Today is the day Bhishma Pitamaha gave the world the Vishnu Sahasranama, or the 1000 Names of Vishnu

Our scriptures arise from questions posed to learned teachers. When Valmiki asks Narada about the ideal man, Narada replies to him about Sri Ramachandra which gave us the Ramayana. When Arjuna asks Krishna to vanquish his sorrow, we are given the Bhagavad Gita. When Nachiketa asks Yama about the ultimate, we are given the Katha Upanishad. Similarly, Yudhishtira asked Bhishma, who is an authorized teacher as per the above verse, 6 questions, 1. Who is the One Deity in the world? 2. What is the sole and Supreme Goal? 3. Whom should men praise and worship to attain good? 4. Who is declared in the Vidyas that form the source of our knowledge? 5. What is that Dharma which is regarded by you as the supreme on among all Dharmas? 6. By reciting what is mankind freed from the bonds of birth and samsara? The answer to these 6 verses is the Vishnu Sahasranama stotram found in Anushasana Parva of Mahabharata. Now, what is it that makes this stotram so important? Adi Shankaracharya explains in his Bhashya of the Vishnu Sahasranamam that, *Query: What is the reason for giving pre-eminence to the hymning of this praise?* *Answer: The reason for such pre-eminence consists in its having no necessity to do harm, etc (to other creatures), in its not requiring the help of other persons or money, and in its not having strict rules as to place, time, etc.* *The Vishnu Purana (6-2-17) says : "That which one obtains in Kritayuga by meditation, by performing sacrifies in the Treta, by worship in Dvapara, he receives in the Kaliyuga by reciting the Names of Kesava". The Manu Smriti (2-87) says "But undoubtedly, a Brahmana reaches the highest goal by Japa only; never mind if he performs other rites or neglects them; he who befriends (all creatures) is declared to be a Brahmana." The Mahabharata says: "The Japa is said to be the best of all Dharmas, and also Japa begins with non-injury to beings." The Bhagavad Gita(10-25) says "Of sacrifices, I am the Japa sacrifice." Hence it is stated to be the greatest Dharma.* On this day, please take the opportunity to chant this powerful Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram. If not, Parvati Mata mercifully requests an alternative. She asks *kenopayena laghuna vishnornamasashrakam* *pathyate panditairnityam srotumicchaamyaham prabho* *(roughly, How can a learned person quickly chant the Vishnu Sahasranama)* *Ishvara Uvacha (Paramasiva replies)* *sriraama raama raameti rame raame manorame* *sahasranaama tattulyam raama naama varaanane* *By meditating on "Rama Rama Rama" (the Name of Rama), my Mind gets absorbed in the Divine Consciousness of Rama, which is Transcendental,* *The Name of Rama is as Great as the Thousand Names of God (Vishnu Sahasranama).* As per Mahesvara, the foremost authority on Vishnu Bhakti, chanting the above Sloka 3 times at the least is recommended. Jai Sita Rama