Vishṇu Sārasvata Stotra
The Vishṇu Sārasvata Stotra is a stotra to Bhagavān Vishṇu that destroys pāpa (sin). It began as a rakshā-stava, a prayer that calls on Vishṇu for protection. It was then widened into a hymn that destroys the greatest pāpa, spoken by Sarasvatī herself. It is told in the Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, chapter 59.
A good brāhmaṇa in deep tapas (austerity) recited the protective part. Its power bound a rākshasa so that he could not move. Then Sarasvatī spoke from the brāhmaṇa’s tongue and taught the whole stotra to the rākshasa.
The setting
A brāhmaṇa sat in tapas on a riverbank. As his daily protection he was chanting a rakshā-stotra, calling on Bhagavān Vishṇu in all directions with his various weapons.
- Cakradhārī in the east.
- Gadādhara in the north.
- Śārṅgapāṇi in the west.
- Khaḍgadhara in the north.
- Hṛshīkeśa at the corners.
- Janārdana in the spaces between the directions.
In this way Vishṇu protects on every side. Varāha-Vishṇu protects on the earth. Nṛsiṃha protects in the sky. The Sudarśana cakra blazes in all directions and destroys pretas, rākshasas, bhūtas, piśācas and ḍākinīs.
A fierce rākshasa came to attack the brāhmaṇa while he sat in meditation. He had been a kshatriya who harmed brāhmaṇas, devas and the people with violence. For these crimes he was born again as a rākshasa. The power of the rakshā-stava bound him so that he could not move. For four months he could not step forward.
When the brāhmaṇa came out of samādhi (deep meditation), he saw the rākshasa. The rākshasa had lost his power and was filled with true nirveda (disgust with his own life). He confessed his pāpas and begged for a way to cross over.
Sarasvatī’s teaching
The brāhmaṇa told the rākshasa that he could not himself give teaching (upadeśa) to a man-eater (narabhakshaka). At that moment Agni sent Sarasvatī to help. She stood unseen on the brāhmaṇa’s tongue. Speaking through his voice, she composed the whole stotra that destroys pāpa for the rākshasa.
How the stotra praises Vishṇu
The stotra praises Vishṇu by these names and forms.
- Praṇava-svarūpa (the form of Oṃ), Kṛshṇa, Hṛshīkeśa, Jagannātha, Vāsudeva, Janārdana.
- Śeshaśāyin, Govinda, Śriyaḥpati.
- Śaṅkhacakraśārṅgamāladhara, Puṇḍarīkāksha, Acyuta.
- Nārāyaṇa, Nara, Śauri, Mādhava, Madhusūdana, Jagadādhāra.
- Keśava, the destroyer of Kaṃsa and Keśī, bearer of Śrīvatsa, Śrīdhara, Śrīnivāsa.
- Yogīśvara, Sarvabhūteśvara, Akshara, Anirdeśya.
- Brahma-rūpa (the creator), Rudra-rūpa (the destroyer), Sarva-vyāpin (the all-pervading).
The prayer
The stotra prays that all pāpas done by body, speech and mind may dissolve. This is for pāpas done in all states of awareness and in all births, and those born of passion, ignorance and pride. They are to dissolve like salt in water at the sound of the names Nārāyaṇa, Govinda, Hari, Kṛshṇa and Īśvara.
Sarasvatī’s words at the end
At the end Sarasvatī said: “I am Sarasvatī, sent by Agni, standing on this brāhmaṇa’s tongue. Chant this Vishṇu Sārasvata Stotra every day at dawn, at noon and at dusk. It brings śānti (peace) and pushṭi (growth and well-being). It destroys all pāpas.”
The phalaśruti
- One recitation gives the puṇya (merit) of giving sixteen pots of sesame every day for a year.
- One year of steady japa, kept with brahmacarya (self-control), brings the attainment of Vishṇuloka.
- All the pāpas of seven births are destroyed.
- Those who chant it reach the highest state, which even scholars of the Vedas cannot reach without bhakti.
What came after
The rākshasa followed the brāhmaṇa’s instruction. He went to the Śālagrāma kshetra and practised prāṇāyāma (control of the breath) and control of the senses. He chanted the stotra and attained moksha.
Sources
- Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, chapter 59