Some thoughts on Gajendra Moksha

[Guest guest]

[ From Sri A. Bharat of Bangalore ]

 

 

Dear Mani

 

I wonder if you realize the import or let's say the full import

of the Gajendra Moksha episode.It is actually a symbolic

representation of an Upanishadic directive as well as a

procedural demonstration of Prapatti.

 

The elephant due to its physical strength,headstrong nature,

enough intelligence to get by and propensity to 'mada' represents

the samsari chetana.It sees something attractive in a pond and

overestimating its strength steps in.Immediately it is caught by

the indriya-grAha.The gaja has enough sense to realize that this

situation can't continue,but is sure that its strength is equal

to the situation.But the grAha is in its own jurisdiction

(tannilam) and hence the contest proves to be unequal.The

struggle goes on for a thousand deva-samvatsaras(as the text

correctly puts it) when the gaja starts getting tired by the long

struggle and tries to think of a way out.

 

This enquiry gives rise to the real gnAna which is needed for

mukti (gnAnAn mokshah) which results in its giving up its own

effort and calling to the real rakshaka.It has to first identify

that person.The gnAna tells it that it could only be its own

source and cause of existence.To indicate that it has realized

the correct relationship it calls Him by the one name which

cannot apply to anyone else.Thus it follows the upanishadic

command- " kAraNam tu dhEyah"(AtharvaSikha).Naturally the other

devatas who are not concerned do not respond.And He promptly

responds.And cuts its prakriti-sambandha with His kAla-chakra and

personally lifts it on to the bank (ik-karai).

 

In this action,the gaja has exhibited

Akinchanyam,ananyagatitvam,sva-yatna-nivritti

anya-devatA-vaimukhyam ,SaraNa-varaNam and bhara-samarpaNam- and

thus totally performed Prapatti.

 

A most significant fact should not be missed.The speed with which

the Lord arrives has been emphasized.Sri Parasara Bhattar

says,"Bhagavatas-tvarAyai namah!" It was so fast it cannot be

bettered.What is the least time taken to reach a place? It

should be as near zero as it can possibly be,isn't it.Well it was

actually zero. For the Lord was always there right beside the

Chetana,waiting just for his Abhimukhyam.

 

The episode has always had the title gajendra-MOKSHAM.How much

clearer can a riddle be?

 

Sri EmberumAnAr TiruvaDigaLE SaraNam!

with regards

BHARAT

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavathas,

I have heard of one more version of

the same.Iam sure you will all enjoy reading the

same:-

 

The elephant Gajendra and the crocodile were actually

Gandharvas in their previous birth.Due to a curse one

was born as an elephant and the other a crocodile.Both

the souls were great devotees of Lord narayana as

gandharvas and the devotion continued even in their

rebirth as an animal.

The episode of the crocodile catching the elephant's

leg and isolating it from all help is interpreted as

follows:-

 

Both Gajendra and the crocodile were contemplating on

the Lord.But as an elephant,Gajendra could express his

devotion vocally and the crocodile had to be content

thinking of the lord only in mind.The crocodile

somehow

wanted to express its devotion to the lord and it

could

find no better person as the elephant devotee Gajendra

and so it caught Gajendra's leg tightly.This can be

symbolised as a seeker clinging on to the feet of his

Guru or a devotee of lord clinging on and serving the

feet of a prappana of the Lord.The cry of help by

Gajendra to the Lord was not for only him but also for

the crocodile as in reality the crocodile was only

expressing his helplessness in samsara through the cry

of Gajendra.Infact the cause for Gajendra's cry for

help to the lord was the crocodile itself.Therefore

when the Lord appeared,he first freed the crocodile

from the bondage of samsara.This symbolises the love

of the lord for his devotee's devotee.

 

In short the Gajendra moksha episode gives lot of

insight into the nature of prappathi and the quickness

with which it yeilds its result when it is performed

in its true sense.

 

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu

B.N.Suresh

 

 

 

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