Ajamil : Sinner to Saint
“Sinner like [अजामिल] spoke the name of God, while actually calling for his son [who was named ‘Narayan’], he attained Vaikunth, abode of Lord Vishnu''....Bhagvat [भागवत] 6/2/49. When this affirmation is taken in isolation, without exposition of the full matter of Ajamil, it may convey the misleading idea that just by taking the name of the Omnipotent, one gets liberation even if at the time of speaking His name one in fact had somebody other than the Supreme in his mind. Many a time, or should I say most of the time, during week-long discourses on Bhagvat [सप्ताह], such an impression is conveyed to the listeners, for the whole life sketch of this good person turned a sinner and then again turned a saint, and philosophy of liberation is not explained. Hence, the temerity in writing Ajamil’s brief biography from Bhagvat.
Ajamil’s ancient narration is about the discussion between the parshads पार्षद [librated souls living in Lord Vishnu’s abode, who are his look-alikes] and Yamdoots [यमदूत, messengers of Dhamraj, Yamraj - the Lord of death] regarding Vedic and Bhagvat Dharma, the depths to which a person can fall because of bad company, the heights he can rise to due to good company, the power in God’s name, and above all Lord’s grace(कृपा). The representatives of Dharmarajopined ‘’what veds[वेद ] ordain is dharma, what they forbid is adharma(अधर्म).’’ Parshads of Narayan counter this,’’ God’s name purges all sins.’’ Sukhdev heard it from Agastya Rishi (ऋषि अगस्त्य) and repeated it to parikshit (परीक्षित). A Brahmin--- Ajamil, lived in the town of kanyakubj. He was leading a virtuous life as became a person of his caste till he saw a man and a woman in blatant sexual overtures, while he had gone to the forest to gather flowers, fruits and samidha fuel - wood for yagna kund [हवन के लिए लकड़ियाँ] for his father. This sight affected him adversely. He made a liaison with this woman, who was a prostitute, brought her home, began spending his wealth on her, and threw his loyal wife out. To get easy money he took to robbery, gambling and cheating. Leading a sinner’s life, in course of time, he got ten sons, the youngest and apple of his eye was Narayan, named after the Supreme. Time went on, old age came, and he was 88. Death came. Before him were three yamdoots. In fear he yelled for his son, ‘Narayan’. Hearing their master’s name, four parshads of Lord Narayan ‘rescued’ Ajamil from the servants of Lord of death. ---bhagvat 6/1/27-36. Then there is a discussion on ‘what is real dharma, glory in almighty's name etc. between the two parties. Ajamil is saved from death. - --Bhag.6/2/1-21. The sight of Lord’s deputies filled him with joy. With clasped hands he bowed before Vishnu-parshads who had ‘freed’ him. Judging that he wanted to talk to them, they disappeared - Bhag.6/2/22-23. It is clear that Ajamil did not die now, at this point in the narrative. Having heard about Vedic and Bhagvat Dharma, his dormant feelings for devotion for God, which till now had been subdued by sinful life, surfaced. He became remorseful: “I have fallen and am a sinner. What I saw was a dream or was it real and I was awake? Where are those who came to take me and carried a noose?” He now resolved to free himself from maya and leave attachment for ‘I’ ‘my’. He renounced all relations and went to Haridwar from kanyakubj where he was living a base life. In Haridwar he adopted yog (योग), practised diligently, established Self in the Lord---and when Ajamil finally gave up his body on the banks of Ganga, he departed for Vaikunth in a plane, Golden Viman (स्वर्ण विमान), with those four parshads of the Lord who had rescued him from Yamdoots previously — Bhag.6/2/39 - 44.
Thus reading sk.6, ch.1-3 of Bhagvat [स्कंध 6 अध्याय 1 -3 ] cautiously, we learn that Ajamil did not die when he shouted ‘Narayan’ for his son [and not for God]. His rescue from three Yamdoots by four parshads of Lord Narayan and the knowledge of dharma he got from the discourse between these two parties, was a blessing from God to arouse his quiescent love towards God [after all he was virtuous before his fall]. The fact is he saw these superhuman [अलौकिक] personalities — whether it was a reality or only a dream is not clear from the text. Whatever the fact, we are only concerned with God’s grace and how the Brahmin reacted to the experience by renouncing sin.
