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Sahasranamam - Eligibility

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Vijay_Srinivasan • January 24, 1998 


Dear Prapatti Group Members:

When Yudhishtira asks the question - "Kim Japan Muchyathe Janthu:", Adi
Sankaracharya in his Sahasranama Bhashyam interprets the word "Janthu:" as
"Sarva PrAninAm Adhikaram Soochayati."  Therefore it is clear that when
Bhaghavan Vyasa compiled the thousand names of Lord Vishnu he had in mind
the eligibility of one and all to chant the Vishnu Sahasranamam.

However, some (not all) of our acharyas  have taken a different view.
According to them Mahabharata is considered as a fifth Veda and therefore
all restrictions that apply to the recitation of vedas must also apply to
Vishnu sahasranamam which is part of the Maha Bharatha.  In reality we find
that such restrictions are no longer followed.

Vijayaraghavan Srinivasan