Sahasrams & Ashtottharams    

Lord SrI Rajagopalan

Mantra Saasthrams, Aagamams and TanthrAs emphasize Maanaseeka or Vaachika Archanaas with 108 or 1008 NaamAs of the ishta dhaivam to advance in one's spiritual pursuits
 

The practises and processes of worship of the Lord VishNu have strong links to reciting 108 and 1008 NaamAs of the Lord with TuLasi or flowers or SvarNa pushpams. Manthra Japam is another powerful route to spiritual advancement. One or more of the AshtOtthara NaamAs are the Manthrams for the sihta dhaivam .For instance, the First Naamam of SrI VenkatEsa AshtOttharam and Sahasra Naamam is the Manthram for Lord VenkatEsa.

Samaya worship deals with internal (Maanaseeka) worship and dhyAnam. Kula or external worship with consecrated vigrahams and YanthrAs is more popular and enhances the anubhavam of BhAgavathAs assembled at the temples and at homes. Misra worship is an admixture of Charyai, Kriyai, Yogam and Jn~Anam and these four are elaborated to different degrees in the various aagamams. KriyA portion involving temple worship is particular significance to the Saadhakan.

For SrI VaishNavaas, the AaagamAs of relevance are: PaancharAthram and VaikAnasam. They promote DEva Saaniddhyam at the aalayams (Temples). PaaancharAthram has direct links to Lord NaarAyaNa in that it was revealed in five nights by BhagavAn Himself. VygAnasa Aagama originates from Sage ViganasA. These two aagamAs deal with the routines of daily worship (the making of icons for consecration, construction of VishNu aalayams, prathishtA/consecration, renovation and purification (restoration of sanctity at periodic interbvals), the conductance of Uthsavams, offerign of MudhrAs, Flowers, Fruits, PrasAdhams with appropriate MudhrAs after undergoing dheekshAs.

The recitation of AshtOttharams and Sahasra Naamams are an important part of daily worship at the temples and at homes. For instance, every day SrI VenkatEsa AshtOttharam and Sahasra Naamam are recited at the first and second bells at Thirumalai. Unique ashtOttharams have been constructed for Lord Raamachandra, KrishNa, NarsimhA as incarnations of SrIman NaarAyaNa and also for specific archA Moorthys like Lord VaradarAja at Kaanchi, which draw heavily from sthala PurANams. It is important to understand the meanings (arthAnusandhAnam) of these AshtOtthara and Sahasra NaamAs since they have tremendous Vedic, Aagamic, PurANic and Dhivya Prabhaandham significances.

This section comments on specific ashtOttharams and Sahasra Naamams. The classic among such commentaries is that of Swamy ParAsara Bhattar on SrI VishNu Sahasra Naamam revered as SrI Bhagavath GuNa DharpaNam.

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