DHARMA SLOKAM

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OM NAMO BHAGAVATHE VISHVAKSENAYA NAMAH:

DHARMA STHOTHRAM

Part 2.

aIn the first issue of Dharma Sthothram, Yudhistra asking Bhishma on his opinion about the greatest Dharma was dealt. Bhishma replied then as by meditating Sri Vishnu Sahasranama ,thousand names or by invoking the names through archana (Offering), our minds can be lifted to higher consciousness, and that alone is Great Dharma.

In Mahabharatha , Yudhisthira, the eldest of the pandavas, at the end of the war approached Bhishma, and asked six questions,which forms as part of Dhyana sloka in Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam.

Kimekam dhaivatam loke? kim vaapyekam parayanam?

stuvantam kam prapnuyuh manavah subham?

ko dharmah sarva dharmanaam bhavatah paramo matah?

kim japam muchyate jantur janma samsara bandhanath?

Bhishma considered chanting of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama as the best and easiest of all Dharmas, and it forms as the means to attain relief from all bondage. Chanting of this Sthothram is sure to give relief from all our sorrows and make us to feel happy with peace of mind throughout. Veda Vyasa the foremost knower of Vedas strung together the thousand names as the essence of the Mahabharata and preserved it for the world .Narada, and all Azhwars, recognized this in their devotional works, as this is also in line with Srimad Bagavath Gita’s teachings.

 

 

Sri Ramanujar insisted on( viveka, vimoka, abhyas, kriya, kalyana, satyam, arjavam, daya, ahimsa, dana, anavasada,) Discrimination, longing for Narayana , ever thinking, doing only good, wishing well, truthfulness, integrity, compassion, non violence, charity, cheerfulness with hope in all his teachings. He stressed Bhakthi as knowledge of God as well as obedience to God. Ramanuja is said to have fulfilled his vow of perpetuating Parasara’s name by giving it to the elder son of his friend and follower Kurattazhwar , and directed him to compose a commentary on Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam. Parasara Bhattar completed this task in compliance with his masters instructions and the commentary is known as Bhagavath guna darpana, means "Mirror reflecting God's qualities, which projects the countless auspicious natures of the lord’’. Parasara Bhattar sees a thread of connectivity between thousand namas and he has grouped them in 44 types. He associates each type with one of the incarnations or Vibhutis of Sriman narayana .In his vyakhyanam we can see the meaning of each Nama being linked with the meaning of previous Nama in the type.

He has said that Vishnu Sahasranamam has no equal and it absolves people of all sins.

This Dharmasthothram article will be based only on Parasara Bhattar’s Vyakyanam . Audi Sankarar has said Gita and Vishnu Sahasranamam should be chanted by all and it bestows all noble virtues to the devotees.While analyzing the meaning of the term Vishnu in SRI Vishnu Sahasranama , he appeals to the lord to make him shed his ego, and grant him the quality of humility. He pleads with God to give him the power to utter the glories in each names and thereby reveal the right path to reach Him. Let us also try to follow such great sage's teachings , shed our pride and see the Supreme God everywhere.

 

It is generally acknowledged that constant repetition of Ramanama serves as a boat to take them across the sea of samsara and lands them in paramapada. Lord Siva addressed Parvathi as uttering Rama’s name thrice is equivalent to reciting thousand names of Vishnu, as I chant Rama. Rama, Rama and constantly enjoy this beautiful sound. This Holy Name of SriRamachandra is equal to one thousand names of Sri Maha Vishnu as

Sri rama rama rameti rame rame manorame; sahasra nama tat tulyam rama nama varanane . It is also said as pious results achieved by chanting thousand names of Vishnu Sahasranama are possible even by uttering holy name of Krishna once as

sahasra-namnam punyanam, trir-avrttya tu yat phalam; ekavrttya tu krsnasya, namaikam tat prayacchati .

Lord Krishna said, "Arjuna, One may be desirous of praising by reciting the thousand names. But, on my part, I feel praised by one Sloka .There is no doubt about it.

vishnor nama sahasrasya vedavyaso mahamunih |chandonustup tatha devo bhagavan devaki sutah ||

Lord Krishna the son of Devaki, being worshipped in one thousand names in the metre of Anushtup of eight syllables per quarter was revealed by Bhishma to Yudhishtra and strung together by great sage Vedavyasa . In recitation of Sri

 

Vishnu Sahasranamam ,it is the spirit or bhava only that matters, and so as long as one chants the name of God with sincerity, considerations such as not knowing the meaning, not knowing the pronunciation, etc., do not matter, and Lord Krishna the Supreme who is the savior of all of us will surely confer His blessings on us.

It is observed that there are 1030 names in this, but later rounded it as 1000 only. There are 960 single word namas. Namas with more than one word such as Mukthanam paramo gatha, Mangalam param,gurur gurutamah , bhoor bhuva, etc.is 30 . There is a repetition of two names in 4 times, three names in 12 times, and eighty-two names in 2 times.

Bhishma lists out qualities of ten attributes of sriman Narayna as follows, which form as part of Dhyana sloka in Sahasranamam. ;

Anathinidhanam vishnum sarvaloka mahewaram lokathyaksham sthuvan nithyam sarva dukathi ko bhaveth brahmanyam sarva dharmagnam lokanam keerthy vardhanam lokanatham mahatbootham sarvabootha bhavothbhavam

1. The beginning less and endless- He is ever ready to help, not limited by any time

2. Vishnu- Not limited by space, all pervasive

3. Great ruler of all the worlds –He possess mighty powers to fulfill the wishes of devotees.

4. Supervisor of the worlds- Great natural quality of never forgetting but remembering to fulfill the wishes of devotees.

5. Brahmanyam- To be known from Vedas – All Vedas praise Him .

6. Knower of all Dharmas – Appreciation of sastras taught ,Bhakthi and praises

7. Enhancing the fame of the world –By praising Him the person becomes himself as praiseworthy person.

8. Master of the worlds- Endowed with Supreme greatness deserving all praises.

9. Mahatbutham- Great personality- Naturally possessing supreme wealth, charm, power, with simple unassuming qualities

10. Cause of all beings- Cause of existence, showing His grace for ever.

Note. With few more notes on Dhyana slokams this will be continued on the meanings of all the Namas in brief in coming issues.

To be continued.....

 

 

ARUMBULIYUR JAGANNATHAN RANGARAJAN

 

 

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