Sri Vishnu Sahasra Naama 1of4

http://shrikrishnagita.wordpress.com/ A nice & crystal clear recietation of Sri Vishnu sahasra Naam by Trivendrum Sisters

Vishnu Sahasra Namam:- 1000 Holy names of Lord Sri Vishnu

Stotras are devotional hymns of Hinduism sung in praise of God. This word is derived from Sthuthi which means praise. Though post puranic age has given rise to large number of popular mellifluous stotras composed by sages like Sri AdiSankara.
There are several great stotras which trace their origin to Puranas. Of these the greatest is possibly the Vishnu Sahasra Namam found in Mahabharatha. Literally translated this means thousand names of Vishnu. This is found in the Anushasanika Parvam (chapter relating to orders or rules to the kings) of Mahabharatha.
Bheeshma Pitamaha was defeated and grievously wounded by Arjuna. But since he could choose the time of his death as per the boons received by him, he chose to take samadhi in Uttarayana and was waiting for the auspicious time. Meanwhile the war was over leading to death of all those male members in his family except the Pancha Pandavas and the unborn child of Abhimanyu. Yudishtra the eldest of the Pandavas became the King of Hasthinapura and whom else would he go for advise other than Bheeshma the great. Anushasanika Parva is in the form of questions and answers between Yudishtra and Bheeshma Pitamaha.To a question as to what is the best possible stotra, Bheeshma answers that it is the Vishnu Sahasra Nama and teaches it to Yudishtra.
Though it describes one thousand aspects and praises of the Lord, it is not simple and easy to understand. Many great Acharyas, lead by Sankara Bhagavat Pada, felt a need to give its meaning in crystal clear terms so that the devotee can not only sing but meditate on the aspect of the God he is praising.

http://omshivam.wordpress.com/2010/09/05/vishnu-sahasra-namam/

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Sri Vishnu Sahasra Naama
• kartikarjun