Ajamila Saved by Holy Name

Dadi: "Beta Guddu, do you know that even saying God's name by accident can save your soul?"

Guddu: "By accident? How does that work, Dadi?"

Dadi: "Let me tell you the remarkable story of Ajamila - a man who lived a terrible life but was saved at the very end by something he did without even meaning to."

Guddu: "This sounds interesting!"

Dadi: "Ajamila was once a good Brahmin - educated, humble, and devoted to his duties. He knew the scriptures and followed all the right practices. But one day, he saw a woman in the forest, and everything changed."

Guddu: "What happened?"

Dadi: "He became infatuated with her and left his family to live with her. Over the years, he forgot everything he once knew. He became a gambler, a cheater, and did terrible things to support his new family. For eighty-eight years, he lived this sinful life."

Guddu: "That's almost his whole life doing bad things!"

Dadi: "Yes, beta. But there was one thing in his life that was pure - his youngest son, a little boy he loved more than anything. And do you know what he had named this child?"

Guddu: "What?"

Dadi: "Narayana - one of the names of Lord Vishnu."

Guddu: "Oh! That's God's name!"

Dadi: "Exactly. Now, Ajamila was always calling his son: "Narayana, come here!" "Narayana, bring me water!" He said that holy name hundreds of times every day, but he was only calling his child - he wasn't thinking of God at all."

Guddu: "But he was still saying God's name?"

Dadi: "Exactly. And when Ajamila was very old and dying, something terrifying happened. He saw three frightening figures approach him - the Yamadutas, the messengers of Yama, the god of death. They had ropes in their hands and had come to drag his soul to be punished for all his sins."

Guddu: "That sounds scary!"

Dadi: "It was! Ajamila was terrified. In his fear, his thoughts went to his beloved youngest son. With his last breaths, he called out desperately: "Narayana! Narayana!""

Guddu: "He was calling his son!"

Dadi: "He was. But he was also calling God's name! And that call was heard in heaven. Instantly, divine beings appeared - the Vishnudutas, the messengers of Lord Vishnu, shining and dressed in yellow."

Guddu: "Two sets of messengers?"

Dadi: "Yes! And they had a great debate right there. The Yamadutas said, "This man has sinned for eighty-eight years! He deserves punishment!""

Guddu: "What did the Vishnudutas say?"

Dadi: "They said something beautiful: "By saying the name Narayana, even without understanding its power, he has erased all his sins. The holy name is like fire - it burns up bad karma whether you know its power or not!""

Guddu: "So even saying it by accident works?"

Dadi: "That's the amazing thing, beta. The Vishnudutas explained that just as medicine heals whether or not you understand how it works, the divine name purifies whether or not you say it intentionally."

Guddu: "So what happened to Ajamila?"

Dadi: "The Yamadutas were defeated by this argument. They released Ajamila and went back to Yama to report what had happened. Even Yama was impressed and told his messengers, "Never touch devotees of Lord Vishnu again. The power of the holy name protects them.""

Guddu: "And Ajamila?"

Dadi: "Here's the beautiful part. When Ajamila came back to consciousness, he remembered everything that had happened. He was filled with remorse for his wasted life. But instead of giving up in despair, he saw hope."

Guddu: "What did he do?"

Dadi: "He gave up everything - his family, his home, all his possessions - and went to the holy city of Haridwar. There, he spent his remaining time in genuine devotion, truly calling on Narayana as God, not just as his son's name."

Guddu: "So he finally became good?"

Dadi: "Better than good, beta. He became a true devotee. And when the time came for him to leave his body, the Vishnudutas came again - this time, they didn't have to argue with anyone. They seated Ajamila on a golden throne and carried him to Vaikuntha, the spiritual world."

Guddu: "Wow! From a sinner to going to heaven!"

Dadi: "That's the power of God's name, beta. It saved him even when he didn't deserve it, giving him a second chance to truly transform."

Guddu: "But Dadi, does that mean we can do bad things and just say God's name at the end?"

Dadi: "Ah, that's the wrong lesson! Ajamila suffered greatly for his sins, and he almost went to a terrible place. The name saved him by accident, but imagine how much better his life would have been if he had been devoted from the beginning!"

Guddu: "So we should say God's name on purpose, all the time?"

Dadi: "Yes, beta. Not as a trick to escape punishment, but because it keeps our hearts pure and our minds focused on what's good. Every time you say "Ram Ram" or "Hari Om" or "Narayana," you're planting seeds of goodness in your heart."

Guddu: "I understand, Dadi. The name has power, but it's best to mean it when we say it."

Dadi: "Perfect understanding, beta. Now, shall we say a few names of God together before you go to sleep? Just to plant those good seeds?"

Guddu: "Yes, Dadi! Narayana... and this time, I mean the real one!"

Dadi: "*laughs* That's my wise boy."