VISHNU SAHASRANAMA - PART 1

Bhishma responded by reciting the one thousand names now hailed as the Vishnu Shasranama, and 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 and His splendor is rare in the world.  Yet a rational person is apt to question how mere words and their repetition can create such great power.. Just imagine for a moment that you are in an assembly, and the lecturer begins his talk with the word “boat”.  You can at one grasp the image of a boat, and there is calmness of mind.  Suddenly then, if someone in the assembly, utters the word “snake”, will your calmness continue?  It therefore follows that vak (utterance) and artha (meaning) together infuse a subtle energy either positively or negatively.  The thousand naamas are storehouses of proven spiritual content that can easily uplift our minds.  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 and Mind.

Krishna and Padvas converse with Bheeshma who is on the arrow bed.

Shree Bheeshmã Uvacha  

Jagath prabhum deva devam antham purushothamam  
Sthuvan nãma sahasréna purusha saththo thithaha

Uttamam – the Supreme

Jagath - world

Prabhum - Lord

Anatham – endless

The supreme ("uttamam") Purusha, who is ever up and working for the welfare of all, the Lord ("prabhum") of the world ("jagat") the endless ("anantam") – Sri Maha Vishnu.

Thameva chãr chayanth nithyam bhakthya purusha mavyayam  
Dhayãyan sthuvan namasyamsha yajamãnas thamevacha   

Sthuvan naama – meditating upon

Cha - by

Archayan - worshipping

By meditating upon ("sthuvan naama"), by ("cha") worshipping ("archayan") and by prostrating at the same Purusha, man can reach true Auspiciousness.

Anãdhinidhanam vishnum sarva lokamahesvaram 
Lokãdhyaksham sthuvan nithyam sarva dhukkã thigo bhavéth

Aadi - Beginning

Nidhanam - end

Maheshwaram Supreme Lord

Nityam - daily

Stuvan - chants

Lokaadhyaksha – the one knows the whole world

The greatest Dharma is the one Vishnu, who has neither a beginning (Aadi) nor an end (Nidhanam), the supreme Lord ("maheshwaram") of the world. All creatures can go beyond the bonds of samsar, “and he goes beyond all sorrows” who daily ("nityam") chants ("stuvan") the sahasranaamas and within glorifies “the one who knows the world” (Lokaadhyaksha).

Brahmanyam sarva dharmangyam lokãnãm keerthivardhanam
Lokanãtham mahath bhootham sarva bhootha bhavothbhavam

Esha mé sarvadharmãnãm dharmodhi kathamo mathaha  
Yath bhakthyã pundari kãksham sthavai rar-chén nara ssatha

Paramam yo mahath teja paramam yo mahath thapaha 
Paramam yo mahath brahma paramam ya parãyanam

Mahat - great

Tejah  - radiance, being bright

Tapah - controller

Brahma – spread the truth

Param - highest

Ayanam - goal

He who is the great ("mahat") radiance ("tejah"); He who is the Great controller ("tapah"); He who is the Supreme All-Pervading Truth; ("brahma") he who is the Highest (Param) Goal (Ayanam)-the Lord Vishnu.

Pavithrãm pavithram yo mangalãnãncha  mangalam  
Daivatham dévathãnãncha bhoothãnãm yovyaya pithã    15

Yo - who

Pavitram – very sanctity

Pavitraanaam – scared things

Mangalam - auspicious

Devataa - god

Daivatam - gods

Avayayah - eternal

Pitaa - father

Bhootaanaam – all creatures

He who is ("yo") the very sanctity ("pavitram") that sanctifies all sacred things ("pavitraanaam"); he who is most auspicious ("mangalam"); he who is the god ("devataa") of gods ("daivatam"); he who is the eternal ("avyayah") father ("pitaa") of all creatures ("bhootaanaam") is the one god – VISHNU.

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 MEANINGS OF THE DIALOGUE

Yudhistirau Uvaachaa:

(Question 1.)  Kim ekam daivatam loke?

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

(Answer 1.)

