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[Guest guest]

OM

 

Hallow everybody,

 

I am a new member to this group. I am seeking more information on

Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam recital. How this has to be performed?

Is it necessary that recital has to be done in group only, and

individual recital is advisable? What is the very purpose of Sri

Vishnu Sahasra Namam and Lalitha Sahasra Namam? From which web sites

I can get more information on these.

 

Please reply to sahafx

 

With best regards

 

K.Sahadevan

[Guest guest]

> I am a new member to this group. I am seeking more information on

> Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam recital. How this has to be performed?

> Is it necessary that recital has to be done in group only, and

> individual recital is advisable? What is the very purpose of Sri

> Vishnu Sahasra Namam and Lalitha Sahasra Namam? From which web sites

> I can get more information on these.

 

Dear Sahadevan,

 

Sri Vishnu Sahasranama is one of those rare prayers

that is uniformly praised by the wise all over India,

irrespective of sect, class, time period, or path in life.

No doubt it is recommended by religious-minded saints such as

our rishis, Alvars, and acharyas; but it was surprising to

me to find out that the famed secular poet Bana-bhatta, a Saiva himself,

writes glowingly of the ceaseless recitation of Narayana's

thousand names [ "avicchinna-paThyamAna-nArAyaNa-nAma-sahasram",

in kAdambarI ]. The Ayurvedic text Caraka-samhitA is even of

the belief that Sri Vishnu Sahasranama recitation can cure

physical ailments. In no small part because of this common

acceptance, Sri Vishnu Sahasranama brings people together.

Despite other differences, during the 20 to 30 minutes of

recitation, devotees irrespective of gender and caste

from different parts of India and abroad with different

linguistic backgrounds can share in their enjoyment of

the auspicious qualities of the Divine Lord. Sri Mukkur

Lakshminarasimhacharya Swami would plead with his audience to

take 20 minutes to recite this stotram daily; he would add

that with his own eyes he had seen families which previously

suffered from internal strife resolving their differences

over time once they started reciting this divine collection

of names.

 

In my understanding, one need not worry about the form of

recitation. Yes, there are an anga-nyAsa, kara-nyAsa,

sankalpa, and phalaSruti that are often recited. However,

the great acharyas whose advice I have been fortunate to

receive have taught me that in the interests of time, one

may simply recite the names beginning with 'viSvam vishNu:'

and ending with 'sarvapraharaNa-Ayudha:'. These slokas are

the essence of the Sahasranama Stotra and certainly do not

lose their effectiveness in engendering devotion and wisdom

in the absence of the prefatory and concluding verses.

 

One may do the recitation by oneself or in a group;

while walking, or while sitting, or while lying down;

at morning or at night. It doesn't matter. One can even

recite the stotram without having bathed, if one is

caught in such a circumstance. For, as that master of

irony Parasara Bhattar rhetorically asks, would one

bathe in salt water to purify oneself before taking

a dip in the holy Ganga? Such is the power of the

His Holy Names.

 

So why recite Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam? First and foremost,

so that one may participate in the enjoyment of the magnificent

qualities of the Divine Lord. The result of such enjoyment,

conscious or not, is the engendering of devotion, wisdom,

and mental peace. Perform this as a service, as evidence

of the gracious presence of Him, as a token of thanks to Him.

If you are interested in anything else -- material pleasure,

relief from physical ailments, etc. -- you may choose to ask

for these as a result of this prayer; but our saints have

preferred to leave these things to the His will with the idea

that His gracious nature takes care of this on its own.

 

Regarding the Lalita Sahasranaamam, I do not wish to

comment much except to say that it is a recent composition,

a poor imitation of the original Sahasranama mentioned above.

The legend surrounding its origin strikes me as unpalatable. And

overriding all other issues, its unwarranted criticism of the

original Sahasranama deems it worthy of total rejection,

in my humble opinion.

 

For further information, please consult Sri N. Krishnamachari's

extensive analysis of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama, available at

http://ramanuja.org/sv/sahara .

 

rAmAnuja dAsa,

Mani

 

p.s. Sri T.S. Sundara Rajan made me aware of the kAdambari

reference in a private communication. I am indebted to him

for it.

[Guest guest]

Dear Sri Mani -

 

Thanks for your explanation on Vishnu Sahasranama. Is

there some place where I can find out the basis of

your statements regardning Lalitha Sahasranama ?

> Regarding the Lalita Sahasranaamam, I do not wish to

> comment much except to say that it is a recent

> composition,

> a poor imitation of the original Sahasranama

> mentioned above.

> The legend surrounding its origin strikes me as

> unpalatable. And

> overriding all other issues, its unwarranted

> criticism of the

> original Sahasranama deems it worthy of total

> rejection,

> in my humble opinion.

 

 

 

 

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