From Ajamil’s life sketch we see the ill-effects of bad company, how a virtuous Brahamin fell. Another example of such a fall is of ‘Saubhari Yogi ’ (सौभरि योगी). Once while meditating under-water he saw fish enjoying sex. To do likewise he gave up his god-centred life, made his body youthful and married fifty daughters of king Mandhana. For a long time he enjoyed conjugal life, lived in princely luxuries, and then after a long time, suddenly, [by God’s grace of course] realized the futility of material wealth, which is perishable. He then renounced everything, went to the jungle, where his wives followed him, and merged himself with the almighty-----his wives, fifty of them, did likewise.
We also learn how low we may have fallen, how great our sins, God is always ready to forgive us. “Even if the vilest sinner worships me he should be considered a saint, for he has rightly resolved to be my devotee” — Gita 9/30. Again for those who are not interested in devotion(भक्ति), Krishna shows an alternative. These vile ones can adopt the path of knowledge(ज्ञान). “If you are the most sinful of all sinners, you shall undoubtedly, cross all sins by the boat of wisdom alone’’— Gita 4/36. One more thing we learn from Ajamil’s story is that there is unlimited power in God’s name. Sage Tulsidas has given more importance to Lord’s name then to Lord Himself.
Once Gopis wanted to cross river Yamuna that was in full spate. On Krishna’s advice they spoke, ‘our Shyamsunder known as Krishna is a total celibate’’ and way was given by the power of His name –Gopal Utter Tapni Upnishad 1/1-5. His name can make pure the most impure. We all know how Ratnaker evolved into saint Valmiki by Lord’s name. If you too were under a misconception like me that Ajamil died when he shouted ‘Narayan’ and after being rescued by parshads of God from Yamdoots went straight to Vaikunth, then your wrong knowledge, I presume, has been corrected. Now you are free of the erroneous concept that a person uttering ’Ram’, at the time of his death and whereby meaning his friend bearing that name, will attain God, though his mind is not on God. Such attainment is possible only if that person is also dwelling on Lord when speaking the name. Let us examine these from the perspective of Bhagvan Himself as revealed by Him in Gita. Mental state of the person is relevant in deciding his next birth or liberation. -Gita14/14, 15, 18. “Thinking of whatever entity one leaves the body at the time of death, that and that alone one attains, being ever absorbed in its thought.’’ - Gita 8/6. Turning back to Ajamil, when he left his body in Haridwar, by that time he was fully established in God for by that time he had been practising yog for quite a time. Therefore, as per Gita 8.5, he attained God.’’ “He who departs from the body, thinking of Me alone even at the time of death, attains My state; there is no doubt about it.’’ This is a special provision for those who have not thought about Him all their lives but remember Him at the last time. This can be possible under certain circumstances by : 1. race of God 2. grace of God - realized saints, somebody speaks god’s name, leela, etc. to him. 4. death in special place like kashi 5. special vibrations of a place where name of God is always in the atmosphere 6. by any means he thinks/remembers God at the last moment. Remembrance means thinking of Him as one capable of rendering liberation and as Almighty. Except for the above extra-ordinary conditions, nobody can think of Him at the last time who throughout his life has not dwelt his mind on God constantly. So be sure to remember Him at all times. This way you will remember Him at the time of leaving the body.
Be in touch with the Omnipotent always.
Ref:
1. Upanishad number, Gita press, Gorakhpur samvat 2069 [Hindi]
2. Sadhaka-Sanjavini, Gita press, Gorakhpur [Eng.] by Swami Ramsukhdasji
3. Srimad Bhagvat [Eng.] Gita press, Gorakhpur
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May this inspire you to go Godwards. God is your insurance for health, happiness, prosperity, all good things of life and liberation / salvation.
Inspired by : Jagat Gurutam Shri Kripaluji Maharaj 
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