IMPORTANCE OF 'SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM'

I attended a lecture at a place near my residence.It was on the topic 'Importance of SriVishnu Sahasranamam' and the lecture was by Sri VenkataKrishna Swami. I would like to put down here,some points that I picked up from the lecture.

The lecture started with anecdotes from mythology as to how Bhoomi Devi came to the Earth as 'Sri Andal Nachiyar' in order to spread knowledge to people on how the reciting of God's Thirunamam can lead a human to the path of goodwill and finally Moksha.

Lord's Thirunamam (His name) is more powerful than his real presence.His Thirunamam saves us in all times of distress.So by just uttering his name,all our paapams are crushed to dust.
For example,We use names of higher authorities when we need recommendations at various places.Though that particular person is not present near you,you still make use of their name to take help.
When a mere human's name has got such powers,then what will be the power of Lord's name?
So, "Avan dhooratthil irundhaalum,idhu kittanindru udhavum.." ! It means 'Even if Lord is not near us,His Thirunamam helps us when in need'.Hence,a human being gets benefitted by uttering Lord's names throughout his/her life.
*"Madhava Kesava Madhusudhana Govinda Gopala Venkataramana Srinivasa Narayana"*

The lecture also enlightened us on incidents from the epic Mahabharatha.In the epic,after the Bharatha war,Bheeshma lies in his arrow bed before death and Yudhishtira approaches him for listening to his final words on Dharma.This is called 'Anushaasana Parvam' in The Mahabharatha.This section is said to be the longest one.Bheeshma explains about the various virtues of life and the Dharmas of life.At the end,Yudhishtira tells Bheeshma "Sir,You spoke innumerable virtues.It seemed like I understood them at the time you said it.But now,I cannot properly recollect.So kindly tell me the complete gist of all Dharmas,putting it in a very simple way and easy to remember.." For this question,Bheeshma pointed out at Lord Krishna and said "He is the essence of all Dharmas in the world".Uttering His names is a great virtue in life.On hearing this,Goddess Parvathi asks to Lord Shiva "Isn't there one simple,small name to utter instead of remembering so many of these names of the Lord".This is when Lord Shiva answers,

Eswara Uvaacha:
Sri rama rama ramethi,rame raame manorame!
Sahasranama thatthulyam, rama naama varaanane!!

One word-The Thirunamam of Lord Rama is enough to get the benefit of uttering all the names of the God.This anecdote also proves that all Gods,be it Lord Krishna or Lord Rama are one and same.

Each and every name used in Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam has its own meaning and value.
Three people who have written the saaram or essence for the Sahasranamam are
Sri Adisankara Bhagavathpaadhar
Sri Paramaachariyar (Descendant of Sri Ramanujar)
Sri Maadhvachariyar

All three have dealt with their works in different perspectives.The explanations of all the three are completely acceptable,they only depend on how the individual understanding and perceiving has been done.While Sri Adisankara and Sri Madhvachariyar have talked about the 'Paratthvam' (Glories) in explaining the meanings for The Lord's Thirunamams, Sri Paramachariyar has explained the 'Shourathvam'(Simplicity) of Lord with his names.

For example, there comes a line in Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam which says

"Vijithaathma Vijaeyaathma sathkeerthishchinna samsaya ha!" (2nd line of 66th sloka)

Sri Venkatakrishna Swami enlightened us on how the meanings provided by the Aachariyas mentioned above differ,yet they are so true and divine.

Take the word "Vijithaathma".
Sri Adisankara says "Vijith - Win over, Aathma- His own mind".So, this Thirunamam of the Lord says that He has won over his own mind"(controlled his mind which is the most distracting aspect of an ordinary human.It can travel anywhere at anytime.)
Sri Madhvaachariyar says "Vijith-Win over,Aathma- Jeevaathmas, the people on earth".So,this Thirunamam says that Lord has won over the people on earth since he is the one who created them".
But Sri Paramachariyar says "Lord has been won over by his devotees (the 'Aathmas' here)".So,Lord gives ears to everyone who follows him and helps them without hesitation.

