Sri Vishnu Sahasra
Nama was revealed in the month of Magha, according to lunar calendar, on the
11th day of waxing moon, that is sukla paksha ekadasi which comes exactly after
2 months of Githopadesa. Bheeshma Ekadasi is an auspicious occasion, the birth
day of Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Sthothram. This sthothram was revealed to
Pandavas by Bheeshmacharya when he was on the bed of arrows, after the
Mahabharatha war. Lord Krishna revealed Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna. Though Arjuna
was able to converse with Lord Krishna and clear many of his doubts, he
couldn't absorb it completely as-it-is from the view point of the Lord.
Fortunately, Sanjaya who is televiewing and explaining the happenings of the
war to the blind King Dhrutharashtra was able to view this upadesam also
through whom Bhagavad Githa came into this world. Ekadasi day(11th day of the
full/new moon phase) is considered to be very holy day
on which devotees take minimum food and spend most of their time contemplating
on the Lord. It is the day on which the Saththvik nature in man blossoms more
easily and opens up the way for one's enlightenment. How fortunate we are if we
are with our Acharya taking upadesam from Him about the best of the secrets a
man needs to know in his life !!
In the Kurukshethra war, between Pandavas and Kauravas, Krishna was the
sarathi(charioteer) for Arjuna. After the day's battle, when they returned to
the camp, Arjuna asked Krishna to get down and open the gate. This request
baffled Krishna as He did not get the respect of a Guru who taught him Bhagavad
Gita. Hence He concluded that, all His teaching was a waste. Then Krishna
decided to choose an acharya who can teach dharma to Pandavas. According to
Bhagavad Gita’s Chapter 4 sloka 34, Thath viddhi pranipathena pariprasnena
sevaya Upadekshyanthi the jnanam jnaninah thathva-darsinaha The path of
spiritual realization is difficult. Krishna therefore advises Pandavas to
approach an enlightened master for the realization of dharma. The above sloka
dictates the principle behavior of a student, to his teacher, before anything
could be learnt from the master. The student should surrender and this should
be shown by a few activities which are dictated in the sloka. Prostrating
before
Guru, without any inhibition or ego Pranipatha. When the students are being
taught, the disciple should be able to understand the essence of all those
teachings. Thus, if the student gets a doubt, he should wait for the proper
time and present them before his Guru in a prescribed way Pariprasnena. Gurus’
may not clarify the doubts at once, at times they wait few months or even years
to test the disciples’ commitment and curiosity, and it may take a long time to
get the answers. Till then the student should serve the master in a pleasing
way which is called the "seva". Atlast the teacher who is a seer of the truth
will reveal the ultimate secrets. Krishna realizes that the most eligible
person to talk about the ultimate truth would be Bheeshma, who at that time was
lying on the bed of arrows in the battlefield, ready to leave his mortal body.
Krishna took Pandavas to Bheeshma and requested pithamaha(grandsire) to teach
the Pandavas about the Ultimate Truth and Dharma. Krishna
promised pithamaha that He would restore his memory that was buried deep due to
the pains in his body.
As it was imparted from a great acharya chosen by the Lord Himself, Sri Vishnu
Sahasra Nama is considered the essence of Gita and all the Vedas.
Bheeshmacharya was lying on the bed of arrows after being put down by Arjuna
during the war. After the war, Pandavas approached Bheeshma to teach them the
higher principles of life and wisdom, from all his great experiences. Bheeshma
who is a great Man of Action and Sacrifice, mastered the whole Dharma Sastra
and practiced it strictly throughout his life. Even the Lord of Death feared to
approach Bheeshma without his permission. Dharmaraja asks him to tell them the
greatest of the secrets that made him so great and that he thinks is the best
that can liberate all beings from the cycle of births and deaths and lead them
to planes of highest Happiness, Bliss, The Lord. Then Bheeshmacharya having
obtained boon from Lord Krishna to be able to speak in clear voice and memorise
his past deeds reveals the essence of all that he learnt from a
number of sages who had the vision of Lord in different forms. Bheeshma observed
a number of austerities imposed by the sages, served them for long periods,
satisfied them that he deserves to be taught the secret they have obtained
after strenuous efforts, and finally obtained from them the secrets. Like a
honey bee that collects the honey drops from all the flowers, Bheeshmacharya
collected all the manthras from different sages and composed Sri Vishnu
Sahasranama Sthothram which he used to practice daily. When Dharmaraja asked
him to reveal the greatest of secrets, Bheeshma reveals this to Pandavas on
Magha Suddha Ekadasi day in presence of Lord Krishna, showing Him and telling
them that He is Lord of all Lords and praying Him with all 1000 names is all
one can ever do to become more dear to Him which itself leads to salvation.
Reciting it regularly or even listening to it is itself a great thing that
empowers one with the strength to overcome all the difficulties and get on to
the
right path of Salvation.
"Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu
Gurur Devoh Maheshwar;
Gurur Shakshat Parambramha
Tashmai Shri Gurur Veh Namah"
May the Merciful Sri Sai Baba always shower His grace on us and our families and
remove our problems and anxieties by giving us all - strength
|