Pavitraanaam pavitram yo Mangalaanaam cha mangalam

Daivatam devataanam cha Bhootaanam yo avyayah pitaa.

He who is ("yo") the very sacred ("pavitram") that purifies all sacred things ("pavitraanaam"); he who is most auspicious ("mangalam"); he who is the god ("devataa") of gods ("daivatam"); he who is the eternal ("avyayah") father ("pitaa") of all creatures ("bhootaanaam") is the one god – VISHNU.

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(Question 2. )  Kim vaapyekam paraayanam?

Who is the one ("ekam") protector ("paraayanam") for all?

(Answer 2.)

Paramam yo mahat-tejah Paramam yo mahat-tapah
Paramam yo mahat-brahma Paramam yah paraayanam.

He who is the great ("mahat") radiance ("tejah"); He who is the Great controller ("tapah"); He who is the Supreme All-Pervading Truth; ("brahma") he who is the Highest (Param) Goal (Ayanam)-the Lord Vishnu.

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(Question 3.)   Stuvantam kam praapnuyuh (Maanavah subham)?

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

Answer 3.     

Jagat-prabhum deva-devam Anantam purushottamam
Stuvan naama-sahasrena Purushah satatotthitah.

The supreme ("uttamam") Purusha, who is ever up  for the welfare of all, the Lord ("prabhum") of the world ("jagat") the endless ("anantam") – Sri Maha Vishnu.

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Question 4. (Kam archantah) praapnuyuh  Maanavaah subham?

By worshipping ("archantah") whom can a man reach auspiciousness (peace and prosperity)?

Answer 4.   Tameva cha archayan nityam Bhaktyaa purusham avyayam

Stuvan naama-sahasrena Purushah satatthitah.

By meditating upon ("sthuvan naama"), by ("cha") worshipping ("archayan") and by prostrating (doing namaskar) at the same Purusha, man can reach true Auspiciousness.

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Question 5.  Ko dharmah sarva-dharmaanaam Bhavatah paramo matah?

 What ("ko") is, in your opinion, is the Greatest Dharma?

Question 6.  Kim japan muchyate jantuh Janma-samsaara-bandhaaat?

By ("kim") doing japa of what can “creatures” (jantu) go beyond ("mutchyate") the bonds ("bandhanaath") of samsara?

Answers 5&6.

Anaadi-nidhanam vishnum Sarvaloka-maheshvaram

Lokaadhyaksham stuvan nityam Sarva-duhkha-atigo bhavet.

Both questions are answered here: - the greatest Dharma is the one Vishnu, who has neither a beginning (Aadi) nor an end (Nidhanam), the supreme Lord ("maheshwaram") of the world. All creatures can go beyond the bonds of samsar, “and he goes beyond all sorrows” who daily ("nityam") chants ("stuvan") the sahasranaamas and within glorifies “the knower of the world” (Lokaadhyaksha).

The supreme is described as that from which the whole world of names and forms had risen in the beginning of the creation, that in which the world continues to exit, that into which alone the world can merge back during the ‘Dissolution’ (Pralaya); this supreme is VISHNU.

SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMA -- SHLOKAS AND MEANINGS

Sri Vishnu Sahasramam contains 1008 Names of Sri Mahavishnu. This entire compiling was done after the Mahabharata war and 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" and the chain of names known as "Namavali" produces very fantastic results of vibrations that are very essential for humans knowledge and wisdom. What the phonetic sound vibrations create to the chanter or to the one who hears it is very well established by many well-known 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 very beneficial limits that can revibrate the energies into one's own body. Besides, the thought and 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 Maha Vishnu

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 and 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 .

 Why were these 1008 names chosen?

Does the Lord get absolutely defined by these one thousand names?  The Vedas affirm that God is neither reachable 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, and therefore do not feel comfortable chanting them.  But learning the chanting of prayers even without knowing the meaning is a worthwhile act, and 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, and 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 and 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, and 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, and 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.
The following vishnu sahasranama meanings are referred from trsiyengar.com and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu_sahasranama

* Lord Krishna in Kurukshetra battle feild. 

