The Vishnu Sahasranamam is one of the most beloved texts of India and provides a rare glimpse at the glory of the universal spirit in the form of the "Thousand Names of the Lord". The word "Sahasra" in Sanskrit means a "thousand". Literally translated from Sanskrit, the text refers to "the thousand names of Vishnu".
The following link will take you to one of the Names of the Lord with its associated meaning.
The history behind Vishnu Sahasranamam is fascinating and unique. Grandsire Bhisma was on his deathbed in the famous battlefield of Kurukshetra. He had a boon that enabled him to choose the time of his death. As he was waiting for an auspicious time, his nephews who were gathered round him were asking him questions and drinking at the fountain of his wisdom. Particularly persistent was Yudhistirar or the eldest of the Pandava brothers. He asks Bhisma 6 questions and in providing an answer to these questions, Bhisma imparts the knowledge of the purest of the pure mantras to the world in the form of the 108 verses of the Vishnu Sahasranamam. Initially, Bhisma exhausted from the battle, requests Lord Krishna to answer Yudhistira's questions. Lord Krishna declines saying that Bhisma would be the appropriate one to do so and future generations would revere him for providing such a powerful hymn to the world. "All glory and fame will go to you, O Bhisma and future generations will thank you for this service" says Lord Krishna. And so in the presence of Universal Intelligence represented by Lord Krishna, Bhisma extols the 1008 names of the Lord and provides us with a manuscript for attaining peace, prosperity and happiness. To this day, on Bhisma Ekasdeshi day, the Sahasranamam is chanted all over the world.
In recent times, as a part of his graduation "thesis" Adi Shankara translated and interpreted the Vishnu Sahasranamam. The story goes that Adi Shankara requested his disciple to bring the Sahasranamam and his disciple brought him the Vishnu Sahasranamam. Adi Shankara sent him back as he had meant the Lalitha Sahasranamam. Hoping to start the interpretation in the morning, Adi Shankara kept the books in a pile with the Lalitha Sahasranamam at the top. In the morning, to his surprise he found that the Vishnu Sahasranamam was at the top of te stack of books. Adi Shankara understood that this was a sign from the Divine Mother that he was to interpret the Vishnu Sahasranamam and proceeded with his commentary.
Swami Chinmayananda in extolling the power of this litany of verses requested that devotees chant the verses once a month in a group for the welfare of the communities. Chinmaya Centers dedicate one Sunday every month to the chanting of the Vishnu Sahasranamam before the religious discourse. In the "benefits" section of the strotram, several benefits that accrue from the chanting of this strotram are described. As this website evolves, we will attempt to provide verses with their meanings.
There are several resources on the Internet including the Sri Venkateswara Temple web site which contains a real audio file of the strotram. Links to other resources are also provided at this site.
Some Slokas From the Vishnu Sahasranamam ....
From the Phala Shruti (benefits section) of this Grand and Sacred Epic is the following Guarantee:
Sri Bhagawan Uvacha:
Ananyaashchintayanto
maam ye janaah paryupaasate !
Tesham Nityaabhiyuktaanaam yogakshemam vahaamyaham !!
The Blessed Lord Spoke:
Those who meditate on ME and worship me and no other, and who are ever devoted to Me - I will take care of their WELFARE - This is My Guarantee
Paritraanaaya
saadhoonam vinaashaaya cha dushkrutaam !
Dharma Samsthaapanaarthaaya sambhavaami yuge yuge !!
I will manifest Myself from time to time to protect the good and destroy the evil ones and to establish firmly the righteous path.
Aartha vishannaah
shithilaashcha bheetaaha, ghoreshu cha vyaadhishu vartamaanaaha !
Sankeertha Narayana shabdhamaatram vimuktha dukha sukhino
bhanvantu !!
Those who are distressed , sad, weak, terrified and suffering from dreadful diseases shall be released from their misery and sorrow and shall live happily by praising Lord Narayana's name.
Iteedam
Keerthaneeyasya Keshavasya Mahaatmanaha !
Naamnaam Sahasram Divyanaam asheshena prakeertitam !!
Thus having recited the thousand glories of the Lord, the supreme soul, we proceed.
Ya
Idam shrunuyaannityam yaschaapi parikeertayet !
Na shubham praapnuyaat kinchit somutreha cha maanava !!
Whoever listens to this hymn everyday, or who recites this shall never be subjected to inauspicious events.
Vedaantago
braahmanah syaat, kshatriyo vijayee bhavet !
Vaishya Dhana samruddah syaachchoodrah sukham avaapnuyaat !!
With the recitation of this hymn, a Brahmana will achieve the goal of vedanta, a Kshatriya will be victories, a Vaisya will acquire welath and a shudra will be blessed with welfare.
Dharmaarthee
praapnuyaaddharmam arthaarthee chaarthamaapnuyaat !
Kaamaanavaapnuyaat kaamee prajaarthee chapnuyaat prajaam !!
One aspiring for Dharma (righteous merit) will acquire it, one who seeks wealth will get it, one who wants joy will get it and one who wants progeny will have their desire fulfilled.
Bhaktimaan
yah sadotthaaya shuchistad gatamaanasaha !
Sahasram vaasudevasya naamnaammetat prakeertayet !!
Reciting this hymn with DEVOTION, one will attain far-reaching fame, great pre-eminence, everlasting prosperity and spiritual glory.
Links to the Vishnu Sahasranamam: