Vishṇu Sahasranāma (Garuḍa Purāṇa)

The Vishṇu Sahasranāma of the Garuḍa Purāṇa is a stotra of the thousand names of Bhagavān Vishṇu. Bhagavān Vishṇu himself taught it to Parameśvara Śiva. It is found in the Garuḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Āchāra Khaṇḍa, chapter 15 (Adhyāya 15).

This is a different text from the well-known Vishṇu Sahasranāma of the Mahābhārata. Bhīshma taught that one to Yudhishṭhira in the Anuśāsana Parva, and it begins with the verse Viśvaṃ Vishṇur Vashaṭkāraḥ.

The setting

In the Āchāra Khaṇḍa of the Garuḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Parameśvara Śiva comes to Bhagavān Vishṇu. He asks for a great mantra that can carry beings across the ocean of saṃsāra (the cycle of birth and death). He prays:

“O Prabhu Vishṇu! Please reveal the great mantra, like a boat that carries one safely across this unfathomable ocean of saṃsāra.”

Bhagavān Vishṇu sees that the prayer is made for the welfare of all beings (lokakalyāṇa). He is glad, and he gives this thousand-name stotra. He says:

“O Parameśa! One who praises Bhagavān Vishṇu with these thousand names is able to cross saṃsāra. Bhagavān Vishṇu is Parabrahman, Paramātman, Nitya and Parameśvara. I shall reveal this holy and supreme mahāstotra, worthy of japa and destroyer of all pāpa (sin). Listen with full attention.”

So the teaching passes from Bhagavān Vishṇu to Śiva. From Śiva it enters the tradition by which the Purāṇas are handed down. The stotra is given in the setting of pūjā-vidhi (the rules of worship) in the Āchāra Khaṇḍa.

The names

The Sahasranāma begins with the group of names that start with Vāsudeva. It covers the cosmic, philosophical and personal qualities of Bhagavān Vishṇu. These are the main groups of names.

  • The Vāsudeva group. Vāsudevo Mahāvishṇur Vāsano Vāsavo Vasuḥ. These names call up the all-pervading Bhagavān Vishṇu who dwells in all.
  • The Bāla group. Bālacandranibho Bālo Balabhadro Balādhipaḥ. These are forms of Bhagavān Vishṇu as the first sustainer of strength.
  • The Veda group. Vedakartā Vedarūpo Vedyo Vedapariplutaḥ, Vedāṅgavettā Vedeśo. Bhagavān Vishṇu is the very substance and goal of the Vedas.
  • The Sarva group. Sarveśaḥ Sarvagaḥ Sarvaḥ Sarvavit Sarvadaḥ Suraḥ, Sarvasya jagato dhāma Sarvadarśī ca Sarvabhṛt. These names show his all-pervading rule over everything.
  • The Suvarṇa group. Suvarṇavarṇavāṃś caiva, Suvarṇākshyas tathā, Suvarṇīca mahāparṇī. These are golden forms and names linked to Garuḍa.
  • The Nirguṇa group. A long run of names made with a negative prefix (vibhinna nāmas): Indriyahīna, Vāgindriyavivajita, Prāṇavivajita, Apānavivajita, Ākāśavivajita, Rāgavivajita, Śokavivajita. They show that Bhagavān Vishṇu is beyond all conditions.
  • The Gopāla group. Govindo Gopatir gopas, Sarvagopī-sukha-pradaḥ, Gopālo Gogatiś caiva. These names come from his play as Kṛshṇa in Vṛndāvana.
  • The Avatāra group. Hiraṇyakaśipor hantā, Hiraṇyākshavimardakaḥ; Nirantā Pūtanāyāś ca; Keśinodalanaś caiva; Kaṃsadānapabhettā; Ashṭāvakra; Dattātreya. There are also names of Rāma, Kṛshṇa and all the avatāras (descents of Bhagavān Vishṇu), across the whole Purāṇa tradition.
  • Names beyond all categories. Kūṭasthaḥ Svacchorūpaś ca Sarvadhehavivajitaḥ; Cakshurindriyahīnaś ca; Sūkshmaś caiva Susūkshmaś ca. These names say that Bhagavān Vishṇu is beyond all bodily and mental categories.

The stotra closes with a solemn statement that it is complete.

iti nāmasahasraṃ te Vṛshabhadhvaja kīrtitam
devasya Vishṇor Īśasya sarvapāpavināśanam

This means: “Thus, O Vṛshabhadhvaja (Śiva, whose banner is the bull), the thousand names of the deva Vishṇu, the Īśa, have been told. They destroy all pāpa.”

The phalaśruti

Bhagavān Vishṇu states the fruits of reciting this Sahasranāma for each of the four varṇas.

  • Brāhmaṇa. He reaches Vishṇu-svarūpa, which is oneness with the very form of Vishṇu.
  • Kshatriya. He gains victory (jaya).
  • Vaiśya. He gains wealth and happiness (dhana and sukha).
  • Śūdra. He gains Vishṇu-bhakti, devotion to Vishṇu (Vishṇubhakti samānvitaḥ).

The stotra is called sarvapāpavināśanam, the destroyer of all pāpa.

The Sahasranāma in the Mahābhārata

The Mahābhārata version, which begins Viśvaṃ Vishṇur Vashaṭkāraḥ, was taught by Bhīshma to Dharmarāja Yudhishṭhira in the Anuśāsana Parva, chapter 149. He gave it in answer to four questions of Yudhishṭhira. They were about the one deva, the highest refuge, the paramadharma (highest duty), and the japa that frees one from saṃsāra. A commentary credited to Śrī Śaṅkarācārya runs through that text.

The Garuḍa Purāṇa version is given by Bhagavān Vishṇu himself to Śiva, in the setting of the pūjā-vidhi of the Āchāra Khaṇḍa. The two share many names. Each is its own revelation, with its own line of handing down and its own place in worship.

Sources

  • Garuḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Āchāra Khaṇḍa, chapter 15 (Adhyāya 15)
  • Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva, chapter 149 (the Vishṇu Sahasranāma that Bhīshma taught to Yudhishṭhira)