Stories From The Bhagawatham - Gajendra Moksham

 

In a hill named Trikuta, there was a garden named Rituman which was a paradise in itself. One could find every kind of tree, flower, fruit and animal there.

In this hill, lived an elephant with his herd. The elephant was the leader of the herd and is referred to by devotees as Gajendra, and this leela of Maha Vishnu is named as Gajendra Moksham. This story is very special. I grew up listening to this story and simply love it because for me, it stands as a validation that no cry or prayer goes unheard in the Universe.

Once, feeling thirsty, Gajendra entered a lake with his herd. After drinking water, the herd bathed in the lake. Unaware to the elephants, a crocodile stealthily swam up to the herd and clutched the leg of Gajendra. The elephant trumpeted loudly in pain. But try as he might, he could not lift his leg from the jaws of the crocodile.

Seeing their leader in trouble, the other elephants tried to help him, but all their efforts went in vain. The crocodile kept trying to drag the elephant under the water while the elephant put on a strong yet slowly losing fight.

The Bhagawatham mentions that this fight went on for many years.

Gajendra felt his will diminishing. He felt like giving up because the struggle had become painful beyond measure. And yet, he held on to one hope. I can surrender to the Lord who is the refuge of everyone in the universe. He will protect me from Yama himself. If He is with me, I do not have to fear anything.

As a last act of surrender, the elephant lifted off a lotus blooming near the lake and holding it in his trunk, he raised his trunk skywards and sent a silent prayer to Lord Maha Vishnu. All of his previous births flashed before the elephant’s mind, and he surrendered his very life to the Lord. This birth of mine in the body of an elephant has been full of Avidhya, and I do not wish to live any more. I want that Moksham which will relieve me forever from the bonds of birth and death. I surrender myself to the infinite power that is You.

The elephant’s prayers reached Lord Narayana who could not bear to see the elephant in any more pain and the Lord took off in His vehicle, the majestic Garuda.

Just when Gajendra was about to give up, he saw an astonishing sight. Garuda was flying towards the elephant. He saw Lord Maha Vishnu release His Sudarshana Chakra. With a single swipe, the Chakra beheaded the crocodile and released the elephant from its death-grip. The exhausted elephant still had kept his trunk upraised, offering the lotus to Lord Narayana, who took it tenderly.

As the crocodile died, a divine being left its body and paid obeisance to Lord Vishnu. The being was a Gandharva named Hu Hu.

Once, while the Gandharva was sporting in a lake, a Rishi named Devala entered the lake to bath. The Gandharva, in playful arrogance, pulled the Rishi’s leg while he was offering prayers. Enraged by this act, the Rishi cursed Hu Hu. “Since you so like to swim in the water, may you become a crocodile!” When the Gandharva asked for forgiveness, the sage replied. “You will be saved of your plight by an elephant.” And this Gandharva had been waiting in the lake as a crocodile since a long time for his salvation in the form of an elephant.

And the elephant? He was a king in his previous birth. A king named Indradyumna who was a just and righteous king. He was also a devotee of Lord Narayana. Once, the king was meditating on the banks of a river when there came Sage Agastya. Being lost in deep meditation, the king failed to note the sage’s presence. Being of quick temperament, the sage cursed the king that he would become an elephant in his next birth and live a life of Tamas!

The king was born as an elephant in his next life, but his mind stayed focused on Lord Narayana through and through. And hence he could reach out to the Lord in the moment of distress.

Having been released from the curse, the Lord touched the elephant and turned him into one of his Sarupas - his attendants. He took Indradyumna with Him on the Garuda and soon both were out of sight of the mortal world.

Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaaya!