Ajamila's Cheque

Ajamila Rao went to the bank in the morning just when the branch was opening for the day. He deposited an amount of Rupees 10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) in his account and went away. 

A cheque of Rupees 1,000,000,000/- (Rupees One Hundred Crore only) was presented for payment in the account, in another branch of the bank and was waiting for its fate.

The cheque was duly honoured and paid by the bank.

"What is the fate of that big cheque of Rupees One Hundred Crore presented just now?", Branch Manager asked the Assistant Manager referring to the alert he got on the computer on his table..

"Ajamila Rao was just here a moment ago. He deposited Rs. Ten Thousand in his account. The cheque was paid, Sir", answered the Assistant Manager loudly. Another person who was within earshot heard this exchange of words.

He came out of the manager's cabin. There were many persons in the banking hall when this exchange of words took place between the two bank officials in the Manager's cabin. This man told  his friend about the exchange of words which another two present there heard. Soon word spread around that the bank honours cheque of Rs. One Hundred Crore if a customer deposits Rs. Ten Thousand in his account in the bank.

People started issuing cheques for very large amounts and deposited small amounts in their accounts with the confidence that the cheques would be honoured. 

*****

Lord Shiva was taking an evening walk with Parvati Devi. As they were strolling in the sky, Parvati fell a step behind. Shiva turned back at her. She was looking down on the earth below. A young man was driving along the winding hilly road enjoying the scenic beauty. At the next bend he stopped the car and got out to watch the sunset from the vantage point. 

Parvati told Shiva that the young man was in danger as the big boulder on the hill behind him was about to fall and crush him to death. Shiva smiled, nodded and waited for her to resume the walk. "We should save him", she said. "Do you really want to interfere with the proceedings?", Shiva asked. "What to do? My motherly instinct wants to save him", she said. Shiva agreed. "If that is your desire, so be it. When he realises that the boulder is about to hit him, he will shout. If he shouts any word connected to the mother like say Amma, you save him. If he shouts any word connected to the Father like Appa, I will save him", he said. Parvati agreed.

The boulder got detached from its base and rolled down towards the spot where the young man was standing. He realised that he was in line with the movement of the boulder. "Oh, my car!", he shouted as the boulder hit him with full force.

Shiva and Parvati resumed their walk.

*****

Rafael Nadal was playing Novak Djokovic in the 2020 finals of the French Open Tennis Championship at Roland Garros in Paris, France. It was indeed a tense match all the way. A long tug-of-war in which neither party was prepared to let go. Everyone was on the edge of the seats as Championship Point came up. Nadal was to serve with an anxious Djokovic waiting across the net. Nadal threw the ball up after going through all his mannerisms. As the ball came down he moved his racket in an arc, from the left hand which also moved from a body in an arc in the air. The ball flashed across the net in the extreme corner and much beyond the possible retrieving area of Djokovic. The crowd erupted as one man. It was an Ace! Game, set, match and championship went to Nadal. 

Did Nadal win the championship just because of that ace? No. Not at all. He had to go through the rigours of winning six earlier matches, from Round 1 to Semi-finals against tough opponents. Even in the final match, he had won the first set at an astounding 6-0. He had also won the second set at a fighting score at 6-2. Before the final ace, he had won 6 games and leading at 6-5 and also three points in the final game at 40-0. It was then that the ace came up to clinch the championship.

When we watch a match like this, we sit before the television set a few minutes before the match commences. We get up and move to our other activities as soon as the cups are given away. For us the final match was only for four or five hours. The players have to warm up for nearly two hours before the match. There are a number of exercises that they have to go through under the watchful eyes of their coaches. They can't even relax after the victory or defeat and get the cup or plate.. Another hour and half of cooling exercises await them! That ace came up because he was practicing it for years. On each and every day, even when it was off-season. It simply did not come just like that.

*****

Ajamila's story comes up in the 6th Canto of Bhagavata Mahapurana. It is frequently quoted as an example of attainment of salvation to escape the birth and death cycle by chanting the name of the Lord at the time of last breath.

Ajamila was born in Kanyakubja (present Kannauj) and lived a great life in the early years. He was a highly learned man and followed all the requirements for a good life. On one of his visits to the forest for collecting essentials for his rituals, he saw a man and a young woman having a good time physically. His mind became weak at that point and he decided to let go of his strict life to pursue the physical enjoyment. He gave up his parents and deserted a very good wife as well. He persuaded the young woman to live with him. As per her desire, he gave up his earlier life style and started to live as per her dictates. He became a drunkard, thief and everything else to provide for the new life style. He even became a social evil.  

He got ten sons through his second wife. The youngest of them was named as Narayana. Being the youngest son he was the father's pet. In his 88th year he was about to die. Yamadootas appeared before him and their very appearance scared him. In the middle of that fear he shouted and called his son Narayana. The moment he called Narayana, Vishnudootas arrived, told the yamadootas to go away and took him to the abode of the Lord. However much sins a man commits, if one remembers the Lord in the last breath he will get salvation from the birth and death cycle.

This is the story often told. 

*****

Unfortunately many do not read the full story. Those quoting the story also either have not read or read fully. The focus for them is on telling story and making it attractive rather than on its true impact. The story as is being told and circulated does more damage than solve the real issues.

Ajamila lived a pious and great life before being born as Ajamila in his final birth. He lived a life of service to others and accumulated a lot of punya by his righteous deeds. He was born as Ajamila now and even in this birth lived a life useful to the society in the very early part of his life. He strayed from the right path for a brief period in the present life, brief in the context of his overall lifetime in various incarnations. 

Bhagavata says that he got a dream or illusion of his death and calling his son. Yamadootas appeared before him and he saw Vishnudootas also in the same dream or illusion. Bhagavata says this episode brought back his memories of earlier life, and to live a righteous life again. Bhagavata says he realised his mistake, went to Gangadwara (May be Haridwar or Gangotri), atoned for his sins in the remaining part of his life and finally found salvation. The salvation did not come just because he called his son Narayana.

*****

Nadal did not win the French Open just by that one ace. There was years of hard work and repeated efforts to reach perfection in his play. He faced difficulty in the last set. But he quickly realised his position due to his vast experience of being in similar situations. He retrieved his position with firm play in the last two games and that one ace as the crowning glory. 

Banks do not pay cheques unless sufficient funds are provided. When the cheque of Rs. 1,000,000,000/- was presented, the account had a balance of Rs. 999,990,000. Branch Manager did not want the cheque dishonoured for a shortage of only Rs. 10,000/-. A call by him made Ajamila Rao to run to the bank and deposit that small amount. Cheque was passed. The dream situation Ajamila faced was a warning he received from the Lord, very similar to the call from the Branch Manager. 

Remembering the Lord's name at the last breath does not come easy. Like the young man who was so much attached to his car even when he was aware that he would be crushed by the boulder. Shiva and Parvati were waiting, but he remembered his car, what he was interested in. Unless one practices remembering the Lord often, like Nadal getting that ace when required, last memory will be of all those other things that are considered dear all along the life.

One does not know what would be the situation when the last breath goes out. Many are not even conscious at that time. Those conscious may not be able to speak. The last breath may be too sudden and may go out even before one realises. But efforts are to be made to practice and hope that the ace comes when most required.

*****

There may be many who have a genuine question. Who knows all this is real? Why not enjoy life as long as it lasts? Right. Go ahead. Ajamila's story, the real one or fake one doing rounds, will not harm you!