Scriptures describe the Supreme Brahman as beyond
human thought, reason or imagination and as beyond the Gunas.This is known as His formless aspect (Nirguna Brahman), one that signifies His infinite greatness and is accessible only to realised souls. For the rest who are at different stages of God realisation, the Saguna aspect that highlights God’s infinite mercy and other auspicious
qualities are described. This enables the ordinary jivatma cultivate bhakti to Him and seek salvation through this path. In a lecture, Sri Goda Venkateswara Sastrigal drew attention to the fact that Adi Sankara, who had explained the scriptures from the standpoint of Advaita philosophy, also focuses on the boundless compassion of the Lord that comes to the rescue of mankind immersed in the cycle
of birth.
It is said that once Adi Sankara suffered a physical ailment
and was unable to bear the pain; he was advised to worship Lord Subramanya at Tiruchendur and was cured of the disease. The hymn is thus a prayer for solace that anyone (irrespective of birth, status, scholarship, etc) can chant and it teaches us to approach the Lord for relief from all kinds of sorrows. In addition, it offers the most beneficial
suggestion for salvation — seeking the boon to think of God
at all times.
The story of Ajamila teaches the value of God’s name. Ajamila was very devout and engaged in daily worship of God. He used to go in search of firewood to the forest and once he saw a woman belonging to a hunter family and
was drawn to her. He forgot his past life and stayed with her. He now had a son whom he had named Narayana.
When death approached him, he realised the messengers of
Yama on his doorstep and frantically called out to his son Narayana in fear. This brought the emissaries of Vishnu to his presence. They were ready to lead him to Vaikunta. After arguments between the two groups, Yama’s assistants went back empty-handed. They asked Yama
the cause of the failure of their mission.
Yama then advises them to keep away from the devotees of
Vishnu or those who utter His name whatever may be their
past sins in life.
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