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The Sunday 20th December 2015 can be marked as a historic day in the Hindu almanac. This year marks the 5154th year from the day Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram was given by Bheeshma to Yudhishthira after the Mahabharata War. From that time onwards these powerful stotras have been available to the mankind for redressal of any forms of grief.
To commemorate the occasion, detailed arrangements were made for 5154 students to come together at the Naimisharanyam to perform chorus chanting of the stotram as a part of the 14th Sreemad Bhaagavata Tattva Sameeksha Satram. Organized by Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha under the umbrella of Narayanashrama Tapovanam and Hind Navotthan Pratishthan, the satram is an annual feature held at Paralikad, Thrissur. More details here.
The students from far and near started assembling since early morning in specially arranged buses. After taking breakfast (provided at the Satrasala), the students sat in the designated area. There were sixty sections marked by sixty names of Mahavishnu, each section accommodating 60 chairs. Other chairs were spread all around the periphery.
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha explained the historic origin as narrated in the Mahabharata.
The chanting of namavali was led by Swami Nirviseshananda Tirtha and Ma Gurupriya. In about 50 minutes two rounds of chanting were completed. There were about 3000 onlookers. The discipline with which the children conducted themselves in such a large gathering, was spectacular. Also, so many children chanting the stotras enthusiastically in unison was a historic sight.
At the end of the sublime, well co-ordinated chanting, each student was given prasaada and thereafter lunch. Then they were conducted back to their schools in the designated buses.
