What Is Stopping You From Obtaining The Blessing Of Sri Hari?

Today, we will look at the meaning of the divya nama ajaha and also learn about the sixteen parshadas, constant companions of Sri Hari in Vaikuntha.

अजः –
न हि जातो न जायेऽहं न जनिष्ये कदाचन
क्षेत्रज्ञः सर्वभूतानां तस्मादहमजः स्मृतः

I was never born in the past, I am not born in the present and I will not be born in the future – ajaha means one without birth. Birth is an event. Birth is an event through which someone comes into existence, someone who was not there before.

Sri Hari was always there, is always there and will be always there. So where is the question of his birth? He is without birth – ajaha.

न जातो न जनिष्यते says Veda.

अज गतिक्षेपणयोः – throws away – in Sanskrit the meaning of the root aja is to throw away. What does he throw away? Obstacles from the path of those who are approaching him. Sri Hari removes obstacles from the path that is leading to him.

तेषां स्वप्राप्ति परिपन्थि सर्वं स्वयमेव क्षिपति

How does he do that?

What is that becomes obstacle in attaining him? False knowledge about, incorrect knowledge about him. Those who think that he is just one god, one more god. Those who think that he is different from them, he sits somewhere and rules over them. Those who think that he is only responsible for sustenance, not for creation and elimination. These are the false notions about him. This is called ignorance. He gets inside the minds of people and throws away such ignorance. Hence he is called ajaha.

That is why he said:
अहं त्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि

He is taking that responsibility upon himself. I will release you from all your sins. He is not telling you, you work hard and come out of it. He says, I will do it for you. He gave you the tools; when he realizes that you do not even know how to use those tools, he will himself work with those tools and remove your ignorance, showing you incident after incident, making you go through experience after experience.

Now, the sixteen parshadas of Sri Hari. Parshada means companion, attendants who are always with him.

1. Vishvaksena – he is the commander of Bhagavan’s army. He looks like the Lord himself, in pitambara, carrying the same weapons, shankha, chakra, gada and lotus. But he has jata and beard. Sugreeva was an avatara of Vishvaksena. The Tamil saint Nammalvar is an avatara of Vishvaksena.

Jaya and Vijaya, the dwarapalas or guards at the gate of Vaikuntha. When the Lord wanted to refine them more spiritually, he got them cursed by the Kumaras and made them take a series of three births on earth – as Hiranyakashipu, Hiranyaksha; Ravana, Kumbhakarna; and Shishupala, Dantavakra.

The Kumaras had cursed them for stopping them at the gate. Initially they became a little agitated. But Bhagavan told them, I only got you cursed. They instantly realized, then it is for our good only. Even a curse from Bhagavan will be for good. This much is their trust in Bhagavan.

We only start doubting. Not only doubting. I did so much for God, why has this happened to me? What have you done for God? He does not need anything from you. He has everything. You have done for yourself. Whatever you do is for yourself.

We cannot break out of this mindset:
work – wage,
job – salary,
charity – award/recognition,
love – love in return,
you scratch my back – I scratch your back.

We have become unable to think beyond commercial transactions. What is in it for her? What is in it for me? We doubt even a mother’s intention: she has raised me so that I can take care of her when she is old. When will we learn to come out of this mindset?

The companions of the Lord did not reach Vaikuntha just like that. They qualified, through complete faith in him, trust in him. I got you cursed, then ok, then it is for our own good. I chanted Vishnu Sahasranama every day, for one year. Still I did not get that promotion. This complaint will go only if you have complete faith in him that, no, he will not allow anything wrong to happen with me. Whatever he has planned for me is for my own good, long term. He only knows where to take me long term.

Complaining about that promotion, if your eyes and ears are open, if your brain can connect, you will realize that, that missed promotion which you are complaining about, if you had got it, the person who got promoted in your place, he is in trouble now, because with that promotion he became an authorized signatory for the company and one cheque that he signed bounced, or one contract that he signed has gone into litigation. The opposite party has filed a case for cheating, and this promotee who took your place is in trouble now. To know all these your eyes and ears should be open and brain should be active.

