|
 The term 'Vishnu' implies all-pervasiveness. The very first name in the Vishnu Sahasranama is 'Viswam', He, Who is all forms, Whose manifestation is every form imaginable and existing, from Whom all forms have emerged. Bhagavad Gita verse no.29 in ch.6 confirms this. Chronologically speaking, Bhagavad Gita was expounded by Lord Sri Krishna ('Krishnastu Bhagavaan Svayam' - Sri Krishna is the Lord of all Lords Himself) to Arjuna just before the commencement of the battle of Kurukshetra (Bheeshma Parvam - 'Gita' upaparvam - chs. 25 to 42), whereas the Vishnu Sahasranama is recited by Bheeshma in the presence of Lord Sri Krishna later and after the end of the battle.
Ramayana's unique significance
The epic Ramayana (Valmiki) assumes special significance as it is recited in the very presence of the hero of the epic Sri Rama Himself. The heroine of the epic - 'Sitaaya's Caritam Mahath' - 'the grand saga of Sri Sita' - had heard it earlier. Sage Valmiki had composed the 24,000 verses in his ashram and in her presence. Her twin-sons Lava and Kusa were taught by the sage to recite it mellifluously.
Vishnu Sahasranama's special significance
The significance of the Vishnu Sahasranama that occurs in the other epic Mahabharatam of sage Vyasa is that the hymnal composition is sung by Bheeshma in the very presence of Lord Sri Krishna Himself, the subject content of it!
Repetitive references
As Vyasa is the author of the entire epic, it is, therefore, not surprising that there should be repetitive references in both the compositions - the Upanishad-based Bhagavad Gita (hailed as an Upanishad itself) and the hymnal composition Vishnu Sahasranama.
Arjuna's eulogy
Arjuna himself resorts to a form of 'Sahasranama' when he enlarges rapturously on the glories of the Lord (ref. B.Gita - ch XI - verses 15 to 31). He calls Him: 'Visvervara', 'Deva Deva', 'Ananta Roopa', etc. 'O Lord! You have no origin, you have no middle (form not bound by time), and no end - 'Anaadi Madyaantam' - these seventeen verses are truly great hymns. They are indicative of spontaneously experienced and expressed innermost feelings, straight from the heart, as it were! When we hear Arjuna's adorations and adulations, the verses from the 'Purusha Sooktam' also come to our mind readily!
'Amara Kosa' references
In the Amara Kosa of Amarasimha (on Amaradeva of the earlier half of the first millenium) can be found at least fifty names of Lord Sri Vishnu which are quite identical to those enumerated in the Vishnu Sahasranama of Vyasa Bharatam, certainly belonging to the pre-Christ millennium (B.C.) - possibly 3000 years before!
Common names
The most common names in both are (in alphabetical order) : Achyuta, Chakrapani, Damodara, Govinda, Garudadhvaja (the Lord, Who has Garuda in His flag), Hrishikesa, Janardana, Kesava, Madhava, Narayana, Padmanabha, Pundarikaksha, Sripathi, Trivikrama, Upendra, Vishnu...' etc. The Amarakosa stanza begins with the words 'Vishnu Naarayanh...Muramardanah (Murari).
'Upendra-Vamana'
'Upendra' is the name that refers to the Vamana (the Divine Dwarf) incarnation, the fifth one. In the Vishnu Sahasranama, names 153 to 159 (seven names), "Vamana, Praamsuh, Amoghah, Suchih, Oorjitah, Atindrah, Samgraham and Sargah" pertain to this 'Divine Dwarf' - Vamana - incarnation only. 'Upendra' means the younger brother of celestial chief 'Indra'. Parents for both are sage Kasyapa and mother 'Aditi'.
R Srinivasan
More Articles
|
