People are confused by the story of Ajamil, not just in India, but all over the world. It is said of Ajamil that at the time of his death he called out to his son. His son’s name was “Narayana”. In the world, when someone is close to death, he will ask to see those he is most attached to one last time.
Ajamil was extremely impious and frequently associated with prostitutes, but he was very attached to his son. He wanted to say, “Call Narayana,” but he was only able to utter, “Narayana!” and then went unconscious. Although he didn’t actually die at this time, it is said that he expired and then attained divine Vaikuntha abode. Perhaps those who say this haven’t read this story.
In the Bhagwatam it is clearly written that after Ajamil called out for his son, he became unconscious. Everyone becomes unconscious before death. Unconsciousness happens when someone cannot tolerate the pain he is suffering. This doesn’t mean he dies. Someone is being struck once, twice, three times – each time he is screaming in pain. The fourth time he is silent because he falls unconscious. People may think he is dead, but after some time he regains consciousness and sits up. So there is a point where the senses and mind can’t tolerate the pain, and after this, they stop working. If death occurs, it happens only after this.
The pain you experience at the time of death is so great that even before death you can’t speak at all. You are unable to utter even a worldly name, let alone God’s name. So to say a name at the time of death really means it has to be said before death. Even so, this isn’t possible.
Even if it were possible, in Ajamil’s case, he did not die after becoming unconscious. Instead he had a vision that the messengers of God Vishnu and the messengers of Yamraj (the god of death) had come. They were debating with each other, and Ajamil overhead this.
Yamraj’s messengers were saying, “He is a great sinner. We will take him to hell.” Vishnu’s messengers said, “No, you won’t. He took God’s name ‘Narayana’. You can’t take him.” In the end, the messengers of Vishnu had greater authority and chased the Yamraj’s messengers away. (Bhagwatam, 6/2/20)
In other words, after Ajamil uttered “Narayana”, the messengers of Vishnu saved Ajamil from death and they chased away the messengers of Yamraj. The scriptures clearly say he was saved from death. This being the case, how could he have gone to Vaikuntha? Then what actually happened?
He was saved from death. (Bhagwatam, 6/2/24) Then, after listening to the debate between these two groups of messengers, Ajamil developed detachment. He thought, “Does God’s name really have so much power that it can chase away Yamraj’s messengers?”
After hearing about the importance of God’s name, devotion for Lord Krishna arose in his heart. (Bhagwatam, 6/2/25) Then he decided, “I will now lovingly attach my mind to God through bhakti.” (Bhagwatam, 6/2/38) Then he went to Haridwar.
In Haridwar he engaged in devotion, and through this he attained God realisation and received the divine vision of God. Then the messengers of Vishnu who had came before, came back again in a celestial car, but this time they came to take Ajamil to Vaikuntha abode.
Therefore, if your mind is not lovingly attached to God when you repeat His name, nothing will happen. It is essential to add your feelings of loving remembrance for God when you engage in nam sankirtan or chanting.
The cause of our mayic bondage or liberation from Maya is the mind, not the senses. God doesn’t note what our senses are doing. Even in a criminal case, the law doesn’t note what the senses do. If someone has pre-meditated bad intentions, then his actions are called a crime.
But no judge is all-knowing. He can’t know what a person actually thought. He can only pass judgment based on the evidence. He also feels that he shouldn’t wrongly give the death sentence because the accused did not commit the crime. But he is helpless. He must act according to the evidence.
But God Himself is noting all our thoughts from within our hearts. That is why He has no need for physical evidence. He Himself is the observer, He Himself gives a judgment, and He Himself ordains the punishment.
For this reason, the mind must be attached to God. The Veda says, “Man eva manushyanam karanam bandha mokshayoh.” The cause of our mayic bondage or liberation from Maya is the mind.