The Vishnu sahasranama (Sanskrit viṣṇusahasranāma, a tatpurusha compound translating literally to "the thousand names of Vishnu") is a list of 1,000 names (sahasranama) of Vishnu, one of the main forms of God in Hinduism and the personal supreme God for Vaishnavas (followers of Vishnu). It is also one of the most sacred and commonly chanted stotras in Hinduism. The Vishnu sahasranama as found in the Mahabharata is the most popular version of the 1000 names of Vishnu. Another version exists in the Padma Purana and matsya purana. Each name eulogizes one of His countless great attributes.
According to the 149th chapter of Anushāsanaparva in the epic Mahabharata, the names were handed down to Yudhisthira by the famous warrior Bhishma who was on his death bed at the battle of Kurukshetra. Yudhisthira asks Bhishma the following questions:
kimekam daivatam loke
kim vāpyekam parāyaṇam
stuvantaḥ kam kamarcantaḥ prāpnuyurmānavāḥ subham
ko dharmaḥ sarva dharmāṇām bhavataḥ paramo mataḥ
kim japan mucyate jantuḥ janmasamsārabandhanāt
In this universe who is the one Deva of all? (i.e., at whose command all beings function?, or who is God of all?. Who is the one greatest refuge for all? Who is the one Divinity by praising and by worshipping whom a man attains good? Which according to you is that highest form of Dharma (capable of bestowing salvation and prosperity on man)? What is that by uttering or reciting which any living being can attain freedom from cycle of births and deaths?—Verses 7:8
Bhisma answers by stating that mankind will be free from all sorrows by chanting the Vishnu sahasranāma' which are the thousand names of the all-pervading Supreme Being Vishnu, who is the master of all the worlds, the supreme light, the essence of the universe and who is Brahman. All matter animate and inanimate reside in him and he in turn resides within all matter.
The Vishnu sahasranāma has been the subject of numerous commentaries. Adi Shankaracharya wrote a definitive commentary on the sahasranāma in the 8th century, which is the oldest and has been particularly influential for many schools of Hinduism even today. Parasara Bhattar, a follower of Ramanujacharya wrote a commentary in the 12th century, detailing the names of Vishnu from a Vishishtadvaita perspective. Madhvacharya also wrote a commentary on Vishnu sahasrnama , he disclosed that each word in the sahasranam has a minimum of 100 meaning and being challenged by the audience at his time, Sri Madhvacharaya not only gives 100 meanings for each of the Vishnu sahasranāma but also expands on each of the meanings making it a multi fold complexity and displays an outspoken quality to hold and explain the real and deep hidden meaning of sahasranāma. Hindu literature includes sahasranamas dedicated to Shiva, Devi, Ganesha and other popular deities but none have any strong relation to Mahabaratha, vedas or Upanishad.
shloka is:
- Om Vishvam Vishnurvashatkaaro Bhootbhavyabhavatprabhuh
- Bhootkrid Bhootbhridbhaavo Bhootaatma Bhootbhavanah
| 251 | Suchi | He who is blemishless |
| 252 | Siddhartha | He who has all he wants |
| 253 | Siddha Sankalpa | He who realises all that he wants |
| 254 | Siddhitha | He who gives devotees the ability to attain their wants |
| 255 | Siddhi Sadhana | He who is ‘wants’ and the reason for ‘wants’ |
| 256 | Vrishahi | He who shines like day |
| 257 | Vrishabha | He who showers all wishes on his devotees |
| 258 | Vishnu | He who measured the worlds in Vamana Avatara |
| 259 | Vrishaparvana | He who can be attained through the staircase of Dharma (right action) |
| 260 | Vrishodhara | He who keeps all beings in his belly during deluge |
| 261 | Vardhana | He who rears beings |
| 262 | Vardhamana | He who grows like the beings whom He grows |
| 263 | Viviktha | He who stands alone |
| 264 | Shruthisagara | He who is the ocean in which all Shrutis (Vedas) lead |
