There is an interesting incident in the life of Sri Shankaracharya, the famous expounder of Advaita philosophy. Adi Shankara wanted to write a commentary on Lalitha Sahasranama, (meaning thousand names of the glorious Goddess Lalitha), and asked his disciple to bring a copy of it. Instead, the disciple brought the Vishnu Sahasranama, (meaning thousand names of Vishnu). He was asked again and he made the same mistake. He committed the same mistake third time also. After the third time, it dawned on Adi Shankara, that perhaps he was ordained to write a commentary on the Vishnu Sahasranama first. He started the great work and completed the commentary. It is very interesting to note that the three great Acharyas or Gurus belonging to three different paths have written commentary for the same Vishnu Sahasranama.

Adi shankara, Sri Madwacharya and Parasara Bhattar have written the commentaries which till date attracts the attention of all the devotees of Vishnu.

The great Mahabharata battle was over and Bhishma the great was in his death bed. Bhishma lay reflecting that all who had died in the battle beholding Lord Krishna as he held reins of the chariot of Arjuna had attained the beautific state, whereas he was waiting for an auspicious moment to shed his mortal coil.

Intuiting what transpired in the mind of the grandsire, the Lord rushed to his side and urged the Pandavas, five brothers, to join him stating that this was the most appropriate time to clarify whatever they wanted to on the subject of Dharma, or the righteousness.

In the dialogue that ensued, the Vishnu Sahasranama was chanted in reply to Yudishtras query by Bhisma.

In this world who is the one Divinity at whose command all beings function? What is the supreme status one should seek to attain? Who is that divinity by praising whom and by worshipping whom a man attains the good? Which according to you is that highest form of Dharma capable of bestowing salvation and prosperity on man? What is that by uttering or reciting which any living being can attain from freedom from the cycles of births and deaths?

Vishnu Sahasranama was the answer given by Bhishma.

Sri Madhwacharya, in his days, defeated many scholars in debates. Once when some differed from him about the interpretation of a particular term, the Acharya quoting from Skanda Purana, replied that all the Vedas had three meanings, the whole of Mahabharata ten, but each word of the Vishnu Sahasranama had hundred meanings.

One has to recite Vishnu Sahasranama knowing the full meaning of the thousand names.

The simple and beautiful garland of the names lends to easy recitation. One who recites it, will be bestowed with all worldly benefits besides salvation.

The secrets of the names will be explained in the next article.