Reciting Shlokas, Stotras, and Mantras with profound devotion is one of the simplest yet most effective ways of connecting to the Divine. The Vishnu Sahastranama is a Sanskrit script from ancient times. Nama means names, while Sahastra means thousand. The Vishnu Sahastranama is a masterpiece written by the illustrious Sanskrit scholar Sage Vyasa, who also wrote timeless epics such as the Adhyatma Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, Puranas, and many more Stotras. It is part of the Anushasana Parva in the Mahabharata, (149th chapter, verses 14 to 20).
Chanting the Vishnu Sahastranama is believed to have numerous benefits, including liberation from the cycles of poverty, illness, birth, and death, and fosters a higher consciousness facilitating a deeper understanding of God and guiding devotees towards introspection and meditation. Vishnu Sahastranama bestows an abundance of God’s blessings when performed with pure devotion and perseverance. Shirdi Saibaba had tremendous belief in the Vishnu Sahastranama and He often used to favor His devotees by granting them religious books like Vishnu Sahastranama and Adhyatma-Ramayana, so they get benefited from reading those regularly.
Excerpt from Chapter 27, Shri Satcharitra – ‘Shama was a very intimate devotee of Baba and Baba wanted to favor him in a particular way by giving him a copy of Vishnu Sahastranama as Prasad. Baba said, “Oh Shama, this book is very valuable and efficacious, so I present it to you, you read it. Once I suffered intensely and my heart began to palpitate, and my life was in danger. At that critical time, I hugged this book to My heart, and then, Shama, what a relief it gave me! I thought that Allah Himself came down and saved Me. So, I give this to you, read it slowly, little by little, and read daily one name at least and it will do you good.”
Vishnu Sahastranama recitation is held on the third Saturday of each month by the Sai Lehari Group.