| 265 | Subhuja | He who has good arms |
| 266 | Dhurdhara | He who carries everything but not carried by anybody Or He who is impossible to carry |
| 267 | Vagmi | He who is a great orator |
| 268 | Mahendra | He who is God to the Gods |
| 269 | Vasudha | He who gives good pleasures and wealth |
| 270 | Vasu | He who is wealth |
| 271 | Naikaroopa | He who does not have one appearance |
| 272 | Brihadroopa | He who has a big appearance |
| 273 | Shipivishta | He who is inside a ray of light Or He who is sacrifice in a sacrificial animal |
| 274 | Prakasana | He who makes everything shine |
| 275 | Ojastejodyuthidhara | He who has strength, valour and lustre |
| 276 | Prakasathma | He who is the soul of lustre Or He who makes others shine |
| 277 | Prathapana | He who emits heat |
| 278 | Kriddha | He who is full (of knowledge, Dharma and renunciation) |
| 279 | Spashtakshara | He who is denoted by the sound of Om |
| 280 | Manthra | He who is the shape of Vedic mantras |
| 281 | Chandramsa | He who is as pleasant as the ray of moon |
| 282 | Bhaskaradyuthi | He who has light like the sun |
| 283 | Amruthamsurbhava | He who made moon appear from the ocean of milk |
| 284 | Bhanu | He who shines himself |
| 285 | Shasabindu | He who is like moon |
| 286 | Sureswra | He who is the chief of those who do good |
| 287 | Aushadha | He who is medicine |
| 288 | Jagatha-Sethu | He who is the bridge for the worlds |
| 289 | Sathya Dharma Parakrama | He who is truth, Dharma and valorous |
| 290 | Bhootha Bhava Bhannatha | He who is the lord of past, present and future |
| 291 | Pavana | He who cleans in the form of wind |
| 292 | Paavana | He who makes the wind blow |
| 293 | Anala | He whom we never get satisfied |
| 294 | Kamaha | He who removes bondage of life |
| 295 | Kama Krit | He who satisfies wishes |
| 296 | Kantha | He who is attractive because of his beauty |
| 297 | Kama | He who is desired by everybody |
| 298 | Kamapradha | He who gives all wishes for those who wish |
| 299 | Prabhu | He who stands tall |
| 300 | Yugadhi Krit | He who created the divisions of time |
| 301 | Yuga Vartha | He who makes time periods come again and again |
| 302 | Naika Maya | He who creates many illusions |
| 303 | Mahasana | He who is a big eater during deluge |
| 304 | Adhrisya | He who is not visible |
| 305 | Vyaktha roopa | He who is clearly visible (to yogis) |
| 306 | Sahasra Jit | He who defeats thousands (of Rakshsas) |
| 307 | Anantha Jit | He who is forever victorious |
| 308 | Ishta | He who is liked by everyone |
| 309 | Avisishta | He who does not have anyone above him |
| 310 | Sishteshta | He who is dear to the learned |
| 311 | Shikandi | He who wears the feathers of peacock |
| 312 | Nahusha | He who ties souls by illusion |
| 313 | Vrisha | He who rains (wishes of devotees) |
| 314 | Krodha | He who removes anger from devotees |
| 315 | Krodha Krit Kartha | He who destroys those becoming angry (like Rakshasas) |
| 316 | Viswa Bhahu | He who has hands all over the universe (He who supports us every where) |
| 317 | Mahee Dhara | He who supports the earth |
| 318 | Achyutha | He who never changes |
| 319 | Pradhitha | He who is famous |
| 320 | Prana | He who is the soul |
| 321 | Pranaadha | He who gives strength |
| 322 | Vasavanuja | He who is the brother of Indra |
| 323 | Apam Nidhi | He who is the ocean |
| 324 | Adhishtana | He in whom the world stays |
| 325 | Apramaththa | He who is always watchful |
| 326 | Prathishtitha | He who has become stable |
| 327 | Skandha | He who is the ambrosia (nectar) |
| 328 | Skandha Dhara | He who supports the path of the righteous |
| 329 | Dhurya | He who carries the weight of the world |
| 330 | Varadha | He who gives boons |
| 331 | Vayu Vahana | He who makes even the wind move |
| 332 | Vasu Deva | He who is in everything and plays there |
| 333 | Brihat Bhanu | He who has wide rays which go everywhere |