All these parshadas achieved positions in Vaikuntha through blind faith in him. The others are Prabala, Bala, Nanda, Sunanda, Subhadra, Bhadra, Chanda, Prachanda, Kumuda and Kumudaksha, Sheela, Susheela and Sushena. They also have certain duties assigned to them by the Lord.

Nanda, Sunanda, Subhadra and Bhadra – they remove troubles of his devotees. Bala and Prabala – they make lives of his devotees happy, peaceful and comfortable. Chanda, Prachanda, Kumuda and Kumudaksha – they are very kind; they rush to his devotees whenever they are likely to face any danger and protect them. Sheela, Susheela and Sushena – they impart the emotion called bhakti into devotees.

All of them are liberated. They are all very wealthy. Do you know what is their wealth? They have Bhagavan only in their mind, perpetually, not like humans whose minds are full of politics, gossip, fears, anxieties, infatuations. Whenever they have free time, they are immersed in his meditation, making his presence stronger and stronger in their minds.

Jaya and Vijaya told Bhagavan, even if you have cursed us out of anger, that you are not satisfied with our service, you have become our enemy, still we are with you. We are happy that you are with us, if not as our master, as our enemy. We only want your presence around us. Friendship, enmity, they all come and go, they keep on changing from one to another. But what they do not want to lose is his presence, his companionship.

• If Sri Hari is unborn, how does that help my anxious mind today? — The unborn means unchanging. Chanting Vishnu Sahasranama anchors your mind to what never shifts, cutting the loop of worry and bringing steady calm.

• If he removes obstacles, why do setbacks still hit me? — Many obstacles are inner: ignorance, ego, impatience. Daily nama japa of 'Om Namo Narayanaya' weakens these roots, so outer problems lose sting and timing improves.

• How do I know whether a closed door is grace or failure? — Track three weeks of chanting and choices in a notebook. Notice patterns: fewer impulsive decisions, better sleep, clearer priorities. That clarity is grace at work.

• What is the simplest start that still has power? — One round of Vishnu Sahasranama on audio while walking, plus 108 nama japa beads. Consistency beats intensity.

• My mind races during chanting; am I doing it wrong? — Racing shows stored restlessness. Keep the tongue moving; let the name carry the mind back. Progress is measured in fewer replays of the same worry.

• Can chanting tangibly reduce stress in the body? — Yes. Slow, rhythmic recitation deepens exhalation, lowers heart rate, and eases muscle tension. Aim for 12–15 minutes of steady pace; feel shoulders drop.

• How does this practice heal a transactional mindset in relationships? — The name trains you to value presence over payoff. Apply one rule at home: one unsolicited helpful act daily without expecting return. Watch warmth rise.

• What if I want quick results for a specific goal? — Set a sankalpa before chanting, but surrender outcomes after the last name. You act; Sri Hari arranges sequence and timing. That surrender prevents burnout.

• How do I handle jealousy when others get the promotion? — Pause, then do 27 beads of nama japa for their welfare. This cuts the poison fast and keeps your channel clean for the right door to open.

• Is there a way to feel companionship from the divine in busy city life? — Assign micro-triggers: elevator doors, traffic lights, kettle whistle. Each cue = 3 silent repetitions of the name. Companionship becomes continuous.

• How do I include my family without forcing them? — Keep evening Sahasranama low-volume as background while doing chores. Invite, do not insist. Offer a gentle 3-minute closing prayer for everyone’s health and harmony.

• What if past mistakes haunt me during prayer? — After chanting, sit one minute and mentally place those events at Sri Hari’s feet. Then take one corrective action that day. Name for purification, action for repair.

• How do I deepen when routine feels dry? — Pick one name from the Sahasranama each week. Study its meaning in one line, live it in one act, and repeat it during commutes. Depth returns without theatrics.

• What is the safety rail so I do not become escapist? — Keep a weekly checklist: sleep hours, steps walked, water intake, one family kindness, one work commitment met, and daily nama japa. Bhakti must strengthen life, not bypass it.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi