Treasures of the Maharishi Veda App #3:
Vishnu Sahasranam

We have received quite a few emails asking about the special value of the recitation of Vishnu Sahasranam. We are not able to properly explore this delightful topic in a brief note, but we thought to offer some short points you might find of interest. We also encourage all those interested to read the section on Vishnu in Chapter IX of Dr. Tony Nader’s epic book, ‘Human Physiology, Expression of Veda and the Vedic Literature‘.

In a press conference in April 2004, Maharishi described Vishnu as, ‘Vishnu Devata‘—the intelligence that puts dynamism and silence together in one united Wholeness.’ And in October 2001, speaking of ‘Sahasranaam‘ (literally — 1,000 names), Maharishi said that ‘1,000 means infinite. The field of Para (the Transcendent) is described in terms of Sahashra-Akshara Parame Vyoman.’

The great speciality of Vishnu Sahasranam is that in listening to the recitation of these 1,000 names, with each name a reference to and an enlivenment of a quality of Consciousness, we help structure the permanent experience of dynamism and silence together in our own lives. And therefore, Maharishi, in speaking to the uniqueness of Vishnu Sahasranam, called it ‘A Universal tonic’.

In the Maharishi Veda App, Vishnu Sahasranam is presented in the Recitation menu as both one continuous stream of about 45 minutes, and also in sequential segments of about 10 minutes.

Finally, a word about Vedic Devata: Vedic Devata are the impulses of Creative Intelligence responsible for the creation, maintenance, and evolution of everything in the universe. Cosmic in dimension, they permeate the whole creation, from the smallest to the largest. The Vedic Devata are not religious, philosophical, or poetical concepts, but a scientific reality. The Vedic Devata are lively in every grain of creation. In the same way that the law of gravity exercises its ‘rulership’ over the attraction between masses, the Vedic Devata exercise their administrative role over every form and function in creation.