Stories From The Bhagawatham - The Power Of Narayana's Name!

 

There is immense power in the name of the Lord. For all of us living in the Kaliyuga, if there is any scope for salvation and liberation, it is through chanting the name of the Divine. Just the name is enough to get rid of any major sin that one might have committed

The name of Narayana leads one to Sharanagathi. The Bhagawatham has a beautiful story that shows the sheer power of the Lord’s name.

In a place called Kanyakubja, there lived a Brahmin named Ajamila. Although he had taken birth in a pious and devoted family, he fell into evil ways and took a wrong path in life. He spent his life stealing from people, picking up fights with everyone he met and not paying any attention to the duties that his religion and spirituality required him to do. He lost himself in a worldly life, spending all of his time with his family.

He had ten sons and the youngest of them was named Narayana. This son was Ajamila’s favourite. All of the latter’s affection and attachment was directed towards his youngest son.

When the time for Ajamila’s departure came, the messengers of Lord Yama approached him. On his death-bed, Ajamila called out to his youngest son. “Narayana! Come here.”

Hearing the Lord’s name, His messengers arrived on the scene and saw the Yamadootas – the messengers of Lord Yama – taking the soul of Ajamila. The Lord’s messengers stopped them from doing so. This angered the Yamadootas.

“Who are you to stop us from doing our duty??” The Yamadootas asked angrily.

The messengers of the Lord asked them. “What is Dharma? Who is punished by Lord Dharma? Please tell us.”

“Dharma is the very code of conduct of life.” The Yamadootas replied. “The man who has failed in his Dharma is eligible for punishment by Lord Yama. Ajamila has led an immoral life and has hurt many people through his actions. We need to take him to Lord Dharma.”

“But at the end of his life, he took the name of the Lord.” The Narayana-dootas explained. “It is true that he has led an immoral life and he did not exactly think about the Lord while calling out his name at the end. But that is the power of the name of Narayana that every sinner, no matter how grave his crime be, will be redeemed on uttering the name of the Lord. Narayana never forsakes those who call him out. He considers them as his Bhaktas and comes to their help. Since Ajamila took the name of the Lord at the end of his life, he has been saved from your hands and now belongs to Narayana.”

“If you are still not convinced,” the Narayana-dootas said, “go to Lord Dharma and ask him about this. He will know.”

The Yamadootas released Ajamila’s soul and went to Lord Dharma. In great bafflement, they explained everything that had happened and asked the Lord Dharma. “Never before has this happened that someone, especially a sinner, has escaped your punishment. You are Lord Dharma, the God of death and liberation, and yet four strange beings defied your rules of conduct. They cut open the noose that we had tied to Ajamila’s soul and freed him. All because he took the name of Narayana at the end of his life! They told us that you will help to clarify matters. Kindly advise us. How is it that the sheer name of Narayana saved someone from the noose of death?!”

Lord Dharma smiled and explained. “I have great power over the lives of human beings. And yet there is One above me whom I honour and obey. All the celestial beings including me, such as Indra, Varuna, Vayu, Surya and many others are just threads of the same cloth woven by Lord Narayana Himself. No one has been able to understand the glory of the Lord. There are very few who understand His code of conduct. Those few include me, Brahma, Narada, Sanatkumar, Kapila, Manu, Prahlada, Janaka, Bali and Vyasa’s son Sukhabrahma. Constantly chanting the name of the Lord in devotion is Bhakti Yoga and is the easiest way to attain oneness with Him. It is the greatest Dharma to be practiced by everyone. Did you see how just the name of the Lord saved a person from death? Constantly thinking about the Lord not only destroys one’s sins but also grants them liberation. “

“You should never approach the devotees of the Lord who are in constant dedication to Him.” Lord Dharma continued. “Bring me the person who has never pronounced the Lord’s name, and whose ears have never heard the glories of the Lord. Remember, the name of the Lord is the most powerful factor in the world. Penance, Tapas, Vratham – nothing can bring as much grace as the name of the Lord. Always remember that the devotees of Lord Narayana will never be punished by me.”

Ajamila, whose soul was saved, and who got another life, had heard the discussion between the two sets of Dootas. He felt a deep sense of remorse for the life he had led till then. Renouncing everything, he dedicated the rest of his life to the Lord and finally, on the banks of the river Ganga, he attained liberation, the very same Dootas of Lord Narayana granting him release from the mortal world.

Every story of the Bhagawatham is precious and deeply insightful. Chanting is the way to liberation and peace.

Om Namo Narayana! Om Namo Bhagavathe Vaasudevaaya!