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Gajendra Moksha, also known as Gajendra Moksham, is a significant episode in the Bhagavata Purana, highlighting the importance of Bhakti (devotion), prayer, and true devotion. This famous incident in Hinduism carries profound symbolic meanings.
Characters in the story:
Lord Vishnu: Lord Vishnu is one of the three major deities in Hinduism, known as the preserver of the universe and the protector of dharma (righteousness). He is often depicted with four arms holding a conch shell, a discus, a mace, and a lotus flower.
Gajendra, the Elephant: Gajendra was an elephant mentioned in the 8th Skandha of the Bhāgavata Purana, whom Vishnu rescued from the clutches of a crocodile.
Once, there was an elephant named Gajendra who was the leader of a large herd. He lived a life of luxury and power, surrounded by many queen elephants. One hot summer day, Gajendra was bathing proudly in a big lake with his friends. Suddenly, a crocodile hiding underwater grabbed his foot and tried to drag him down.
Despite Gajendra’s fierce struggle, the battle raged on for a thousand years. During this time, his friends and queens abandoned him.
Exhausted and desperate, Gajendra realized his helplessness and prayed fervently to Lord Vishnu. Responding to his sincere devotion, Lord Vishnu appeared before him.
With great effort, Gajendra plucked a lotus and offered it to Vishnu, saying, “Narayana, Preceptor of all, Bhagavan; I bow down to you.” Instantly, he was freed from the crocodile’s grip.
Grateful and humble, Gajendra bowed before Lord Vishnu, who then explained the reason for Gajendra’s suffering. In a past life, Gajendra was King Indradyumna, who had disrespected the sage Agastya. Proud of his royal status, the king failed to honor the sage, making Agastya angry. Because of this, Agastya cursed Indradyumna to be reborn as an elephant.
The crocodile, Huhu, was once a Gandharva king. During a sacred ritual conducted by the sage Devala, Huhu playfully pulled the sage’s leg, an act of irreverence that angered Devala. The sage cursed Huhu to be reborn as a crocodile but assured his liberation through Vishnu’s intervention.
Gajendra’s desperate prayer crystallized into the Gajendra Moksha Stotra, a sacred hymn integrated into the Vishnu Sahasranama. Consisting of 34 verses, it narrates Gajendra’s struggle, his plea for help, and the divine intervention that leads to his liberation. This hymn expresses the essence of liberation, capturing the dialogue between the devoted soul and the divine, and resonates with the plea for release from life’s challenges.
This story symbolizes the journey of the egoistic soul, represented by the elephant. In youth, health, and wealth, we become arrogant and believe we are loved by many. The crocodile represents death, which ultimately ends everything. When death approaches, friends and relatives vanish, and even our own body betrays us.
The only solution, like Gajendra’s, is to turn to the Lord in utter surrender. In that moment, God rushes to our aid, destroys death, and liberates our soul from its clutches. This liberation, or Moksha, comes by the grace of the Supreme.
