Vishnu Sahasranama- Thousand Names of Lord Maha Vishnu, word to word English Translation
Vishnu Sahasranam is The Thousand names of Lord MahaVishnu. This Stotra is very important in Vishnu worship. It is commonly chanted in all Maha Vishnu temples. Lord Vishnu devotees consider this as very holy and used to chant this everyday or during special occasions\ its recitation has many benefits both Spiritual and material, and it create a Positive energy and Bhakti (Devotional) environment. Its chanting produces a high vibration of positive and peace. in fact there are 1031 names, there are some repetitions also. Chanting vishnusahasranama creates a great devotional bond with the Supreme Being, the most intimate one.
The history of Vishnu sahasranam is from Mahabharata, The great epic of india by Srila vyasa deva. in Anusasana parva of Mahabharata, section 149, slokas 14 to 120. At the end of the Great Mahabharata War while bhishma acharya waiting for his divine departure, Yudishtira (The elder one of Pandavas) approach him to clear his spiritual doubts. Bhishma was considered as one among the most knowledgeable people in the world. it was Lord krishna who directed yudishtira to bhishma. In answer to yudishtiras questions bhishma chants the divine 1000 names of lord, now known as Vishnu sahasranam and told that by continuous meditation and archana on this Names brings spiritual growth. it is beneficial chanting this stotram during special occasions like eclipse days, birth days and on the day sun moves from one zodiac to other. Chanting this has enormous benefits, it invokes spiritual qualities, benefit for many incurable deceases, and remedy for the bad effects during dasaSantis (troubles that arrives from position of stars).