one of the 12 great authorities or mahajana in the devotional line. He
is the father of Sita and a great devotee of Lord Ramachandra.
The following illustration from the Padma Purana (Patala-khanda
18.31-77) illustrates the supreme potency of the Holy Name and the
merit of associating with saintly persons.
After a long life Janaka Maharaja gave up his body through the yoga
process. A divine airplane decorated with many bells descended and
Janaka Maharaja boarded it to go to Vaikuntha. On the way, the
airplane passed through the abode of Yamaraja, the lord of death.
There, sinners were suffering through many punishments in millions of
hells. When the wind that had touched the body of Janaka came to them
they felt great joy and their misery disappeared. They then started to
lament for want of Janaka’s association. Then Janaka Mataharaja
thought that ‘if by the touch of the breezes that have touched my body
brings so much happiness to them, then let me stay here. This is
heaven for me.’
After sometime Yamaraja saw King Janaka standing at the doorway of
hell. Yamaraja said to him that you are sarva-dharma-shiromani (the
crest jewel of piety). Why have you come here? This place is for those
persons who deceive others, who criticize others, who are intent on
stealing others wealth. A man who abandons a religious wife comes
here. One who out of greed, lust and wealth one who deceives his
friend comes here. Those who torture and exploit the innocent come
here. Those persons who do not remember Lord Ramachandra with all
their mind, words and deeds come here.
Janaka Maharaja however requested Yamaraj to release these sinners
living in hell and only then I can peacefully proceed to Vaikuntha.
Yamaraja however said that only after I give thrm the fruits of their
sins, I will release them. Janaka Maharaj with eyes of tears said:
Please tell me how I can release these persons?
Yamaraja said these persons have never worshipped Lord Vishnu. They
have never heard narrations of the Lord’s transcendental activities.
However, if you really want to release them, then give them the
following merit possessed by you: ‘Once upon getting up in the
morning, you meditated with a pure heart upon Lord Raghunatha
(Ramachandra) who is maha-papa-harabhidhah – the remover of great
sins. Give them the religious merit that you obtained that morning by
chanting “Rama Rama." Obtaining that merit they will get freedom from
hell.’
Hearing these words, Janaka Maharaja gave them the merit obtained by
Him in his birth. He said that let these persons be released from hell
by obtaining the religious merit that I earned by my worship of Lord
Raghunatha. Soon, the sinners were released and obtained divine
bodies. Seeing those sinners now released, Janaka Maharaja was very
pleased in his mind. All those persons praised Janaka Maharaja, the
very treasure house of compassion and proceeded to the spiritual
world.
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