| 334 | Adhi Deva | He who is the first reason of the world |
| 335 | Purandhara | He who destroyed cities of Asuras |
| 336 | Ashoka | He who is never sad |
| 337 | Stharana | He who helps one to cross the sea of life |
| 338 | Sthara | He who gives strength to face the fears of life |
| 339 | Shura | He who has valour |
| 340 | Shouri | He who is a hero (He who is shura, the son of Vasudeva) |
| 341 | Janeswara | He who is God for all those who are born |
| 342 | Anukoola | He who is positively interested in everyone |
| 343 | Satha Vartha | He who was born several times (to protect Dharma) |
| 344 | Padhmi | He who has lotus in his hand |
| 345 | Padhma Nibhekshana | He who has two lotus-like eyes |
| 346 | Padhma Nabha | He who has the lotus on his belly |
| 347 | Aravindaksha | He who has beautiful lotus-like eyes |
| 348 | Padhma Garbha | He who is being meditated in the lotus of our mind |
| 349 | Sarrera Brit | He who takes many forms by his illusion |
| 350 | Mahardhi | He who has great wealth |
| 351 | Hriddha | He who grows in the form of universe |
| 352 | Vridhatma | He who is oldest |
| 353 | Maha Aksha | He who has big eyes (all seeing) |
| 354 | Garuda Dwaja | He who has Garuda (eagle) in his flag |
| 355 | Athula | He who has no equals |
| 356 | Sharabha | He who lives as soul in beings |
| 357 | Bheema | He who makes everyone afraid of Him |
| 358 | Sama Yagna | He who knows the time for action Or He who treats all as equals |
| 359 | Havirhari | He who takes share of Gods in a Yaga (fire sacrifice) |
| 360 | Sarva Lakshana Lakshanya | He who has all known good characteristics Or He who is known to all known rules |
| 361 | Lakshmi Vaan | He from whom Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) never leaves |
| 362 | Samithinjaya | He who wins in all wars |
| 363 | Vikshara | He who is never destroyed |
| 364 | Rohitha | He who took the form of red fish called Rohita Or He who is red like the inside of lotus |
| 365 | Maarga | He who is the way for eternal bliss |
| 366 | Hetha | He who is the cause |
| 367 | Damodhara | He who is known by knowledge got by self-restraint Or He who was tied by Yasodha in the stomach Or He who keeps in his belly the world called Dhama |
| 368 | Saha | He who tolerates everything |
| 369 | Mahidhara | He who carries the world |
| 370 | Maha Bhaga | He who is great in the Avataras (holy births) he takes Or He who receives the best share offered by devotees |
| 371 | Vega Van | He who is very fast |
| 372 | Amithasana | He who takes immeasurable food ( during deluge) |
| 373 | Udbhava | He who is the reason for the birth of the worlds |
| 374 | Ksobhana | He who during creation churns Purusha and Prakrithi |
| 375 | Deva | He who plays in activities like creation Or He who wins over Asuras |
| 376 | Srigarbha | He who keeps his wealth (of worlds) in his belly |
| 377 | Parameshwara | He who is the most efficient ruler |
| 378 | Karana | He who is the instrument for creation of the world |
| 379 | Kaarana | He who is the cause for creation of the world |
| 380 | Kartha | He who is independent master |
| 381 | Vikartha | He who created peculiar worlds |
| 382 | Gahana | He whose shape, strength and actions are difficult to know |
| 383 | Guha | He who hides everything by illusion (Maya) |
| 384 | Vyavasaya | He who is personification of knowledge |
| 385 | Vyavasthana | He who is not bound by any limitations |
| 386 | Samsthana | He who has the best position |
| 387 | Sthanada | He who gives positions |
| 388 | Dhruva | He who is permanent |
| 389 | Parardhi | He who has great wealth |
| 390 | Parama Spashta | He who is the limit of beauty and self-evidence Or He who is extremely clear |
| 391 | Thushta | He who is the form of immortal bliss |
| 392 | Pushta | He who is always complete |
| 393 | Shubekshana | He who has a blissful sight Or He whose sight gives all persons their wants |
