om namo bhagavate vasudevaya!
The first sloka of the VSNS is given below:
viśvaṁ viṣṇurvaṣaṭkārō bhūtabhavyabhavatprabhuḥ
bhūtakṛdbhūtabhṛdbhāvō bhūtātmā bhūtabhāvanah
This first sloka of the 108 slokas of Vishnua Sahasranama Stotram contains 9 names that are chanted in praise of Lord Vishnu. They are:
1) viśvaṁ ( विश्वं )
2) Vishnuḥ ( विष्णु: )
3) Vashatkarah ( वषट्कार: )
4) bhūtabhavyabhavatprabhuḥ ( भूतभव्यभवतप्रभु: )
5) bhūtakṛt ( भूतकृत )
6) bhūtabhṛd ( भुतभ्रिद )
7) bhāvah ( भाव: )
8) bhūtātmā ( भूतात्मा )
9) bhūtabhāvanah ( भतूभावनः )
The meaning of each of these 9 names of the Lord Vishnu are presented below.
Inputs, additions, and sharing of knowledge on the sloka are most welcome from the readers of the blog.
nama no. 1) viśvaṁ ( विश्वं )
om visvaya namah ( ओं विश्वाय नमः )
This first name explains the "COMPLETENESS" of Lord Vishnu. He is complete in all respects - appearance as well as all character. It also means that He is present in the whole 'UNIVERSE'. As the rest 999 names are all going to be in praise of Him, He is being described with this most comprehensive first name 'Visvam' right in the beginning. He is complete. He is flawless. He is universal. The universe is His.
nama no. 2) Vushnuh (विष्णु:)
om vishnave namah ( ओं विष्णवे नमः )
This 2nd name of Lord Vishnu, 'Vishnuh' means the one who exists in all the beings of the world. He has entered everything in the world - all living and non-living, movable and immovable. This 2nd name of Lord Vishnu reinforces the meaning 'completeness' of the Lord described in the first name, visvam.
He is there everywhere. There is no need of any doubt that He is in this and not in that. He is in everything. Remember the story of Bhakt Prahlada. When his father questions Prahlada whether Vishnu is in the pillar of his palace, he says, "'Yes." And He comes out of it to prove that His bhakt Prahlada is right and that he is omnipresent.
In today's modern world, this faith in the Lord is of utmost value for everyone individually and also to the world itself. That faith helps one to behave in a righteous manner. We all should behave with a complete faith and understanding that He is watching us all the time at all places. We should perform our responsibilities in the way we are ordained to. How beautiful this world would be if everyone has the faith and lives accordingly!
nama no. 3) vashatkaarah (वषट्कार: )
om vashatkaaraaya namah (ओम वषट्काराय नमः)
This is the 3rd name of Lord Vishnu as presented in the Sri Vishnu Sahasra Naama Stotram.
The spread of God is not similar to that things like the sky. It is different. This name ‘vashatkaara’ describes that the extensiveness of god is something that is totally ‘under His control’. 'Vashat' means all controlling, as He desires. He permeates everywhere in everything. He is the one who dictates everything as He wishes.
Even the sky is also spread everywhere, and some people try to describe the spread of the sky as similar to that of the god. The name 'vashatkaara' suggests that it is not correct. He spread in everything and every where in order to take them under His control. The sky is spread everywhere, but it can not dictate the things that it covers. A king ruling a kingdom may be able to dictate everyone, but he is not spread everywhere. Where as Lord Vishnu has both in Him, He is the one who not only permeates in everything but also dictates what they should be doing under His control.
nama no. 4) bhutabhavyabhavatprabhu (भूतभव्यभवत्प्रभु:)
om bhutabhavyabhavatprabhave namah (ओं भूतभव्यभवत्प्रभवे नमः)
This 4th name of Lord Vishnu describes that He is the Lord of all things at ALL TIMES – PAST (bhuta), FUTURE (bhavya), and PRESENT (bhavat). He is the Lord of all those that were present in the past, those that are there in the present, and all those that will be there in the future.
He was there when no one was there, and He created the universe. He was there always in the past and all through. He is there always now in the present. He will be there always in the future.
nama no. 5) bhutakrit (भूतकृत) (భూతకృత్)
om bhutakrite namah (ओं भूतकृते नमः) (ఓం భూతకృతే నమః)
The next 5 names describe the ‘swamitvam’ of the God that he is the lord of all. Bhutakrit means that he is the one who ‘created’ all the things – living as well as non-living, everything. He is not only their creator, but also their preserver, and controller of their dealings.
nama no. 6) bhutabhrit (भूतभ्रित) (భూతభృత్)
om bhutabhrite namah (ओं भुतभ्रिते नमः) (ఓం భూతభృతే నమః)
The 6th name of Lord Vishnu 'bhutabhrit' means the one who carries all the beings, one who holds and nurtures all the beings. He is like the central axle of the wheel of the chariot holding the universe and supporting it. He is the sole anchor holding the universe.
nama no. 7) bhaavah (भावः) (భావః)
om bhaavaaya namah (ओं भावाय नमः) (ఓం భావాయ నమః )
'bhaavah' means the one who is ‘capable.’ Also, the one who is so magnificent due to His relationship with all that he created.
He is omnipotent. He is capable of doing everything and anything that he desires to do. He is magnificent, glorious, and a feast to the eyes. It is good for us if we could see Him once in the morning and offer our prayer, and also once in the evening and thank Him for the day. That makes our day too magnificent and our life more blissful.
nama no. 8) bhutaatmaa (भूतात्मा ) (భూతాత్మా)
om bhutaatmane namah (ओं भूतात्मने नमः) (ఓం భూతాత్మనే నమః )
‘bhutaatma’ means that He is the ‘aatmah for the whole universe.’ Just like the relationship of each jeeva (as aatmah) for the body, the Lord is the aatmah for the whole universe.
The relationship between the god and the universe is not limited to just the physical substance, but beyond it as it encompasses the body-aatmah relationship.
nama no. 9) Bhuutabhaavanah (भूतभावन:) (భూతభావనః)
om bhuutabhaavanaaya namah (ओं भूतभावानाया नमः) (ఓం భూతభావనాయ నమః)
The ninth name of Lord Vishnu and the last one in the first sloka is 'bhuutabhaavanah.' It tells us that the Lord Vishnu is the one who not only provides and nurtures all those He created just as described through the 8 names of this sloka so far but also creates their status, character, and the mode of their existence. He is the one with all the control on what His creations do.
om namo bhagavate vasudevaya!
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