Gajendra Moksha – The Glory of Complete Surrender

Gajendra Moksha – The Glory of Complete Surrender

There once stood a magnificent mountain known as Trikūṭa, rising to a height of ten thousand yojanas and encircled on all sides by the divine Ocean of Milk (Kṣīrasāgara). Within its vast womb flourished innumerable varieties of trees, creepers, shrubs, rivers, streams, and cascading waterfalls.

The caves at the heart of the mountain echoed with life—Gandharvas, Nāgas, Kinnaras, and Apsaras moved freely through these enchanting surroundings. The lower slopes were inhabited by diverse wild animals, while the rivers and lakes at the mountain’s base were constantly filled with celestial maidens delighting in water sports.

Deep within the dense forest of Trikūṭa lived a mighty elephant king, surrounded by many female elephants. He was the undisputed leader among powerful tuskers.

The Eternal Struggle

One day, Gajendra roamed freely through the forest with his herd, uprooting bamboo groves, crushing thick bushes, and trampling mighty trees. Exhausted by the scorching heat, the thirsty elephants followed the path toward a nearby lake.

Reaching the lake, whose waters were pure and sweet, the herd entered joyfully—drinking, bathing, and playing, forgetting their fatigue.

But disturbed by their movements, a powerful crocodile dwelling in the lake became enraged and suddenly seized Gajendra’s leg with its jaws. The elephant king fought back fiercely, striking and struggling to free himself.

Thus began a terrible battle—elephant against crocodile—lasting for a thousand years. At times one seemed victorious, at other times the other. The gods themselves watched in astonishment.

As the years passed, the unending struggle drained Gajendra’s strength. His body weakened, his vitality faded, and his confidence crumbled. The crocodile, however, grew stronger with each passing moment, dragging the elephant deeper into despair.

At last, realizing his utter helplessness, Gajendra abandoned all pride in his strength and turned his heart fully toward the Supreme Lord. With deep anguish and total surrender, he began to pray fervently to Lord Nārāyaṇa, seeking refuge.

The Lord’s Swift Grace

Hearing the desperate cry of His devotee, Lord Vishnu immediately mounted Garuda, holding the Sudarshana Chakra in His hand, and rushed to the lake.

Upon seeing the Lord, Gajendra lifted a beautiful lotus flower with his trunk and offered it in devotion, crying out:

“O Nārāyaṇa! Protect me!”

Moved by compassion, the Lord descended from Garuda, pulled both Gajendra and the crocodile out of the lake, and with His divine discus split open the crocodile’s jaws, freeing the elephant king.

The heavens rejoiced—flowers rained from the skies, divine drums resounded, Gandharvas and Apsaras sang and danced, while sages and siddhas praised the glory of Lord Hari.

Liberation of Both Souls

The moment the Sudarshana Chakra touched the crocodile, it was transformed into a radiant celestial being. He revealed himself to be Hūhū, a Gandharva cursed to be born as a crocodile. Freed from his curse by the Lord’s grace, he bowed reverently and returned to his celestial abode.

Gajendra too, by the mere touch of the Lord, was released from the bondage of ignorance. He assumed a divine, four-armed form, adorned with golden garments.

In his previous birth, Gajendra had been King Indradyumna, a ruler of the Pāṇḍya dynasty in the Dravida land. A devoted worshipper of Vishnu, he once renounced royal life and performed severe penance in solitude.

When Sage Agastya arrived there with his disciples, the king—absorbed in worship—failed to receive him appropriately. Enraged, the sage cursed Indradyumna to be born as an elephant, symbolizing ignorance and pride.

Accepting the curse as destiny, the king was reborn as Gajendra. Yet, by the merit of his past devotion, his memory of the Lord remained intact—enabling him to surrender completely at the moment of crisis and attain liberation.

The Essence of Gajendra Moksha

The sacred episode of Gajendra Moksha proclaims the supreme truth:

When surrender is complete, the Lord rushes instantly to protect His devotee.

This divine tale, revealing the boundless compassion and glory of Sri Hari, holds a cherished place in the hearts of all devotees of the Bhāgavata tradition.