Gajendra-moksha or the salvation of elephant king Gajendra is a very popular story in the Hindu religious texts. Gajendra Moksha tale gets prominent mention in Bhagvat Purana, Skanda Purana, and Vishnudharmottara Purana with a few variations in the narrative. The tale is recounted as the example of Bhakti tradition in Vaishanv cult.
According to the tale in Bhag. P. A herd of elephants lived on the Trikuta mountains led by an elephant named Gajendra. The herd would graze in the nearby forest and drink water from the lake close to the mountain. Following this routine, one day the herd after having their fill of fruits and foliage from the forest went to the nearby lake and began frolicking in the crystal clear waters peppered with lotus flowers. As Gajendra the elephant stepped into the lake, a large crocodile clamped its powerful jaws on to his leg . The massive elephant tried with all his might to extricate himself from the iron grip of the crocodile, but in vain. The tussle between the elephant and crocodile went on for hours but the crocodile wouldn’t let go and the exhausted massive elephant started sensing defeat and the approach of his inevitable death. As a last resort he started praying to lord Vishnu for help.
When Hari ( Vishnu ) heard the desperate cries and prayers of the elephant, he came riding on the wings of his vehicle Garuda. At the very same moment the elephant caught sight of Lord Vishnu, he was dragged violently into the lake by the crocodile, and as the last act of devotion before his death, the elephant plucked a lotus flower and offered it to Vishnu and saluted him. Hari (Vishnu) was so moved by this act of devotion by the elephant, he rescued it by slashing open the jaws of crocodile with his Sudarshan chakra. Thus the elephant Gajendra was saved from certain death.
It is Skanda Purana that gives us the back story of the elephant and the crocodile and the reason for their enmity. According to Skanda Purana, the crocodile was a noble Gandharva in his previous birth by name Huhu who was cursed by sage Devala to turn into a crocodile. When Vishnu flung his sudarshan chakra on the crocodile to save the elephant, the curse was broken and the Gandharva freed from the sage’s curse regaining his original form and was free.
The elephant too was the victim of a curse by sage Agastya. In his previous birth the elephant was a Pandya King by the name of Indradymna. Sage Agastya had rebuked and cursed him for neglecting his duties as a king and for being unmindful of his responsibilities towards his subjects. It is said that when Indradymna in the form of the elephant let go off his pride and surrendered his life to Vishnu, he achieved moksha or salvation.
Vishnudharmottara Purana gives the same account with a significant variation. A crocodile and an Elephant lived in the vicinity of Jambudvipa on the top of the mountain called Sringavan. In their former births they were Gandharvas by the name Huhu and Haha. These two Gandharvas were well known for their singing skills. One day both of them got into an argument to decide who is the superior singing talent. They went to sage Devala for a asked him for his opinion and requested him to judge who is the superior talent. But when they did not get a favourable response, both of them insulted the sage Devala by saying he has donkey’s ears as far as the knowledge of music goes. The enraged sage cursed both the Gandharvas to turn into beasts. Accordingly Haha became an elephant and Huhu turned into a crocodile and lived that way until the day Hari ( Vishnu) pleased with their devotion rescued them from their plight by removing the curse.
Story Collected by : Vidya Kamat
Text Source: “ Gajendra Moksha”, Puranic Myth and Culture by S. A. Dange
Location : Pan India
Image Copyright: Vidya Kamat
Leave a Comment