Long ago, there lived a Chandāla, a person considered outcaste by society due to birth and occupation. He lived in a remote forest and was completely uncultured, cruel, and devoid of any spiritual inclination. He ate whatever he found—dead animals, rotten meat, and impure things. His behavior was wild, and he had no concept of dharma or devotion.
Despite his sinful life, something extraordinary happened by divine arrangement.
One day, the Chandāla entered a nearby village looking for food. He wandered past a small Viṣṇu temple, where a kīrtana was taking place. Devotees were dancing and singing loudly the holy names of the Lord:
“Govinda! Mādhava! Hari! Murāri! Rāma! Kṛṣṇa!”
The Chandāla, without understanding what was happening, stood and listened for some time. He didn’t know the meaning of the names, but the vibrations of the holy name entered his ears.
As soon as he heard the holy names, something stirred within him. A strange joy arose in his heart—one that he had never felt before. He left the place, confused, but those names kept echoing inside his mind.
In the following days, he found himself repeatedly chanting the sounds he had heard. At first, he did it unintentionally. Then, slowly, he began doing it with joy. His cruel nature softened. He no longer killed animals. He began to live more simply, peacefully, and detached from his old habits.
Over time, the Chandāla’s heart became fully purified. He took shelter of a saintly devotee who lived in the forest and learned about bhakti, chanting, and the glories of Lord Viṣṇu. He spent the rest of his life chanting and glorifying the Lord with a pure heart.
When the time of death arrived, the messengers of Yamarāja came to drag him to hell. But before they could approach, the Viṣṇudūtas appeared—radiant, effulgent, and holding conch and disc. They rebuked the Yamadūtas and said:
“This soul is not yours. He has taken shelter of Lord Viṣṇu’s holy name. He is purified. He belongs to the Lord now.”
The Yamadūtas, defeated, fled in fear. The Viṣṇudūtas took the soul of the Chandāla and carried him to Vaikuṇṭha, the spiritual realm, where he attained eternal service to the Lord.
Lessons from This Story:
- The holy name of the Lord, when heard even once, can purify the most fallen soul.
- The Lord is not bound by caste, education, or background—He looks only at the sincerity of the heart.
- Kīrtana, or the congregational chanting of the holy names, benefits not only participants but even accidental hearers.
- The power of the Viṣṇudūtas demonstrates that Lord Viṣṇu protects His devotees, even those who have just begun their journey.
