[Advaita-l] Information on Vishnu Sahasranamam

[Sarma KV]

Om namO nArAyaNAya.

The *stotra*-s, *mantra*-s etc. are infinitely potent resources from our
venerable *Rshi*-s. The *Rshi*-s have set the *mantra*-s in certain language
meters (*chandas*), not arbitrarily but because of strong reasons.

*anusTup* is one of the *chandas*-es. It is not of 32 letters, it is of 8
letters. If a SlOka has 32 letters (and is said to be in *anusTup*), it
means that it has 4 *paada*-s each of 8 letters. Similarly *trisTup* is of
11 letters.

*anusTup* istself is also called *gAyatri chandas*, because *gAyatri* is in
*anusTup chandas*. In fact, the *chandas* itself is a "form" of *gAyatri*.
(Please remember, the 'essential' form of *dEvata* is *mantra* and
*chandas*is the 'structure/form' of the
*mantra*.)

Because of such a great importance of the *stOtra*-s and *mantra*-s, when we
do their *anushThaanam*, it is only naturally advised to praise the
*Rshi*(the composer), the
*dEvata* (who's *upAsana* is done by the *mantra/stOtra*) and the meter (the
structure of the *mantra*.) The line you have quoted is that *
Rshi-dEvata-chandas-smaraNam* for *vishNu sahasranaama stOtram*.

*chandas-Sastram* is a *vEda angam* and your doubts may be better answered
by learned members who are knowledged in the *Sastram*. To my knowledge,
there are certain *vEda mantra*-s which extoll that *gAyatri/anusTup chandas
* is the most "powerful." I will give the reference of these *mantra*-s in a
subsequent post.

dhanyOsmi
-Syam

On Wed, Aug 26, 2009 at 12:17 PM, narayan iyer <z1e1b1r1a at yahoo.com> wrote:

>
> Namaste,
>
> I would like any of the learned members to clarify the following:
>
> Before reciting Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam, we begin:
>
> " Sri Veda VyasO Bhagavan Rishi, Anushtub chanda: Sri Mahavishnu
> Paramaathmaa Sriman NaarayaNo devata…."
>
> I understand the chandas metre to be of 32 letters.  Which sloka has 32
> letters in VS?  Is it dhyana sloka or any other sloka/mantra in VS?
> There are many slokas of different letter-counts.  Do they also belong to
> Anushtub chandas?
>
> I learnt on the net that anushtub chandas (32 letters) is used for
> narration and thrishtub (44 letters) is used for praise/to express the song
> of devotion etc.  Is the information correct?
>
> Are all sahasranamams composed in Anushtub chandas?
>
> Thanks in advance for any information
>
> With regards,
>
> narayan
>
>
>
>
>
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नगुरोरधिकं नगुरोरधिकं नगुरोरधिकं नगुरोरधिकम्।
शिवशासनतश्शिवशासनतः शिवशासनतश्शिवशासनतः ।।

Best Regards,
Syam
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