STO-104 – The Life and Death of Ajamila (the afterlife)
There once lived a young brahmin called Ajamila in a city called Kanyakubja. Ajamila was compassionate and kind to all. He lived with his parents and young wife and always chanted his prayers and mantras, and offered respects to his parents and spiritual master. One day, when Ajamila went to the forest to collect fruit and flowers for deity worship, he came across a drunkard man who was shamelessly kissing a prostitute. Ajamila became attracted to this woman, but knew that it was not appropriate. Despite his attempts to control his restless mind, he could not get rid of thoughts of her. Eventually, impelled by desire, he moved in with her and fell from his pure lifestyle into degraded habits. He became a cheat, thief and gambler and his heart turned cruel.
This prostitute bore Ajamila ten sons. The youngest of them was called Narayan. Ajamila was so attached to his son Narayan that he thought of nothing else.. He would not even eat or drink before he had fed Narayan. Years rolled on. Ajamila was getting old and at the advanced age of eighty-eight, was still unmindful that death was inevitably drawing near. One night, half-asleep, he saw approaching him three dreadful and ferocious beings holding ropes in their hands. They had twisted faces, long unruly hair on their heads, and their bodily hair was like bristles. Ajamila recognised them as the legendary Yamadutas, the servant of Yama, the lord of death. They had come to take him to the planet of Yamaraja. Overwhelmed by terror, he cried out to his son, “Narayan, come here. Narayan!.”
Because Ajamila chanted the holy name of Narayan, and even though he was really calling his son, the beautiful Vishnu dutas (servants of Vishnu) immediately arrived. They each looked just like Lord Vishnu. Their complexion was dark blue, they had four arms and on their heads they word golden crowns. They were exquisitely beautiful and moved gracefully. They immediately approached the Yamadutas who were dragging the brahmin’s soul from his body, and ordered “We forbid you! You can’t take him to Yamaraja!”
The fierce-looking Yamadutas angrily retorted, “Who are you to prevent us from taking this sinful man to our master, Lord Yama? Our master Yamaraja punishes those who lead sinful life. Ajamila left his parents and young wife, lived with the prostitute and deserves to be punished.”
The Vishnudutas replied to the Yamadutas, “No doubt he was a sinner but since he chanted the Lord’s powerful name – even though indicating his son – he comes under Narayan’s protection. All his sins have been eradicated and therefore he is exempt from the punishment by Yama.”
After some further discussion, the Yamadutas reluctantly released Ajamila and returned to their master, Yamaraja. After they explained the embarrassing incident, Yama ordered them, “You should never go near the devotees for they remember and chant the Lord’s name. Bring to me that only those people who have never chanted the Lord’s name, and whose ears have never once heard the stories of the Lord.
After hearing the conversation between the Vishnudutas and the Yamadutas, Ajamila realised that he had been given a second chance. Fully aware of his previous folly, he became a great devotee of Narayan, and strictly performed his spiritual duties to free himself of any traces of material desire. A few years later, the Vishnudutas returned on a swan aeroplane and escorted Ajamila back to the spiritual realm.