Vishnu Sahasranamam

"Vishnu Sahasranamam" is an important hymn given to Yudhishthira by Bhishma in the Anusasana Parvam, Chapter 149 of the Mahabharata. Bhishma himself says in the 141st sloka of this chapter that Vyasa is the composer of this Vishnu Sahasra Namam.

Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, and Garuda Purana also have different versions of this hymn, and Sundar Gutka is also said to have a Sikh version of it. In Sanskrit "Sahasram" means "Thousand" and "Nama" means "Name". Hence, this Namavali can also be interpreted as "Thousand Names of Vishnu".

The thousand names of Vishnu in this hymn, specifically indicate the omnipotent deity's power to control karma. Scholars say that even consecutive names from this prayer form a sentence and convey a larger meaning.