Likewise,the lecture also accentuated on the perception of meanings of other three words in the same line.Finally it was concluded saying that 'When only four words in the Sahasranamam have so much meaning,value and power , reciting it entirely will shower us with great virtues and benefits'.Moreover it gives peace to heart.It gives happiness to the heart.

The lecture provided us with many more mythological,spiritual facts.As a true lover of spirituality, I understood the need for the recital of God's Thirunamam which can be done by reciting Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam.

ABOUT DIVYADESAMS

What are divyadesams?How does the Lord give darshan to his devotees in these sthalams?

Like how, India is surrounded by Oceans and Sea, the Bhakti is also spread throughout our Country. Emperumaan Sriman Narayanan who is the Paramathma is found in all of the minds and heart of the Jeevathmas, is found from Kanyakumari to Himalayas in various Thirukkolams (posture or position) in various Sthalams.

Out of these Sthalams, Alwars, who are said to be the Hamsam of Sriman Narayanan, have sung Mangalasasanam (praising of the Perumal) on the Perumal and there are totally 108 Sthalams where Alwars have done Mangalasasanam on the Perumal. These 108 Vishnu Sthalams are called as "Divyadesams".

Emperumaan, Sriman Narayanan is found in various Thirukkolam. The Thirukkolam in 108 Divyadesams are given below:

• Kidantha Thirukkolam ( Sleeping Position ) - 27 Divyadesams
• Veetrirundha Thirukkolam ( Sitting Position ) - 21 Divyadesams
• Nindra Thirukkolam ( Standing Position ) - 60 Divyadesams

In these 108 Divyadesams, as we have seen that the Perumal is found on various Thirukkolam, he is also facing his Thirumugham on various directions and giving his seva, which are as follows:

• Towards East direction - 79 Divyadesams
• Towards West direction - 19 Divyadesams
• Towards North direction - 3 Divyadesams
• Towards South direction - 7 Divyadesams

108 Divyadesams - Part 4

The list of PandiyaNaattu Divyadesams [Madurai, thirunelveli, Srivilliputhur areas]:

89.Thiruk kurngkudi
90.Vanamaamalai
91.SriVaikundam
92.VaraguNa mangai
93.Thirup puLingkudi
94.Thiruth tholaivilli mangalam
95.ThiurkkuLandhai
96.ThirukkOLUr
97.Then thiruppErai
98.Azhvar thirunagari(Thirukkurugur)
99.Srivillipuththur
100.ThiruththaNkaal
101.ThirukkUdal
102.Thirumaalirum sOlai
103.ThirumOkUr
104.ThirukkOshtiyur
105.ThiruppullaaNi
106.Thiru meyyam

The list of the divyadesams that are out of this world :

107.Thirup paaRkadal
108.Paramapadham.

[SOurce:www.srivaishnavam.com]

108 DivyaDesams - Part 3

The list of VadaNaattu Divyadesams [North India] :

65.AyOdhdhi
66.NaimicharaNyam
67.Thiruppiruthi ( Jhoshi mutt,Nanda prayag)
68.ThirukkaNdam kadinagar (Deva prayag)
69.Badrinath ( vadhari)
70.SaaLaggraamam ( Nepal)
71.Madhura (Vada madurai)
72.Ayppadi (Gokulam)
73.Dwaraka (Thuvari,Thuvarapathi)
74.Ahobilam ( SingavEL kundram)
75.Thiru vEngadam(Thiruppathi,Thirumalai)

The list of MalaiNaattu Divyadesams [Kerala] :

