Vishnu Sahasranama

2025-11-02T03:12:39Z

2600:1010:A112:C4E6:ADDD:6483:752F:651F: Fixed grammar

{{Short description|Hindu religious hymn}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox religious text
| image = Vishnu sahasranama manuscript, c1690.jpg
| caption = Vishnusahasranama manuscript, {{circa|1690}}
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| chapters =
| verses = 108
| chanda (meter) = Anushtupa
| texts = [[Mahabharata]]
| author = [[Vyasa]]
| narrator = [[Bhisma]]
}}
{{Vaishnavism}}

The '''''Vishnu Sahasranama'''''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hinduassociationhk.com/Mantras_Vishnu_Sahasranama.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=26 March 2019 |archive-date=26 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226154606/http://www.hinduassociationhk.com/Mantras_Vishnu_Sahasranama.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> ({{langx|sa|विष्णुसहस्रनाम|translit=viṣṇusahasranāma|translit-std=IAST}}){{efn|A [[tatpurusha]] compound}} is a [[Sanskrit]] hymn containing a list of the 1,000 names of [[Vishnu]], one of the main deities in [[Hinduism]] and the Supreme God in [[Vaishnavism]]. It is one of the most sacred and popular [[stotra]]s in [[Hinduism]]. The most popular version of the ''Vishnu Sahasranama'' is featured in the [[Anushasana Parva]] of the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. Other versions exist in the ''[[Padma Purana]]'', the ''[[Skanda Purana]]'', and the ''[[Garuda Purana]]''. There is also a [[Sikh]] version of the ''Vishnu Sahasranama'' found in the work ''Sundar Gutka''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.astrojyoti.com/sikhsahasranama.htm | title=Sahasranama | date=2 October 2023 }}</ref>

==Etymology==
In [[Sanskrit]], {{IAST|sahasra}} means 'thousand'. The meaning of sahasra is context-dependent. {{IAST|nāma}} ([[nominative]], the [[stem (linguistics)|stem]] is {{IAST|nāman-}}) means 'name'. The compound is of the [[Bahuvrihi]] type and may be translated as 'having a thousand names'. In modern [[Hindi]] pronunciation, ''nāma'' is pronounced [na:m]. It is also pronounced {{IAST|sahasranāmam}} in South Indian languages.

The [[phalashruti]] (meritorious verse) of the hymn says that one who reads the text every day with full devotion achieves name, fame, wealth, knowledge and pleasure in his life.<ref>{{Citation|title=Shri Vishnu Sahasranamam - Phala Sruthi|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqIe2BLCtR0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/AqIe2BLCtR0 |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-10-12}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Aiyangar|first=Sridhar|date=2017-12-31|title=SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM (PHALASHRUTI) – FINAL PART (117)|url=https://divyakataksham.wordpress.com/2017/12/31/sri-vishnu-sahasranamam-phalashruti-final-part/|access-date=2021-10-12|website=Divya Kataksham|language=en}}</ref>

==Interpretations==
The ''Vishnu Sahasranama'' is one of the most popular and widely recited stotras among Hindus. Despite the existence of sahasranamas of other deities, referring a sahasranama as "The Sahasranama," generally refers to the ''Vishnu Sahasranama'' alone, reflecting its wide popularity and use.{{Sfn|Tapasyananda|||p=iv}}

The names in ''Vishnu Sahasranama'' that refer to Shiva are "Shiva" (names # 27 and # 600 in [[Adi Shankara]]'s commentary), "Shambhu" (name # 38), "Ishanah" (name #64), and "Rudra" (name # 114). Adi Shankara asserts that the deity Vishnu is [[Brahman]] itself (not just an [[Aspect (religion)|aspect]] of Brahman).<ref>Commentary to sloka 13, "yatra puMliGgashabdaprayOgaH, tatra viSNurvishESyaH; yatra strIliMga shabdaH, tatra dEvatA prayOgaH; yatra napuMsaliGga prayOgaH, tatra brahmEti vishEshyatE (where a word of masculine gender is used, the noun is ''Vishnu'', in feminine gender the noun is ''Devata'', and in neuter gender the noun is ''Brahma'')", [http://www.sankara.iitk.ac.in/sbha.php3?toption=3 Transcription of Sankara's commentary to Vishnusahasranamastotra]</ref> Again, he notes that "only [[Hari]] (Vishnu) is eulogized by names such as ''Shiva''",<ref name = "sbha1">Commentary to sloka 17 in [http://www.sankara.iitk.ac.in/sbha.php3?toption=3 Transcription of Sankara's commentary to Vishnusahasranamastotra], "sivAdi nAmabhiH hariH eva stUyate"</ref> a position consistent with interpretations of [[Parasara Bhattar]]. Parasara Bhattar had interpreted Shiva to mean a quality of Vishnu, such as "One who bestows auspiciousness".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110725205633/http://www.ahobilavalli.org/vishnu_sahasra_namam_vol1.pdf (Internet Archive copy)]</ref>

