Efficacy of Vishnu Sahasranama
(Shri Saileela March 1983)
A thousand names of Shree Maha Vishnu-the
protector of the Universe - helps a devout baktha to attain a devotional
discipline, by constant repetition and recitation of the same name as well as
different ones of the supreme Lord.
Just as we derive three results simultaneously when we consume our food, viz. a pleasant sensation, the appeasement of hunger and the necessary nutritive ingredients for the growth of the physical body, a similar precious experience is gone through by a devout baktha while engrossed in • Nama Sankeerthan' viz. blissful love towards the divinity, realisation of His nature and getting rid of all attachments.
How to get rid of the samsara bandhana ?
What is the marga to achieve great results with little effort?" asked
Yudhi-shthira, the Pandava king, of Bheeshmacharya. The Pithamaha replied. '
The only way is to praise the Purushothama, Shri Vasudeva, the Lord of the
Lords and sing His gunas and leelas by a thousand names ', For the benefit of
mankind, sage Vyasa the Krishna Dwaipayana, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu
Himself, has spelled out Sahasranama, to be repeated and heard with shraddha so
as to derive the parama sukha.
It is the firm conviction of Shri
Shankara Bagavadpatha that this devotional discipline is of very high value in
reaching the final goal, the realisation of Brahman.
The story goes
that when Adi Sbankara desired to write his commentary on Vedantha, he asked
one of his disciples to fetch a Grantha (scriptural text). Surprisingly, the
palm leaf manuscript of Vishnu Sahasranama was brought by him. Not satisfied,
Shankara asked the pupil to fetch another. This time too, he obtained Vihhnu
Sahasranama, and this happened for the third time also. So-Shankara felt .that it
was the Lord's wish that he should comment on
Vishnu Sahasrahama.
In this Kaliyuga, it may be difficult
to strictly observe the rituals prescribed for the various sadhanas. But, there
is no hard and fast rule to take to recitation of the Vishnu Sahasranama.
However worse a sinner be, if he, for a moment feels in his heart of hearts,
the Omnipotent, Omnipresent Purushottama and surrenders to Him, all his sins
are cleansed, and he is helped to turn a new leaf. Such being the case, the
immense relief and good a person derives by his devout and disciplined
recitation of the Sahasranama, can well be imagined.
To highlight a few of His thousand names :
He gives wealth to His devotees ; He is
the Lord of Lakshmi ; He is always present with Sreeman , He is inpossession of
all Aiswarya. He gives to everyone according to his Poorva Karma. Lakshmi
adorns His chest. He gives wealth to those •who surrender to Him. He is the
embodiment of happiness. He is wealth incarnate. He is the refuge for the three
lokas.
He carries you across the
ocean of Samsara. He destroys
the evil doers. He gives Punya to
those who think of Him. He
destroys all the .bad ..dreams that foretell
danger.. He gives
Mukthi. He protects the
Universe. He is a Sant.
He pulsates in every living being.
He is all pervading.
Those who either hear or recite this
Sthothra daily, will experience neither in this world nor in the other, any
untoward, unpleasant happenings whatsoever.
The Baktha gets world wide
fame, he is respected among the wise; he gets Shashwata Aiswarya as well
as Parama Mangala.
The Baktha fears none; he gets Tejas
and Veerya; he is free from all ailments and shines in this world as a person
with winning manners endowed with health and beauty.
The devotees of Vasudeva never come
across "Araangala". They are freed from the cycle of birth and death;
nor do they fear birth, death or old age.
The very uttering of Narayana's Nama
showers eternal joy on the Baktha, by relieving the cause for the broken heart
and by removing with soothing effect the agony of those afflicted with chronic
ailments.
So, the disciplined recital of
Vishnu Sahasranama with Shraddha wards off fear, assures success
in one's endeavour and acts as a
tonic for all types of ailments.
The recital
of even a single verse has great value. Goddess Parvati asked Her consort the
easy way by which the intelligent ones get the full benefit of the Sahasranama,
by uttering a single Couplet. The Lord replied:
"Oh the incarnation of beauty ! Oh !
Hrudaya Sundari!! The chanting of sweet Rama Nama only equals the Sahasranama
",
No wonder, our Saipadananda, the Apostle
of Love, instilled in the minds of Sai bakthas, the efficacy of Vishnu
Sahasranama by joining with them in the recitation-of the same, day in and day
out.
The entire atmosphere in and around the
Sai Spiritual Centre in Thyagarajapuram of Bangalore, (which bears the name of
yet another ardent and devout Dasa of Shree Rama) is vibrating fully surcharged
with the divine and magnetic Taraka Nama of the Parushottama ; and unceasingly
showering eternal bliss, making it a "Bhooloka Vaikuntha”,
Not only that, wherever Swamiji went, let
it be, the Samaj at Madras, Pune, Bombay or Vizag, once the devotees gather
round him. the recital of Vishnu Sahasranama was started in right earnest. Even
to-day, though .Swamiji is not physically present, yet this Sadhana goes on
unceasingly daily in all the Sai Centres where the devotees had the unique
opportunity to sit around Swamiji and chant the hymns. The feeling hovers round
every devotee that Swamiji too comes there and blesses him.
Did not our Samartha Sadguru Sai, make
Shama, His intimate devotee take to the recital of Vishnu Sahasranama ? The
Sadguru said. "Oh ! Shama, this book of Vishnu Sahasranama is very
valuable and efficacious; so I present it to you, you read it. Once I suffered
intensely. My bean began to palpitate and my life was in danger. At that
critical time, I hugged this book to my heart and then Shama, what a great relief
it gave me ! I thought that Allah Himself came down and saved me. So I give
this to you; read it slowly, little by little; read daily one name at least and
it will do you good.." (Sai Satcharita 144-145 1978 Edition).
"Free yourself from the cycle of birth
and death. It is very easy and effective and requires no paraphernalia and has
no restrictions. It is the best purifier of our mind. There is no easier
Sadbana than this...'* (Sai Satcharita P. 145 - 1978 Edition)
Has not the efficacy of Vishnu Sahasranama
revealed itself to you ? Oh Saidasa ! What are you waiting for ? Tie this
necklace of Sahasranama round your neck and get rid of your sins -past and
present, committed knowingly or unknowingly.
Awake, Arise and Act !!!
Madras