76.Thiru naavaay

77.Thiru viththuvakkOdu

78.Thiruk kaatkarai

79.Thiru mUzhikkaLam

80.Thiru vallavaazh

81.Thiruk kadiththaanam

82.Thiruch chengkunRanUr

83.Thiruppuliyur

84.ThiruvaaRan viLai

85.Thiru vaN vaNdUr

86.Thiru anandha puram

87.ThiruvattaRu

88.Thiru vaN paricharam

[Source : www.srivaishnavam.com]

108 Divya Desams - Part 2

The list of Nadu Naattu DivyaDesangal [Located near Cuddalore]:

41.Thiruvahendrapuram (Ayindhai)
42.Thirukkovalur

The list of Thondai Naattu Divyadesangal [Located in Madras and Kanchi areas]:

43.Kachchi,Aththigiri (Kanchipuram)
44.Ashtapuyakaram (Kanchi)
45.ThiruththaNkaa
46.ThiruvELukkai
47.Thiru neerakam
48.Thiruppadakam
49.Thiru nilaath thungaL thuNdam
50.Thiru Urakam
51.Thiru veqkaa
52.Thirukkarakam
53.Thirukkaarvaanam
54.ThirukkaLvanUr
55.ThiruppavaLa vaNNam
56.Thirup paramEsvara viNNagaram
57.Thirup putkuzhi
58.Thiru ninRavUr
59.ThiuvaLLur
60.ThiruvallikkENi
61.Thiruneermalai
62.Thiru idavendhai
63.Thirukkadal mallai (Maamalla puram)
64.Sholingur

[Source : www.srivaishnavam.com]

108 DivyaDesams for all

The 108 DivyaDesams are classified under particular categories:
->Chozha Naadu[40]
->Nadu Naadu[2]
->Thondai Naadu[22]
->Vada Naadu[11]
->Malai Naadu[13]
->Pandiya Naadu[18]
->Out of world[2]

I will be putting up the list of the divyadesams over here according to the categories.I will also try to provide you with info about the deity in the temple and the location of the temple.

Now here is a list of Chozha naattu Divyadesangal..

1.Srirangam ( arangam,thiruvarangam,Koyil)
2.Thirukkozhi (uRaiyuur,nikaLaapuri,uRanthai)
3.Thirukkarambanur (uththamar koil)
4.Thiru veLLaRai
5.Anbil
6.ThiruppEr nagar (koviladi,appakkudaththan)
7.ThirukkaNdiyur
8.Thirukkodalur (Aaduthurai)
9.Kabisthalam
10.PuLLambUthangkudi
11.Adhanur
12.Kumbakonam (Thirukkudhanthai)
13.Oppli appan koil (ViNNagar)
14.Naachchiyaar koil (Thirunaraiyur)
15.ThiruchchErai
16.ThirukkaNNamangai
17.ThirukkaNNapuram
18.ThirukkNNangkudi
19.Nagaippattinam ( Thiru nagai)
20.Thanjai MaamaNik koil (Thanjavour)
21.Thiru nandhi pura viNNagaram
22.VeLLiyangkudi
23.TherazhunthUr
24.SiRu puliyur
25.Thalaichchangkadu ( Thiru thalaichchanga naaN madhiyam)
26.IndhaLur
27.KaavaLam paadi
28.Seerkaazhi ( Thiru kaazhichcheerama vinnagaram)
29.Arimeya viNNagaram
30.VaN purushoththamam
31.Thiru semponsey koil
32.Thiru maNi maadak koil
33.Vaikundha viNNagaram
34.Thiru vaali Thiru nagari
35.Thiru Thevanaar thogai
36.Thiru theRRiyambalam
37.Thiru maNik koodam
38.Annan koil ( thiru veLLakkuLam)
39.Parththan paLLi
40.Chidambaram ( Thiru chithirak koodam)

[Source : www.srivaishnavam.com]

The beginning

"Sri Oppiliappan alongwith BhoomaDevi and Markandeyar Maharishi"

Sthalam: Oppiliappan Temple [Also called Bhoologa Vinnagaram]