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SIGNIFICANCE OF BHEESHMA EKADASI  AND SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMA

Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama was revealed to the World by Bheeshma Pitamaha (Great son of King Shanthanu & Ganga Devi, Dearest Deciple of Parashurama, Brihaspati and many great sages) in the month of Magha masa, according to lunar calendar, on the 11th day of waxing moon, that is sukla paksha Ekadasi which comes exactly after 2 months of Githopadesa by Lord Sri Krishna. That is the reason, it is known as Bheeshma Ekadasi, in honor of Bheeshma, who is also an ardent devotee of Lord Sri Krishna.Bheeshma Ekadasi is very auspicious day as it is the when the world received the greatest of all stotras - Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Stotram.  This powerful stotram was revealed to the Pandavas (& the world) by their great grandsire Sri Bheeshmacharya, when he was on the bed of arrows nearing his death, after the conclusion of the Mahabharatha war 

Lord Sri Krishna knew that the most eligible person to talk about the ultimate truth would be Bheeshma was ready to leave his mortal body. So, Lord Sri Krishna took Pandavas to Bheeshma was a great Man of Principles, Great Ideals, Action and Sacrifice. He has mastered the whole Dharma Shastra and practiced it strictly every bit throughout his life. Even the Lord of Death, Yamaraj feared to approach Bheeshma without his permission.Dharmaraja requested Bheeshma & asked him to tell them the greatest of the secrets that made him so great and that he thinks is the best that can liberate all beings from the cycle of births and deaths and lead them to planes of highest Happiness, Bliss & the Supreme Lord. That was when Bheeshma, after having obtained the boon from Lord Sri Krishna to be able to speak in clear voice and memorize his past deeds reveals the essence of all that he learnt from a number of sages who had the vision of Lord in different forms. Bheeshma has accumulated much knowledge from all the sages, Gurus and great men whom he had a good fortune of meeting in his long life span. He himself was also a great scholar, and being an ardent devotee to the Lord Sri Krishna added benefit for him, because of which knowledge by itself will also dawn upon them effortlessly. With all this knowledge and experience and with the Blessings of the Lord he recited this most beautiful, powerful core essence of all the mantras – Sri Vishnu Sahastranama. Bheeshma revealed Sri Vishnu Sahastranama to Pandavas on Magha Suddha Ekadasi day in presence of Lord Krishna, showing Him and telling them that He is Lord of all Lords and praying Him with all 1000 names is all one can ever do to become more dear to Him which itself leads to salvation.

Sri Vishnu Sahastranama is very beautiful, poetic and very melodious too and really easy to recite and learn and easy to practice in daily life. Being the quintessence of all the Mantras, Vedas and Shastras, Sri Vishnu Sahastranama Stotra acts as a very powerful Shield against all evils, odds and obstacles and at the same time also gives much needed protection, solace, blesses one with prosperity and success. Thus achieving every desired thing in life it also leads one easily towards the Lord realization and gives Moksha. All that one needs to do is just listen, chant, read or teach Sri Vishnu Sahastranama regularly, daily or as often as possible. The greatness of Sri Vishnu Sahastranama is beyond description. Reciting it regularly or even listening to it is itself a great thing that empowers one with the strength to overcome all kinds of difficulties.