VEDAVYASA - The Architect of Vishnu Sahasranama
Rishhirnaamnaam sahasrasya Vedavyaso mahamunih Maharishi Sri VedaVyasa gifted these thousand names to humanity in the form of a sacred hymn (stotra). His significance is captured in this verse: शास्त्रेषु भारतं सारं तत्र नाम सहस्रकम् । वैष्णवं कृष्णगीता च तज्ज्ञानान्मुच्यते जसा ॥ “Shastreshu Bharatam saram, tatra nama sahasrakam; Vaishnavam Krishna-Gita cha, taj-jnanan-muchyate jasa.” Meaning : Among all scriptures, the Mahabharata is the essence. Within the Mahabharata, the Vishnu Sahasranama and the Bhagavad Gita are the crown jewels. Mastery of these two pathwaus leads to liberation (mukti) from the cycle of birth and death. The Sage of the Hymn: In the standard liturgical introduction (Nyasa) to the hymn, Vyasa is identified as the guiding soul behind the work: ऋषिर्नाम्नां सहस्रस्य वेदव्यासो महामुनिः । छन्दोऽनुष्टुप् तथा देवो भगवान् देवकीसुतः ॥ “Rishhirnaamnaam sahasrasya Vedavyaso mahamunih; Chando-nustup tatha devo Bhagavan Devaki-sut...
