Approaches To Vishnusahsranaama

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There are many scholarly commentaries written on 'Vishnu Sahsranaama'. But the commentary in sanskrit by Jagadguru Adi Sankaracharya takes the references from Vedas and other texts. As for chronological order, it is said to be the earliest commentary of all. It is the duty of the believer (Aastika) to recite this sahasranaama atleast once a day. Though these naamas (names) are described as 'Gaunaami — naamaani', which are attributes, but for the layman's understanding, are added guidelines for sincere moral behaviour. This book fulfills the need to introduce aspects of philosophy and philosophical nomenclature as well. The author has putforth an indepth study of philosophical thoughts of Sanatana Dharma and Vedanta to its added essence.

Though there are criticisms of certain scholars that all the 1000 names are not unique because of their multiple occurrence, this is proved a baseless fact because Sankaracharya has skillfully arranged these names in a selected manner and made every name distinct, like 'Acyuta' h' one name and 'Samskarshana'h. Another salient feature of this sahasranaama is that there are self same terms which have exactly two opposite attributes. Exemplifying it are 'savya' meaning left as well To one's astonishment, 'Samnyaasa' refers to both 'being as well as 'leaving' or renouncing'. This potentiality of the terms have developed negation is high in exploring attributes of the immaterialistic (supreme) power. It is a claimed fact that Vishnusahasranaamam' was composed extempore by 'Bhiishma' in the presence of Lord Krshna who was almost prompting the dyeing warrior.

There are many translations of Vishnu Sahasranaama, Bhagavat Giitaa, Upanishats, etc., with very many narrations to explain various aspects of Sanaatana Dharma culture for the moral upgradation of proper adaptations. The special feature of this book is that the names are not followed in a sequence but are taken in groups to strengthen philosophical discourse and correlated thoughts.

As it is authorised that Bhiishma wanted to be educated first hand on the glories of Krshna, instead, Krshna let Bhiishma do the narration himself and endorsed it without amendment. It is significant that the 1000 names were uttered by mortally wounded Bhiishma to the then emperor Yudhishthira. These names are infact attributes including family names, and previous Avataaras to establish Satya, Dharma and values of life. The author has presented some interesting anecdotes regarding Sahasranaama. This work carries, study of Gaunaani — Naamaani. The author humbly submits of his inability to adopt the internationally accepted diacritical marks of transliteration for Samnskrta alphabets. But for a few ignorable inabilities, this book is of very great use for the readers to study in an organized manner to gain knowledge about the Sanaatana Dharma and the adaptations to be followed by the knowledged and layman in a simple manner.

I am happy to inform that this work of humble salutation to Lord Venkateswara is being published by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Tirupati. I hope that this book will be of great use to all the knowledged, layman and believers. I thank Prof. P. Natarajan, who has developed the text and Sri Vijaya Kumar Ramachandran, the editor of the book for submitting this valuable work to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and enriching the TTD publications thereof.

**Contents and Sample Pages**