Ajamil was born into a respectable family and given religious training in his

youth. As a young man he was a qualified priest. While walking in the

forest he passed by a man and a prostitute in a sexual embrace. This so

disturbed his mind that all he could think of was that woman, and he

sought her favors, eventually taking her into his house. In order to

fulfill her every desire he got money by robbery, gambling and violent,

unlawful and immoral activities. He became the lowest and despicable

type of man. Practically there was no sin that he did not commit. 

With that woman Ajamila had many children,

the youngest of which was a boy he named Narayana, one of the names of

God, out of sentiment for his former way of life. When Narayana was

still a young child Ajamil fell ill.

His time in this world was finished. He saw the hideous and frightening

agents of hell who had arrived to drag him to the Lord of Death. Their

deformed bodies and fierce, twisted faces made them terrifying to look

at. Full of fear and anxiety and crying, Ajamil excitedly called to his

child: “Narayana, Narayana!”

But immediately upon hearing the name of their master, the servants of God arrived on

the scene, blocking the agents of hell from taking Ajamila.

The God servants challenged them saying: “Although calling the name of his

son, Ajamila nevertheless uttered the four syllables na-ra-ya-na. Simply

by chanting the name of Narayana in this way, he has sufficiently

atoned for the sinful reactions of millions of lives.

​

“The chanting of the holy name of the Lord is the best process

of atonement for all kinds of sins. It is also the best method of

atonement for one who murders others, for one who slaughters cows, and

for all other sinful men. By following various religious ritualistic

ceremonies or undergoing atonement, sinful men do not become as purified

as by chanting once the holy name of Lord Krishna. Although ritualistic

atonement may free one from karmic reactions, it does not free one from

the tendency to commit more sins, unlike the chanting of the Lord’s

names.

“For one who wants freedom from the reactions to material activities

(karma), the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra is recommended as

the most perfect process of atonement because such chanting completely

eliminates the inclination to sin from the depth of one’s heart. At the

time of death, this Ajamila helplessly and very loudly chanted the holy

name of the Lord, Narayana. That chanting alone has already freed him

from the reactions of all sinful activities. Therefore, O servants of

The Lord of Death, you may not take him to your master for punishment in

hell.”

Fortunate for Ajamila, and for all of us, that we have the means to free

ourselves from all of our karma and suffering by chanting the names of

God. Try it yourself. Simply repeat the mantra again and again while

focusing your mind on the sound. This is a meditation. Meditation means

to still the restless mind and focus it on one thing - the sound of the

mantra.

There are no rules for chanting the maha-mantra. One may chant at any time

and in any place, either in a peaceful or a stressed condition, while

walking down the street, waiting for an elevator, or sitting at a

traffic light. All of those many empty moments of the day can be filled

with the maha-mantra. By continuing to chant one will find peace, inner

fulfillment, and genuine happiness. Once you have experienced the

result, share your secret with others. Let everyone know that the world

can become happy by simply chanting these wonderful names:

Hare Krishna

Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna

Hare Hare

Hare Rama

Hare Rama

Rama Rama

Hare Hare