Thousand Names of God – Vishnu Sahasranama
There is an interesting incident in the life of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba
Once Sai Baba had heart disease. He used to cure all the diseases of the devotees. But now he himself was suffering. Who could cure him?
Sai Baba himself narrated as to how his heart disease was cured.
Baba: I had heart disease. I kept Vishnu Sahasranama close to my chest. Hari (meaning Lord Vishnu) descended from it. I was cured.
(Incident no 198: Sri Sai Baba’s Charters and Sayings by Sri B V Narasimhaswami)
Such is the power of Vishnu Sahasranama. It can cure all the diseases.
It has miraculous powers. One can get wealth, health according to his/her wish and needs.
Though the Lord has innumerable names, the Vishnu Sahasranama which contains a thousand selected names of the Supreme Being, is in the nature of a hymn which can be chanted by all.
There is a great secret in it. The sequence of the names of the Vishnu in the verses, in Anushtubh metre has a rationale.
Twenty-four names of Lord Vishnu had been incorporated in the three opening verses of the Vishnu Sahasranama. These twenty-four names denote the 24 syllabled Gayatri mantra, each syllable corresponding to a particular name. The name Gayatri connotes that it protects those who chant it properly and regularly. Recitation of Gayatri mantra according to the prescribed method confers all-round prosperity not only on the individual but also on the entire world.
The names Sridah (name 605), Srisah (name 606), Srinivasah (name 607), Srinidhi (name 608) Srivibhavanah (name 609) Sridhara (name 610) Srikarah (name 611) confer abundant wealth to the chanter.
Sri Adi Sankaracharya, in his commentary has given the meanings of these names as
Follows:
Sridah: The Bestower of wealth on His devotees
Srisah: The Lord of wealth
Srinivasah: Abiding always in the well – endowed; He resides where Sri (Lakshmi meaning the Goddess of wealth) resides.
Srinidhi: The Treasure – house of Sri. In Him, who is all powerful, all the energies abide.
Sri is protected like a treasure.
Srivibhavanah: The Distributor of wealth to all beings, variously, according to their deserts.
Sridhara: he bears on His chest Lakshmi, the mother of all He supports the prosperity of devotees.
Srikarah: The Conferrer of Sri on devotees who remember, praise, and worship Him.
The following results are promised to one who is chanting the Vishnu Sahasranama:
Success in acquiring great fame, a position of eminence, enduring prosperity, salvation.
The great seers and sages have strongly recommended reciting the Vishnu Sahasranama daily.
