The origin of the Vishnu Sahasranama

The Vishnu Sahasranama (sometimes referred to as the 1000 names of Vishnu) was first chanted in praise of Lord Krishna on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra. The Kurukshetra war involved two feuding sides of the same family dynasty called the Kurus and the Pandavas. The war lasted for a total of 18 days and it is said that 4.8 million people died from both sides. During the war, a great warrior called Bhishma on the side of the Kurus had been shot with many arrows, and he stayed there, lying on this bed of arrows waiting to die. In the past, Bhishma had received a blessing that he would die only when he decided.

On the Kurukshetra battleground, Yudhishtir (eldest brother of the Pandavas) approached Bhishma. Seeing him lying on the bed of arrows, Yudhishtir and his brothers bowed down in respect to him. Bhishma had always stood up for his dharma. He thought that his dharma was to protect the throne of Hastinapur, and to stand by the king. This is what he had promised to his father, and he had stood firm on his promise.

The Pandavas were sitting at the feet of Bhishma looking at him quietly with great reverence, deep sadness and affection. Seeing his grandsons sitting next to him, he praised them saying, “I knew that you were the ones who would win this war. You deserved to win, not because you are all great, but because you had the Lord, the greatest one, with you.” The Supreme Lord, who is Himself present within the heart of Bhishma He was thus standing in front of him, and the conversation between Bhishma and Yudhishtir is actually part of the Vishnu Sahasranama.