In Adi Shankara's commentary, the 27th name Shiva is explained as:"One who is not affected by the three [[Gunas]] of [[Prakrti]]: [[Sattva]], [[Rajas]], and [[Tamas (philosophy)|Tamas]]. Shankara cites the ''Kaivalaya Upanishad'' verse "He is both [[Brahma]] and Shiva", to emphasize "the non-difference between Shiva and Vishnu, it is Vishnu Himself Who Is exalted by the praise and worship of Shiva."{{Sfn|Tapasyananda|||p=47}} This [[Advaitan]] point of view, also adopted by [[Smartas]], regards Vishnu and Shiva as one and the same God, being different aspects of preservation and destruction respectively.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}

In other Vaishnava traditions too, the ''Vishnu Sahasranama'' is considered an important text. Within [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism]], [[Vallabha sampradaya]], [[Nimbarka sampradaya]] and among [[Ramanandi]]s, the chanting of the names of Krishna and [[Rama]] are considered to be superior to that of Vishnu. The [[Padma Purana]] says that the benefit of chanting the one thousand names of Vishnu can be derived from chanting one name of Rama, and a verse in the [[Brahma Vaivarta Purana]] equating the benefit of chanting three names of Rama with one name of Krishna. Such verses are not interpreted literally, as many believe that there is no difference between Vishnu and Krishna and Rama. This theological difference can be expressed as follows: Many Vaishnava groups recognize Krishna and Rama as an [[Avatar]] of Vishnu, while others, instead, consider Him (Krishna) to be [[svayam bhagavan]], or the original form of the Lord. Yet these verses can be interpreted as it is more important to have pure [[bhakti]] or devotion than merely repeating the many names of God without emotion. Indeed, Shri Krishna Himself said, "Arjuna, One may be desirous of praising by reciting the thousand names. But, on my part, I feel praised by one [[shloka]]. There is no doubt about it.” {{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}

=== Interpretations alluding to the power of God in controlling karma ===
Many names in the Vishnu Sahasranama allude to the power of God in controlling [[karma]]. For example, the 135th name, Dharmadhyaksha, is interpreted by [[Adi Sankara|Sankara]] as, "One who directly sees the merits ([[Dharma]]) and demerits ([[Adharma]]), of beings by bestowing their due rewards on them."{{Sfn|Tapasyananda|||p=62}} Other names of Vishnu alluding to this nature of God are Bhavanah, the 32nd name, Vidhata, the 44th name, Apramattah, the 325th name, Sthanadah, the 387th name and Srivibhavanah, the 609th name.{{Sfn|Tapasyananda|||pp=48,49,87,96,123}} Bhavanah, according to Sankara's interpretation, means "One who generates the fruits of Karmas of all [[Jiva]]s for them to enjoy."{{Sfn|Tapasyananda|||p=48}} The [[Brahma Sutra]] (3.2.28) "Phalmatah upapatteh" speaks of the Lord's function as the bestower of the fruits of all actions of the [[jiva]]s.{{Sfn|Tapasyananda|||p=48}}

=== General thoughts ===
Sections from [[Swami Tapasyananda]]'s translation of the concluding verses of ''Vishnu Sahasranama'', state the following: "Nothing ''evil or inauspicious'' will befall a man here or ''hereafter'' who daily hears or repeats these names." That comment is noteworthy. King [[Nahusha]], a once righteous king, ancestor of [[Yudhishthira]], after performing a hundred Ashwamedha sacrifices, became king of devas, but was later expelled from [[Swarga|Svarga]] or heaven due to a curse by the great sage [[Agastya]] due to his pride and arrogance and became a [[Pythonidae|python]] for thousands of years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://home.att.net/~gitaprasad/mahabharata.htm |title=MAHABHARATA retold by C |access-date=2004-12-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041221103553/http://home.att.net/~gitaprasad/mahabharata.htm |archive-date=21 December 2004 |df=dmy-all }}, story #53</ref> In the commentary to this sloka Sankara states that a fall akin to that of king Nahusha will not happen to that devotee who recites ''Vishnu Sahasranama'' daily.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}

