SIGNIFICANCE OF BHEESHMA EKADASI AND SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM

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SIGNIFICANCE OF BHEESHMA EKADASI AND SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM

As Bhagavad-Gita Says

“Thath viddhi pranipathena pariprasnena sevaya

Upadekshyanthi the jnanam jnaninah thathva-darsinahaâ€

 

 

The path of spiritual realization is difficult. Krishna therefore advises

Pandavas to approach an enlightened master for the realization of dharma. The

above sloka dictates the principle behavior of a student, to his teacher, before

anything could be learnt from the master. The student should surrender and this

should be shown by a few activities which are dictated in the sloka. Prostrating

before Guru, without any inhibition or ego Pranipatha. When the students are

being taught, the disciple should be able to understand the essence of all those

teachings. Thus, if the student gets a doubt, he should wait for the proper time

and present them before his Guru in a prescribed way Pariprasnena.

 

Gurus’may not clarify the doubts at once, at times they wait few months or

even years to test the disciples’ commitment and curiosity, and it may take a

long time to get the answers. Till then the student should serve the master in a

pleasing way which is called the seva. Atlast the teacher who is a seer of the

truth will reveal the ultimate secrets. Krishna realizes that the most eligible

person to talk about the ultimate truth would be Bheeshma, who at that time was

lying on the bed of arrows in the battlefield, ready to leave his mortal body.

 

 Krishna took Pandavas to Bheeshma and requested him to teach the Pandavas

about the Eternal Truth and Dharma. Krishna promised pithamaha that He would

restore his memory that was buried deep due to the pains in his body.  As it

was imparted from a great acharya chosen by the Lord Himself,

 

 

Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama is considered the essence of Gita and all the Vedas.

Bheeshmacharya was lying on the bed of arrows after being put down by Arjuna

during the war. After the war, Pandavas approached Bheeshma to teach them the

higher principles of life and wisdom, from all his great experiences. Bheeshma,

who is a great Man of Action and Sacrifice, mastered the whole Dharma Sastra and

practiced it strictly throughout his life.

 

 Even the Lord of Death feared to approach Bheeshma without his permission.

Dharmaraja asks him to tell them the greatest of the secrets that made him so

great and that he thinks is the best that can liberate all beings from the cycle

of births and deaths and lead them to planes of highest Happiness, Bliss, and

The Lord. Then Bheeshmacharya having obtained boon from Lord Krishna to be able

to speak in clear voice and memorise his past deeds reveals the essence of all

that he learnt from a number of sages who had the vision of Lord in different

forms.

 

Bheeshma observed a number of austerities imposed by the sages, served them for

long periods, satisfied them that he deserves to be taught the secret they have

obtained after strenuous efforts, and finally obtained from them the secrets.

Like a honey bee that collects the honey drops from all the flowers,

Bheeshmacharya

collected all the manthras from different sages and composed Sri Vishnu

Sahasranama Sthothram which he used to practice daily. When Dharmaraja asked him

to reveal the greatest of secrets,

 

Ekadasi day (11th day of the full/new moon phase) is considered to be very holy

day on which devotees take minimum food and spend most of their time

contemplating on the Lord. It is the day on which the Saththvik nature in man

blossoms more easily and opens up the way for one's enlightenment. Bhishma

Ekadasi is an auspicious occasion, the birth day of Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama

Sthothram.. Bhishma reveals this Divine Benediction to Pandavas on the Eleventh

day of waxing phase of moon in Magha Masa (Magha Suddha Ekadasi) in presence of

Lord Krishna, Showing Him and telling them that He is Lord of all Lords

(suranaam eesahah “suresahaâ€) and praying Him with all 1000 names is all one

can ever do to become more dear to Him which itself leads to salvation.

 

 COURTESY-MIHIRA

 

Regards

Bharati.A