| 394 | Raama | He who makes others to be happy with him |
| 395 | Virama | He who is the ultimate end of everything |
| 396 | Viratha | He who is not interested in worldly pleasures |
| 397 | Maargha | He who is the path (for Moksha or immortal bliss) |
| 398 | Neya | He who obeys orders of sages devoted to him |
| 399 | Naya | He who makes everything work (lead) |
| 400 | Anaya | He who cannot be led by anybody |
| 401 | Veera | He who is personification of valour |
| 402 | Shakthi Matham Shreshta | He who is strongest among the strong |
| 403 | Dharma | He who is the basis of every thing Or He who is worshipped by all faiths |
| 404 | Dharma Vidhuttama | He who is greatest among those who know Dharma |
| 405 | Vaikunta | He who keeps the five Bhutas (air, water , sky. fire and earth) bound together at the beginning of creation Or He who removes all obstacles in the way of devotees to attain Him. |
| 406 | Purusha | He who is in front of every thing Or He who washes off all sins Or He who is the soul in all beings |
| 407 | Prana | He who is the soul of souls |
| 408 | Pranadha | He who gives life (movement) |
| 409 | Pranava | He who is the holy sound (Om) |
| 410 | Pruddhu | He who is spread in the form of the worlds |
| 411 | Hiranya Garbha | He who keeps the golden source for all creations |
| 412 | Shatrugna | He who kills Asuras Or He who controls sensual weakness by knowledge |
| 413 | Vyaptha | He who pervades in all beings as the cause |
| 414 | Vayu | He who makes perfumes spread Or He who spreads to the places where he is worshipped |
| 415 | Adokshaja | He who never gets exhausted by use by his devotees Or He who never dries up |
| 416 | Hrithu | He who is the seasons |
| 417 | Sudarshana | He who has eyes like lotus petals Or He who can be easily seen by his devotees |
| 418 | Kaala | He who always keeps thinking of everything |
| 419 | Parameshti | He who by his power stays in the lotus of heart |
| 420 | Parigraha | He who is known in all possible manner by his devotees |
| 421 | Ugra | He who gives strict orders |
| 422 | Samvatsara | He who makes all things reside in Him |
| 423 | Daksha | He who completes all jobs quickly |
| 424 | Vishrama | He who provides rest for those who are tired (of life) |
| 425 | ViswaDakshina | He who is an expert in all things Or He who is more powerful than all others |
| 426 | Visthara | He who makes all the world broaden in Him |
| 427 | StavaraStanu | He who is stable and he who makes the world stable within Him |
| 428 | Pramana | He who is the law to support everything Or He who is personification of knowledge |
| 429 | Bhijamavyaya | He who is the deathless reason |
| 430 | Artha | He who is loved by others (because He is sweet) |
| 431 | Anartha | He who does not wish anything |
| 432 | Mahakosa | He who is immersed in the five continents |
| 433 | Mahabhoga | He who is pleasures in life personified |
| 434 | Mahadhana | He who has great wealth |
| 435 | Anirvinna | He who does not hate others |
| 436 | Stavishta | He who is spread every where in his majestic form |
| 437 | Abhu | He who does not have birth |
| 438 | Dharmayupa | He who is like a pillar in which right action (dharma) is tied |
| 439 | Maha makha | He by whom yagas become great (by giving to Him) |
| 440 | Nakshatra Nemi | He who is like the zodiac |
| 441 | Nakshatri | He who is like the moon who is the chief of stars |
| 442 | Kshama | He who is perennially patient |
| 443 | Kshaama | He who remains alone after the deluge |
| 444 | Sameehana | He who likes his jobs like creation |
| 445 | Yagna | He who is personification of sacrifice (Yagna) |
| 446 | Ijhya | He who is being worshipped by Yagas |
| 447 | Mahejya | He who is the greatest among those worshipped by Yagas |
| 448 | Krathu | He who is personification of performance of Yaga |