As directed by the Lord, he meets Yudishtra. At their meeting, Yudhistira presented Bhishma with six questions.

Shree Vaisham pãyana uvacha:
Shruthvã dharmãna séshéna pãvananicha sarvashaha 
Yudhishtara shanthanavam punarévãbya bashatha  

Dharamana – Righteous man

Paavanaani – mortal integrity

Bhaashatha - bhaashatha

Shaantanavam - bhishma

Vaisampayana, the narrator to Dhritrastra says: Yudhishthira, as a righteous man ("dharamana") of spiritual inclination, with the mortal integrity ("paavanaani") of a careful mortal, asks ("bhaashatha") Bhishma ("shaantanavam") quite an interesting set of questions which are typical queries which the heart of seekers will always ask.

Kimékam daivatham loke kim vápyekam parãyanam  

Sthuvantha kam kamarchanda prapnuyur mãnavã shubam

Kim – Who

Ekam – the greatest

Daivatam – Lord

Loke – in the world

Ekam – protector

Parayanam – for all

Sthvantah – by glorifying

Kam – whom

Manavah – can man

Shubam – reach auspicious

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

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

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

By worshipping ("archantah") whom can a man reach auspiciousness (peace and prosperity)?

Ko dharma sarva dharmãnam bhavatha paramo mathaha  

Kim japan muchyathé janthur janma samsãra bandhanãth

Ko – what

Kim – by doing

Japan – japa

Janthur – Creatures

Mutchyate – Go beyond

Bandhanaath – bonds

What ("ko") is, in thy opinion, the Greatest Dharma?

By ("kim") doing japa of what can “creatures” (jantu) go beyond ("mutchyate") the bonds ("bandhanaath") of samsara?

*On the ninth day of Kurukshetra war Krishna,overwhelmed by anger at the apparent inability of Arjuna to defeat Bhishma, rushed towards the Kaurava commander, the wheel of a fallen chariot in his hands. Bhisma lays down his arms and is ready to die at the hands of the Lord, but Arjuna stops Him, reminding of His promise not to  weild a weapon.

SRINIVASA KALYANA STORY -- PART 3

AGNI REPLACING SITA BY VEDAVATI

When Ravana was about to carry away Sita from Panchavati, in the absence of Rama and Lakshmana, Agni appeared and offered Vedavati to Ravana as the real Sita who was kept with him by Rama to evade Ravana. Ravana was tricked into thinking that Vedavati was the real Sita.

AGNI TAKING TO HIS HOUSE

Ravana took Vedavati to Lanka thinking she was the real Sita, while Agni took Sita to his house and asked his wife Swahadevi to look after her.

FIRE GOD OFFERING REAL SITA TO RAMA

After the destruction of Ravana, Vedavati entered the fire when rejected by Rama. Then, Agni, offered the real Sita to Rama. Rama then questioned her as to who the other lady by her side was.

LORD RAMA PROMISING VEDAVATI

Sita informed Rama that the lady was Vedavati who endured Ravana's torture for ten months in Lanka for her sake. Sita requested Rama to accept Vedavati also as his spouse. But Rama declined her request saying that he believed in having only one wife during his life time. However, He promised to wed her in her next birth as Padmavati, born as the daughter of Akasa Raja, when Rama himself would take the form of Srinivasa.

VAKULADEVI WITH MAIDENS OF PADMAVATI

After listening to Srinivasa's story of how he had promised to marry Vedavati in her next birth as Padmavati, Vakuladevi realised that Srinivasa would not be happy unless he married Padmavati. She offered to go to Akasa Raja and his Queen and arrange for the marriage. On the way she met the maid-servants of Padmavati returning from a Siva Temple. She learnt from them that Padmavati was also longing for Srinivasa. Vakuladevi went along with the maidservants to the Queen.

AKHASARAJA CONSULTING BRIHASPATI

Meanwhile, Akasha Raja and his queen Dharanidevi were anxious about the health of their daughter, Padmavathi. They learnt about Padmavathi's love for Srinivasa of Venkata Hill. Akasha Raja consulted Brihaspati about the propriety of the marriage and was informed that the marriage was in the best interest of both the parties.

