perugu—annam:Gajendra Moksha or The Liberation of Gajendra is a Puranic legend from the Bhagav
perugu—annam:Gajendra Moksha or The Liberation of Gajendra is a Puranic legend from the Bhagavad Purana, one of the most sacred books in Hinduism. It is one of the famous exploits of Lord Vishnu. In this moving episode, Lord Vishnu came down to earth to protect Gajendra, an elephant, from the clutches of a crocodile and granted him moksha, or salvation. There was once an elephant named Gajendra who used to live in the mountains of Trikuta in ancient India. Gajendra ruled over all the other elephants in the herd. On a hot day, he proceeded with his herd to a lake to cool off in its fresh waters. Suddenly, a crocodile living in the lake attacked Gajendra and caught him by the leg. Gajendra tried for a long time to escape from the crocodile’s clutches. All his family, relatives and friends gathered around to help him, but in vain. The crocodile wouldn’t simply let go. When they realised that ‘death’ has come close to Gajendra, the other elephants left him alone. He trumpeted in pain and helplessness until he was hoarse. As the struggle was seemingly endless and when the last drop of energy was also sapped, Gajendra called to god Vishnu to save him, holding a lotus up in the air as an offering. It is believed that Gajendra’s foot was held by the crocodile for over a thousand of years.Hearing his devotee’s call and a prayer, Lord Vishnu rushed to the scene. When Gajendra saw the Lord coming, he lifted a lotus with his trunk. Seeing this, Vishnu was pleased and with his discus, Sudharshana Chakra, separated the crocodile’s head from its body. Vishnu then informed Gajendra that in one of his previous births, he was the celebrated King Indradyumna, a Vishnu devotee, but due to his disrespect to the great sage Agastya, he was cursed and had to undergo this life as an elephant.(image source x) -- source link