| 449 | Sathram | He who is the form of Sathra Yaga Or He who protects good people (Sadhu) |
| 450 | Satham Gathi | He who is the ultimate goal of those who seek salvation (Moksha) |
| 451 | Sarva Darshi | He who knows everything naturally Or He who sees everything |
| 452 | Vimukthathma | He who is the soul which has left all its bondages |
| 453 | Sarvagna | He who knows all that is to be known |
| 454 | Gnanamuuttamam | He who is not born, ever existing, giver of all that is needed and personification of right knowledge |
| 455 | Suvritha | He who has great penance |
| 456 | Sumukha | He who has a handsome face |
| 457 | Suukshma | He who is the smallest known thing from which everything came |
| 458 | Sugosha | He who sings (shouts?) good sounds like Vedas |
| 459 | Sukhadha | He who gives pleasures to devotees |
| 460 | Suhrith | He who has a great heart (mind) |
| 461 | Manohara | He who steals our mind (by his beauty) |
| 462 | Jitakrodha | He who is in control of anger |
| 463 | Vira Bahu | He who has heroic arms (to kill asuras) |
| 464 | Vidharana | He who tears off those who do sins |
| 465 | Swaapana | He who makes all beings sleep by illusion |
| 466 | Swa Wasa | He who is not in the control of others Or He who lives within Himself |
| 467 | Vyapi | He who has spread every where |
| 468 | Nykathma | He who takes various forms depending on need |
| 469 | Nykha Karma Krit | He who does various jobs (like creation , upkeep and destruction) |
| 470 | Vatsara | He who is the abode of everything |
| 471 | Vatsala | He who loves his devotees |
| 472 | Vathsi | He who protects calves (all are calves/children to Him) |
| 473 | Rathna Garbha | He who is the ocean which keeps pearls within itself |
| 474 | Dhaneswara | He who is the God of wealth |
| 475 | Dharma Gupa | He who protects Dharma |
| 476 | Dharma Krith | He who practices Dharma (in spite of His being much above it) |
| 477 | Dharmi | He who supports Dharma |
| 478 | Sadha | He who is the ultimate permanent truth (Para Brahman) |
| 479 | Asadha | He who is the ultimate truth which is hidden (by illusion) |
| 480 | Kshara | He who is all who deceive themselves as the mind, body and senses |
| 481 | Akshara | He who is beyond mind, body and senses Or He who lives in one’s heart as a permanent witness |
| 482 | Avignatha | He who is not one who does not know |
| 483 | Sahsramsu | He who has thousand rays |
| 484 | Vidhatha | He who carries the world and also those who carry it like Adisesha, Diggaja, etc |
| 485 | Kritha Lakshana | He who made the science of properties of all aspects Or He who is the grammar of appearance of every known being |
| 486 | Gabasthi Nemi | He who is in the form of the zodiac |
| 487 | Sath vastha | He who permeates in Sathva guna (kind hearted disciplined life?) Or He who lives among souls |
| 488 | Simha | He who was born as a lion or He who is as royal as a lion |
| 489 | Bhootha Maheswara | He who is the first and ultimate God of all beings Or He who is God of everything |
| 490 | Adhi Deva | He who was God before the Devas Or He who was the first God |
| 491 | Maha Deva | He who lived in renunciation and by Yoga became the greatest truth (God?) |
| 492 | Devesha | He who is the Lord of Devas |
| 493 | Deva Brit Guru | He who is the teacher (guru) for Indra the chief of Devas |
| 494 | Utthara | He who saves all beings from the miserable ocean of mortal life Or He who awoke to help the Devas |
| 495 | Gopathi | He who rears the cattle (Pasu or Go can also be taken to denote all mortals) |
| 496 | Goptha | He who is the saviour |
| 497 | Gnana Gamya | He who can only be attained by right knowledge (Gnana) |
| 498 | Purathana | He who is very ancient |
| 499 | Sareera Bhootha Brit | He who is the soul of Pancha Bhoothas which is the basis of all beings |
| 500 | Bhoktha | He who enjoys the truth in himself Or He who takes care of all beings |