==Commentaries==
The ''Vishnu Sahasranama'' has been the subject of numerous commentaries:
*[[Parasara Bhattar]], a follower of [[Ramanuja]], wrote a commentary in the 12th century, detailing the names of Vishnu from a [[Vishishtadvaita]] perspective, in the book titled ''Bhagavath Guna Dharpanam'' (or ''Bhagavad Guna Dharpana'', meaning ''reflections of the Lord's qualities'').<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://franklin.library.upenn.edu/catalog/FRANKLIN_99878993503681|title=Sri Vishnu sahasranama : With the bhashya of Sri Parasara Bhattar : With translation in English /|date=8 August 1983|publisher=Sri Visishtadvaita Pracharini Sabha}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://antaryami.net/darpanam/sri-vishnu-sahasranamam-bhagavad-guna-darpanam/|title=Antaryami.net|access-date=27 July 2018|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809053448/http://antaryami.net/darpanam/sri-vishnu-sahasranamam-bhagavad-guna-darpanam/|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
*[[Vidyadhiraja Tirtha]] (died 1392) (disciple of [[Jayatirtha]]) of [[Dvaita Vedanta]] wrote a commentary on ''Vishnu Sahasranama'' called {{IAST|Viṣṇusahasranāmavivṛti}}.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=452}}
*[[Satyanidhi Tirtha]] (died 1660) of Dvaita Vedanta wrote ''Vishnu Sahasranama Vyakhyana'', a commentary on ''Vishnu Sahasranama''.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=496}}
*[[Satyasandha Tirtha]] (died 1794) of Dvaita Vedanta wrote ''Viṣṇusahasranāmabhāṣya'', a commentary on ''Vishnu Sahasranama''.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=508}}
*[[Baladeva Vidyabhushana]] (18th Century) of [[Achintya Bheda Abheda|''Acintya-bhedābheda'']] ''school of [[Vedanta|Vedānta]]'' wrote ''Nāmārtha-sudhā'', a commentary on ''Viṣṇu-sahasra-nāma''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Narang |first=Sudesh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6m4cAAAAMAAJ&q=N%C4%81m%C4%81rtha-sudh%C4%81 |title=The Vaisnava Philosophy According to Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa |date=1984 |publisher=Nag Publishers |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Prabhupada |first=His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cNphBAAAQBAJ&dq=N%C4%81m%C4%81rtha-sudh%C4%81&pg=PT261 |title=Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila: The Pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu |publisher=The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust |isbn=978-91-7149-661-4 |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Hare Krishna (mantra)|Hare Krishna]]
* [[Sandhyavandhanam]]
* [[Brahmin]]
* [[Bhadrakalpikasutra]]
* [[Vaijayanti]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{Citation
| last =Sankaranarayan
| first =P.
| year =1996
| title ={{IAST|Śrī Viṣṇu Sahasranāma Stotram}}
| place =Mumbai
| publisher =Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan | ref=none
}}. With an English Translation of Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada's Commentary
*{{cite book|title = A History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature, Vol 1. 3rd Edition|first = B. N. Krishnamurti| last = Sharma| publisher=Motilal Banarsidass (2008 Reprint) |isbn = 978-8120815759| year= 2000 }}
*{{Citation
| last =Tapasyananda
| first =Swami
| author-link =Tapasyananda
| title =Sri Vishnu Sahasranama
| place =Chennai
| publisher =Sri Ramakrishna Math
}}. Sanskrit and English, with an English translation of Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada's commentary.
==Further reading==
* '''Sanskrit & Hindi''': Sri Vishnu Sahasranama, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh 273005, India
* '''Sanskrit & English''': The Thousand Names of Vishnu and the Satyanarayana Vrat, translated by Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Devi Mandir, Napa.

Other translations:
* '''Sanskrit & Gujarati''': Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram; translated by Shri Yogeshwarji, India @ www.swargarohan.org
* '''Sanskrit & English''': Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram; translated by Swami Vimalananda, Sri Ramakrishna Tapovanam, Tiruchirapalli, India, 1985

==External links==
{{Commons category}}


*[http://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/श्रीविष्णुसहस्रनामस्तोत्रम्‌ The original Sanskrit at Wikisource.]

* [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m13/m13b114.htm Excerpt from the Mahabharata translation by Ganguly at Sacred Texts.]

{{Sahasranama}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vishnu Sahasranama}}
[[Category:Vaishnava texts]]
[[Category:Titles and names of Krishna| ]]
[[Category:Sahasranama]]
[[Category:Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Names of Vishnu]]

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Vishnu Sahasranama