Three-day prayer sessions at Shirdi Sai Sansthan, Onehunga, 11-13 April 2025
Wellingtonians, Hamiltonians, Cantabrians and everyone welcome
Venkat Raman
Auckland, February 5, 2025
Bhajan Satsangh Trust, a growing prayer group in Auckland has invited devotees to participate in chanting the name of Lord Vishnu ten million times in a marathon three-day session at Shirdi Sai Sansthan (Temple) located at 12 Princes Street in Onehunga, Auckland.
Satsang Trustee Venkat Subramaniam said that the prayer sessions will be held as follows:
- Friday, April 11, 2025: 15 pm to 9 pm (Six Rounds)
- Saturday, April 12, 2025:30 am to 9.30 am (Six Rounds); 10.30 am to 4.45 pm (24 Rounds); 7 pm to 8.30 pm (Four Rounds)
- Sunday, April 13, 2025:30 am to 9.30 am: (Two Rounds), followed by Sita Kalyanam (the marriage of Lord Rama, an Avatar with Lord Vishnu, with Goddess Sita, an Incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi)
“Our primary objective is to achieve chanting of Koti, (10 million) Vishnu Namas’ over three days. As Vishnu Sahasranama contains 1000 names of the Lord, Koti Vishnu Namas can be achieved by chanting His Name 10,000 times. And this feat can be achieved (for example), by 500 people chanting Vishnu Sahasranama 20 times, collectively in one place,” he said.
Bhajan Satsang Trust conducted a similar feat successfully from April 23 to April 25, 2021 at the same venue, attended by more than 1000 people.
For Registration and other details, please visit https://bhajansatsangh.com/

The Vishnu Mantra
Devout Hindus (especially those subscribing to Vaishnavism) believe in the following Mantra:
“Vishveshvaram Ajam Devam Jagatah Prabhum Avyayam
Bhajanti Ye Pushkaraaksham Na Te Yaanti Paraabhavam”
(God with Lotus-Eyes is the Unborn Supreme Deity, the Ruler of the Universe, as well as the Controller of the Universe. Those who sing His praise will never meet with setbacks or discomfiture of any kind).
“When an individual chants Vishnu Sahasranama alone, he or she will receive the benefit of chanting 1000 names of Lord Vishnu. Chanting in a group multiplies the effect by the number of participants. For example, when five people chant Vishnu Sahasranama as a group, they offer 5000 Names. Although an individual chants only 1000 Names, the priceless value of Satsang ensures that each individual gets the benefit of chanting 5000 Names of the Lord. Extending this logic, when a group of 500 people chant Vishnu Sahasranama 20 times in unison, every person in that group accrues the benefit of chanting the Name of the Lord ten million (one crore) times. Such a task would take 30 years for an individual to complete in solitude,” Mr Subramaniam said.

Benefits of Recitation
While rendering Vishnu Sahasranamam at least once a day is desirable and does immense good for the mind, the soul and the body and hence enhances the wellbeing of the entire family- group recitation of the Divine Name ten million times is stated to benefit the entire Universe.
Koti Vishnu Nama Parayanam is not common in New Zealand, although hundreds of groups get together every Saturday at various homes to recite Vishnu Sahasranamam at least once. Group recitation brings various other advantages including unity of purpose, promotion of community welfare and increased piety and good deeds.
Why do we want to do this?
One of the simplest yet most effective ways of connecting to the Divine is by the mere recital of Slokas, Stotra and Mantras, with great devotion. In Hinduism, people worship several Gods and Goddesses. The Trimurti comprising Brahma (Creator), Vishnu (Preserver), and Shiva (Destroyer), are the three most important deities.
About Vishnu Sahasranama
Vishnu Sahasranama is an ancient script written in Sanskrit. Sahasra means thousand, and Nama means names. The Vishnu Sahasranama is a masterpiece by the extraordinary Sanskrit scholar Sage Vyasa, also the author of timeless epics, which include the Adhyatma Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, Puranas, and other Stotras.
Vishnu Sahasranama emanated when Krishna took Yudhishtir (the eldest Pandava) to Bheeshma Pitamah, the great warrior lying on his deathbed on the battlefield, felled by Arjuna’s arrows. Bheeshma mentions the virtues of reciting the various names of Lord Vishnu, later composed by Sage Vyasa.
Humanity has always believed that for a sound mind and body, both should remain stress-free. Vishnu Sahasranama is a purifier and saviour. When all fails, we turn to God; we should remember to do so in times of happiness and give thanks.
Worshippers of Lord Vishnu believe that the Lord is the Supreme Deity, called Lord Vishveshwara, Ruler of the Universe, and Vishnu Sahasranama holds immense power. It is a spiritual experience like none other and gives an individual great inner calm and peace.
About Bhajan Satsangh Trust
Bhajan Satsangh Trust is an organisation registered under the Societies act. It has eight Trustees, and it represents a community of approximately 300 families in Auckland. The Trust is a voluntary, not-for-profit organisation.
The objective of this Trust is to create and maintain a platform for learning and sharing the Traditions of Indian culture. Music is an integral part of that process.
The Trust primarily facilitates the gathering of its members once a month for Bhajans. The gathering happens on the First Saturday of the month systematically and over 100 participants gather during the process. This helps especially the younger generation to learn the traditions of their culture.
This practice has continued for over 20 years and was formalised in 2009 by the establishment and incorporation of a Not-for-Profit Trust under the Societies Act.
This was strengthened with its registration under the Charities Act 2005 and enhanced by the ‘Donee Status’ granted by the Inland Revenue Department, enabling donors to claim a tax credit.