Hindu Article-Devotional hymn

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Devotional hymn

 

 

 

CHENNAI : The Krishna incarnation of the Supreme Being is unique as

He donned the role of the preceptor by teaching the ultimate truth in

the Bhagavad Gita, which is in the Mahabharata. This epic also

enshrines other texts, which have attained independent status — the

Sanatsujatiya and the Vishnu Sahasranama.

 

There are many Sahasranama hymns but the Vishnu Sahasranama is

exceptional. This is due to the reason that unlike the other hymns,

which were composed by Rishis, Vyasa who is revered as a

manifestation of Vishnu indited the Vishnu Sahasranama. Besides,

Bhishma sang this hymn before Lord Krishna, while he lay on a bed of

arrows, in reply to the questions raised by Yudhishthira.

 

In his discourse, Sri Krishnamoorthy Sastrigal said Sankara's

invocatory verse in his commentary on the Vishnu Sahasranama

identified Lord Krishna as the Supreme Being. Sankara

says, "Obeisance unto Krishna, the embodiment of pure existence,

consciousness and bliss, whose work (of creation) is accomplished

without any effort and who is the spiritual witness and preceptor

(par excellence), comprehensible in Upanishadic wisdom." The next

verse is in praise of Sage Vyasa who codified the Vedas for the sake

of humanity whom Sankara eulogises as "the shining sun for the

blossoming Veda-lotus."

 

The benefit of chanting this hymn (according to the Palasruti) is the

attainment of all the four goals (Purushartha) of human life: Dharma

(good conduct), Artha (material prosperity), Kama (sensory

gratification) and Moksha (liberation). Adi Sankara notes at the end

of his commentary that Bhishma has indicated that Vyasa, who was

Narayana Himself, wrote this hymn and hence it must be recited with

faith to realise all these ends.

 

An interesting aside is related in tradition about how Sankara came

to write his commentary on this hymn. Before embarking on his

commentary on the Brahmasutra, he wanted to compose one on the Lalita

Sahasranama. When he instructed his disciple to fetch a copy of the

hymn, he repeatedly brought the Vishnu Sahasranama and also explained

that a divine lady had given this hymn to him and told him to give it

to his Guru. Sankara intuited this as the Divine Mother's direction

to write a commentary on this hymn first.

 

copy right: The Hindu-daily

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "B VAIDYANATHAN"

<vaidyanathiyer> wrote:

>

> Devotional hymn

>

>

>

> CHENNAI : The Krishna incarnation of the Supreme Being is unique as

> He donned the role of the preceptor by teaching the ultimate truth

in

> the Bhagavad Gita, which is in the Mahabharata. This epic also

> enshrines other texts, which have attained independent status — the

> Sanatsujatiya and the Vishnu Sahasranama.

>

> An interesting aside is related in tradition about how Sankara came

> to write his commentary on this hymn. Before embarking on his

> commentary on the Brahmasutra, he wanted to compose one on the

Lalita

> Sahasranama. When he instructed his disciple to fetch a copy of the

> hymn, he repeatedly brought the Vishnu Sahasranama and also

explained

> that a divine lady had given this hymn to him and told him to give

it

> to his Guru. Sankara intuited this as the Divine Mother's direction

> to write a commentary on this hymn first.

>

> copy right: The Hindu-daily

>

 

Many thanks Sri Vaidyanathan ji for the above.

 

Warm regards,

subbu