The Vishnu Purana teaches us the importance of reciting or listening to the names of the divine in Kali Yuga. Sahasranama is a Sanskrit term that means “a thousand names”, but the deeper significance of Sahasranama is “Infinity”. We have a lot of Sahasranamas for various deities.

For example

  1. Lalitha Sahasranama to honor Goddess Lalitha devi
  2. Vishnu Sahasranama to honor Lord Vishnu
  3. Shiva Sahasranama to honor Lord Shiva 

The Vishnu Sahasranama was given by Bhishma in the presence of Lord Krishna to King Yudhishtra during the war between the Pandavas and Kauravas. It is part of the great epic Mahabharata. 

Benefits of Vishnu Sahasranama Chanting

Get your personalized Vishnu Sahasranama verse as a beautiful wallpaper!

Reciting or listening to the Vishnu Sahasranama regularly will help you feel a sense of peace and calm that is required for a healthy and happy life. It removes deep rooted subconscious fears and allows you to pursue your highest potential. It empowers you to overcome all obstacles and difficulties and bestows spiritual and material benefits.

In Chakra Samhita (the most important Ayurveda book) the chanting of Vishnu Sahasranama is prescribed as the best remedy for physical and mental disorders. 

Every stotram has a “Phala Sruti” which means the benefits. This is part of the Vishnu Sahasranama and Adi Shankaracharya has given the most amazing commentary on Vishnu Sahasranama which includes the Phala Sruti section as well. 

Sri Adi Sankara explains that nothing inauspicious or unwelcome will accrue to those in this world or the next, when one hears this daily or recites it. 

The miraculous benefits listen in the Phala Sruti section will inspire you to chant or listen to this beautiful Sahasranama everyday.

I am just listing a few of them here… You can find the entire translation here

Dharmaarthi Praapnuyaat Dharmam Arthaarthi Chartham Aapnuyaat |

Kaamaan Avaapnuyaat Kaami Prajaarthi Chaapnuyaat Prajaah ||4||

Meaning:The one who desires righteousness (Dharma), will be blessed with that; the one who desires worldly riches will be blessed with wealth; the one who wishes for the pleasures of life, will be bestowed with all pleasures; the one who desires progeny will be blessed with children.

Na Bhayam Kvachit Aapnoti Viryam Tejashcha Vindati  |

Bhavatyarogo Dyutimaan Balarupagunanvitah ||7||

Meaning: There is no fear for him (the reciter of the 1000 Namas of the Lord) from any quarters. He acquires valour and power. He is endowed with good health and always shines. He is bestowed endowed with strength, a healthy body, and noble qualities’.

Na Krodho Na Cha Maatsaryam Na Lobho Naashubhaa Matih |

Bhavanti Kritapunyaanaam Bhaktaanaam Purushottame ||13||

Meaning:In the case of the devotees of the great Lord, who have acquired lot of good deeds (in order to be devotees), their mind is completely free from anger, jealousy, greed and evil thoughts.

Vedic Astrology & Vishnu Sahasranama

In Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra (the most important Astrology book), Sage Parashara advises the recitation of Vishnu Sahasranama as a remedial measure for planetary afflictions and to enjoy a long happy life. 

There are 12 Zodiac signs and 9 planets which leads to 108 different types of effects that can be caused and the 108 verses of Vishnu Sahasranama has the solution for it. 

There are 108 Nakshatra Padas (Each Nakshatra has 4 Padas or Parts) and there are 108 Navamshas. So each of the Nakshatra Pada and Navamsa is connected a particular verse of the Vishnu Sahasranama.

There are 2 school of thoughts here. In the first one, the first verse of Vishnu Sahasranama corresponds to Ashwini Nakshatra pada 1 and in the other one it begins from Shravana Nakshatra (which is the Nakshatra lorded by Lord Vishnu).

When you are running tough dashas, you can always chant the verse connected to the Nakshatra of the dasha lord. 

If you are having anxiety related problems you can chant the verse connected to the nakshatra of Saturn and Rahu (The Vayu tattva planets that cause anxiety and restlessness).

When you have problems in relationships, you can chant the verse connected to the Nakshatra of the planet that rules the 7th house. 

Note – There is yet another way to calculate the verse based on the Navamsa position of the Moon and the other planets.

Your Personal Verse from Vishnu Sahasranama based on your Birth Chart

You can use the Cosmic Insights App to find the Vishnu Sahasranama verse connected to your own birth chart. 

For a limited time (1 week) we are unlocking this feature for everyone. So you can find your personal verse for free. 

Based on your Janma Nakshatra (Nakshatra of the natal moon), you can calculate it easily.

As discussed, there are 2 ways of calculating it – One which has Ashwini Nakshatra as the starting point and the other which has Shravana Nakshatra as the starting point. 

  1. Find your Janma Nakshatra pada – if you do not know it you can generate your birth chart for free on the Cosmic Insights app or visit NakshatraFinder.com 
  2. For example, if your Janma Nakshatra is Rohini pada 1 – Then the verse Starting from Ashwini would be the 13th Verse (Ashwini has 4, Bharani has the next 4, Kritikka has the next 4, and Rohini pada 1 will be the 13th) and the verse starting from Shravana would be verse 37 (You count from Shravana to Rohini, Shravana is 1, Dhanishta is 2 like that).
  3. Another way is to calculate based on the Navamsa position of the planet. So go to your D9 or Navamsa chart, find the Nakshatra of the planet there and then calculate the verse based on that. 

Note – If you have the Jyotish Reference table feature on the Cosmic Insights app, you can find the mapping of the Verses with the Nakshatra padas there as well.

How  and when to chant or listen to Vishnu Sahasranama

You can chant it at any time, but try to do it at the same time everyday. Whenever you are home, you can also sit at the same place while chanting or listening to it everyday. 

You can either chant or listen to the entire Vishnu Sahasranama or chant your personal verse 11 times everyday. 

If you are unable to do it everyday, then you can do it every Wednesday (auspicious day for Lord Vishnu) and on days when the Moon transits Shravana Nakshatra (Lord Vishnu is the deity of this asterism). 

Download the align27 app for personalized daily rituals based on your own chart.