Srimadh Bagawatham - Gajendra Moksham Part 2

Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/09/srimadh-bagawatham-gajendra-moksham.html

http://www.zimbio.com/Tamil+Movies/articles/LbrOZTurgSi/Sri+Varadhar+Theppam+Gajendra+Varadar+Thirukolam

Indradyumnan took birth as Gajendran in the wilderness surrounding the Trikuta mountain range. It was a beautiful region. There were three tall mountain peaks thus giving the mountain range the name “Trikutam”. Due to the blessing conferred on him by Sage Agasthyaar, he retained some memory of his past life and continued to worship the Lord. Everyday he collected one lotus flower from the ponds he visited and offered the flowers to the Lord. Even today we hear about animals like snakes and elephants visiting temples regularly for worship. Thus, it is not a big surprise that Gajendran continued with his Bakthi Yogam started by him in his past life as Indradyumnan.  He acted as the king of beasts by protecting all the timid creatures like rabbits and deer from their predators. Thus as the King of Beasts he practiced “Dhushta nigraham and sishta paripalan”.

Once, due to lack of rainfall, the forest became very dry. Gajendran relocated his herd in search of water. Soon they could smell the pleasant fragrance of lotus blooms. The herd followed the scent eagerly and came upon a beautiful pond. All the elephants except Gajendran rushed in to the water happily. They rolled about in the water and threw water with their trunks. The elephants splashed around the pond disturbing the aquatic life. Hoo-Hoo who had been turned in to a crocodile lived in this pond. He was angry at the elephants and decided to target their leader. At this instant, Gajendran noticed beautiful gold coloured lotus blooms in the pond. As per his everyday practice, he stepped into the pond and plucked a lotus bloom so that he could take it back with him for his everyday worship. The moment he stepped into the pond, the crocodile attacked Gajendran and caught hold of his leg. Hoo-Hoo was directed by the Lord who was also the antaryami of Hoo-Hoo. Hoo-Hoo had been cursed because he had pulled the leg of a Bagawatha and the relief from the curse could be obtained by holding the feet of another Bagawatha; Gajendran as the Lord’s devotee was a Bagawatha.

 Gajendran trumpeted in anger and tried to pull his leg from the crocodile’s mouth. His herd stopped bathing and rushed to his aid. All the other elephants stampeded to the shore. From the shore they tried to pull Gajendran to safety. There was a big tug of war with the elephants on one side, the crocodile on the other with Gajendran forming the rope. The elephants soon lost as they were dragged inside the water by the determined crocodile that refused to let go off Gajendran’s foot. The herd felt sorry for Gajendran but was afraid to linger there any longer lest the crocodile’s followers should attack them. Thus, the herd abandoned Gajendran. Gajendran felt severe pain but even then his mind was preoccupied about keeping the lotus bloom fresh for the Lord. He kept dipping the lotus bloom in water to prevent it from drying. Thus Gajendran spent 1000 years in the pond. He was unable to free himself from the crocodile. The crocodile did nothing but hold on to Gajendran’s foot. The crocodile did not proceed to eat Gajendran. The two animals remained as they were in the water for a thousand years. 

Continued On: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/09/srimadh-bagawatham-gajendra-moksham_30.html