SRINIVASA AS FORTUNE TELLER

After the departure of Vakuladevi, Srinivasa could not rest in peace. He doubted if she would succeed in her mission. He, therefore, assumed the form of a lady fortune-teller and entered the streets of the capital telling fortunes. Padmavathi's maids saw her and invited her to the presence of their Queen.

MAID SERVANTS INFORMING TO QUEEN

The maid-servants informed Queen Dharanidevi that the fortune-teller was hesitating to enter the palace without the Queen's invitation.

QUEEN INVITING THE FORTUNE TELLER

FORTUNE TELLER SEES THE PALM OF PRINCESS The Queen came out herself and invited the fortune-teller into the palace.The fortune- teller was taken to the presence of Princess Padmavati.

The fortune-teller read the palm of the Princess and told the Queen about the cause of Padmavati's indisposition. She advised the Queen to give Padmavati in marriage to Lord Srinivasa. She also told the Queen that a lady would approach her shortly on behalf of Lord Srinivasa, to formally request Padmavati's hand in marriage.

VAKULADEVI WITH THE QUEEN

After the departure of the fortune-teller, Vakuladevi arrived at the palace, and was taken by the maidservants to the Queen. She informed the Queen that she had come on behalf Lord Srinivasa to request the hand of Padmavati in marriage.

AKSHARAJA FIXING MUHURTHAM FOR WEDDING

AKHASARAJA INFORMING ABOUT THE WEDDING Having consulted Brihaspati and heard from his Queen about the prediction of the fortune-teller and the arrival of the messenger from Srinivasa, Akasha Raja decided to hand his daughter in marriage to Srinivasa. He asked the palace purohits to fix a muhurtam for the marriage.

Akasha Raja informed his ministers and other officials of his plans. Immediately, a letter was drafted requesting Srinivasa to come and marry the Princess.

SUKA PRESENTING PATRIKA TO SRINIVASA

Akasha Raja entrusted the delivery of the letter to Sukamahamunin. Suka went to the Venkata Hill with Vakuladevi. He presented the invitation (patrika) to Lord Srinivasa, who was very happy. The Lord sent his garland for Padmavati through Suka.

EVERYONE PRESENT FOR THE MARRIAGE

All devars, Bramha, Shiva and their spouse invited for marriage.

KUBERA LENDING MONEY TO LORD SRINIVASA

Kubera lent money to Lord Srinivasa to meet the expenses of the marriage.

LORD SRINIVASA BEING RECEIVED BY AKSHARAJA

Lord Srinivasa, along with his consorts and Lord Brahma and Lord Siva started the journey to the residence of Akasa Raja with his vehicle Garuda. LORD SRINIVASA BEING RECEIVED BY AKSHARAJA At the palace entrance, Lord Srinivasa was received by Akasha Raja with full honours and taken in procession on a mounted elephant to the palace for the marriage. SRINIVASA KALYANA In the presence of all the Devas, Lord Srinivasa wed Princess Padmavati, thus blessing Akasha Raja.

SRINIVASA KALYANA STORY -- PART 2

LORD SRINIVASA SAVING THE COW

Annoyed over the conduct of the cow, the cowherd aimed a blow with his axe on the head of the cow. However, Lord Vishnu rose from the ant-hill to receive the blow and save the cow.

COWHERD FALLING AT THE FEET OF SRINIVASA

When the cowherd saw the Lord bleed at the blow of his axe, he fell down and died of shock.

COW RETURNING TO KING CHOLA

On the death of the cowherd, the cow returned, roaring in fright and with blood stains all over her body, to the Chola King. To find out the cause of the cow's terror, the King followed her to the scene of the incident.

LORD BLESSING THE CHOLA RAJA

The King found the cowherd lying dead on the ground near the ant-hill. While he stood wondering how it had happened, Lord Vishnu rose from the ant-hill and cursed the King saying that he would become an Asura because of the fault of his servant. The King pleaded innocence, and the Lord blessed him by saying that the curse would end when the Lord was adorned with a crown(kireeta) presented by Akasha Raja at the time of His marriage with Sri Padmavati.

