

OM NAMO NARAYANAYA.. OM SRI VENKATESAYA......

INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND OF VISHNU SAHASRANAMA....

Vishnu Sahasranama means the “Thousand Names of Vishnu.”

This narrative is based upon the commentary of Shankaracharya.

Acharya sankara reached the feet of his Guru, Sri Govindapaachaarya, and on the bank of Narmada, the Nambootiri-boy from kaaladi got initiated into the secrets of the Mahaavaakyas. At the end of his short but intense study, sankara, the inspired missionary, wanting to fulfill his glorious work, craved from the blessings of his teacher. Govindapa Acharya tested sankara by ordering him to write an exhaustive commentary (Bhaashya) upon the Vishnu Sahasranaama.

He accomplished his great task and the very first work of the Upanishadic commentator, sankara, the greatst Hindu missionary of the 7 th century, thus came to see the light of the day.

Govindaacharya, satisfied with the proficiency of the student blessed him and set him on the road of service and action. Earning the grace of the teacher and the blessings of the Lord Vishnu, Sri sankara inaugurated an incomparable revival movement of the decadent culture of the 7th century Hinduism. We shall here follow closely Sankara’s commentary and also draw our material from the Puranic literature that has an endless store of appeal to the hearts of all devotees.

The Vishnu Sahasranaama was composed by Sri Veda Vyaasa, the author of the Puraanas, and we meet this great chant in his classical work, the Mahaabaarata, Prince Yudhisthira, the eldest of the pandavas, at the end of the war approached Bheeshma Pitaamaha, when the mighty grandsire of the Kuru family was lying on the bed of arrows, unconquered and in conquerable, awaiting the scared hour of his departure to the feet of the lord. Yudhishthira, the righteous, asked six questions, Bheeshma, the constant devotee of Krishna, the gigantic Man of Action, calmly answered them all.

FOLLOWING ARE THE QUESTIONS BY THE GREAT YUDHISTRA..

Yudhishtira uvacha

Kimékam daivatham loke kim vápyekam parãyanam
Sthuvantha kam kamarchanda prapnuyur mãnavã shubam

Ko dharma sarva dharmãnam bhavatha paramo mathaha
Kim japan muchyathé janthur janma samsãra bandhanãth

ENGLISH TRANSLATION ..OF THESE QUESTIOS...

1. Who ("kim") is the greatest ("ekam") Lord ("daivatam") in the world ("loke")?

2. Who is the one ("ekam") refuge ("paraayanam") for all?

3. By glorifying ("sthuvantah") whom ("kam") can man ("manavah") reach the Auspiciousness ("shubam") (peace and prosperity)?

# posted by nhrao @ 2:09 PM