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.