SRINIVASA REQUESTING SRI VARAHASWAMI

Thereafter, Lord Vishnu or Srinivasa, decided to stay in Varaha Kshetra, and requested Sri Varahaswami to grant Him a site for His stay. His request being readily granted, Srinivasa intended that a pilgrimage to His shrine would not be complete unless it is preceded by a bath in the Pushkarini and darshan of Sri Varahaswami, and that puja and naivedyam should be offered to Sri Varahaswami first.

VAKULADEVI SERVING SRINIVASA

Yasoda brought up Sri Krishna, the son of Devaki, in his early years. However, Yasoda was not blessed to witness the marriage of Sri Krishna with Rukmini and she felt very sad. Sri Krishna promised to fulfil her desire in her next birth as Vakuladevi in his next avatara as Srinivasa. In Rukmini's next birth as Vakuladevi, she was serving Lord Varahaswami when He sent her to serve Srinivasa.

AKASHA RAJA

Sometime later, a King named Akasha Raja who belonged to the Lunar race was ruling over Thondamandalam. He had a brother named Thondaman. Akasha Raja had no heirs, and therefore, he wanted to perform a sacrifice. As part of the sacrifice, he was ploughing the fields when his plough turned up a lotus in the ground. On examining the lotus, the King found a female child in it.

KING GIVING THE CHILD TO QUEEN

Akasha Raja was happy to find the child. He carried it to his palace and gave it to his Queen. At that time he heard a voice from above which said, "Oh! King, tend to it as your child and fortune will befall you." As the child was found in a lotus, the king named her Padmavati.

PRINCESS PADMAVATHI SHOWING PALM

In course of time, Princess Padmavati grew up into a beautiful maiden and was attended to by a host of maids. One day, while she was spending her time in a garden picking flowers with her maids, Sage Narada approached her. Assuring her that he was her well-wisher, he asked her to show him her palm to read her future. He foretold that she was destined to be the spouse of Lord Vishnu himself. 

LORD SRINIVASA CHASING ELEPHANT

At this time, Lord Srinivasa, who was hunting, chased a wild elephant in the forests surrounding the hills. In the elephant's pursuit, the Lord was led into a garden, where Princess Padmavati and her maids were picking flowers.The sight of the elephant frightened the Princess and her maids..  

MAIDENS QUERYING LORD SRINIVASA

But the elephant immediately turned around, saluted the Lord and disappeared into the forest. Lord Srinivasa, who was following on horse back, and saw the frightened maidens, who approached Him with queries.

SRINIVASA ANSWERING TO MAIDENS

Lord Srinivasa gave the maids details about his birth and parentage. He, in turn, enquired after their princess, her birth and parentage.

SRINIVASA BEING REPULSED BY THE MAIDENS

When the maids informed Lord Srinivasa that the princess was Padmavati, foster daughter of Akasha Raja, He expressed his interest in her. However, He was repulsed with stones thrown at Him by the maids. He returned to the hills in haste, leaving His horse behind.

VAKULADEVI ENQUIRING SRINIVASA

When Lord Srinivasa returned, Vakuladevi brought him his usual dinner comprising various delicacies. However, she found him lying on his bed, longing for his love. When she enquired about the cause, the Lord informed her that unless he married Princess Padmavati, he would never be well again. Vakuladevi then asked Him to tell her all about the Princess. The Lord then narrated the story of her (Padmavati’s) previous birth and his promise to wed her.

VEDAVATI CURSING RAVANA

In olden times, Lakshmi, in the form of Vedavati, was staying in an ashram in the forests. At that time, Ravana, the lord of Lanka tried to tempt her. In anger, Vedavati cursed him saying that she would bring about his death.

VEDAVATI ENTERING FIRE

To show how true her words were, Vedavati walked into the fire, but Agni, the Fire God rescued her. He took Vedavati to his house and entrusted her to his wife's care.