Bhagavad Gita and Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama were the two gems hidden in the mighty ocean of Mahabharata. Lord Srikrishna himself taught Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna. Whereas Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama sthothram was revealed by Bhishmacharya to Pandavas. Bhishmacharya revealed this sthothram to Pandavas when he was on the bed of arrows, after the Mahabharatha war.
Krishna took Pandavas to Bhishma and requested pithamaha (grandsire) to teach the Pandavas about the Ultimate Truth and Dharma. Bhishma was so week physically and mentally being on the bed of arrows. Krishna promised pithamaha Bhishma that He would restore his memory that was buried deep due to the pains in his body.
Pandavas approached Bhishma to teach them the higher principles of life and wisdom, from all his great experiences. Bhishma, who is a great Man of Action and Sacrifice, mastered the whole Dharma Sastra and practiced it strictly throughout his life. Even the Lord of Death feared to approach Bhishma without his permission. Dharmaraja asks him to tell them the greatest of the secrets that made him so great and that he thinks is the best that can liberate all beings from the cycle of birth and death and lead them to planes of highest Happiness, Bliss, The Lord.
Then Bhishmacharya having obtained boon from Lord Krishna to be able to speak in clear voice and memorize his past deeds reveals the essence of all that he learnt from a number of sages who had the vision of Lord in different forms. Bhishma observed a number of austerities imposed by the sages, served them for long periods, satisfied them that he deserves to be taught the secret they have obtained after strenuous efforts, and finally obtained from them the secrets. Like a honeybee that collects the honey drops from all the flowers, Bhishmacharya collected all the manthras from different sages and composed Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Sthothram, which he used to practice daily. When Dharmaraja asked him to reveal the greatest of secrets, Bhishma reveals this to Pandavas on Magha Suddha Eka:dasi day in presence of Lord Krishna, showing Him and telling them that He is Lord of all Lords and praying Him with all 1000 names is all one can ever do to become more dear to Him which itself leads to salvation. Reciting it regularly or even listening to it is itself a great thing that empowers one with the strength to overcome all the difficulties and get on to the right path of Salvation. As it was imparted from a great acharya chosen by the Lord Himself, Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama is considered the essence of Gita and all the Vedas.
In view of this, Acharya HH Sri Swamiji is conducting mass chanting of Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Sthothram for the sake of world peace since 1994 to bless us all with the secret of the secrets and empower us with health, wealth and wisdom and to lead righteous and happy life. How fortunate we are if we are with our Acharya taking upadesam from Him about the best of the secrets a man needs to know in his life!!
Jai Srimannarayana!!!