Bhagavan Cares

Gajendra Moksha: The Story of Vishnu’s Divine Rescue

In ancient times, there was a majestic elephant named Gajendra, the king of a mighty herd. Gajendra lived a life of grandeur and power, surrounded by thousands of queen elephants and a vast entourage. His days were filled with indulgence, pride, and a sense of invincibility. On a hot summer day, Gajendra and his herd arrived at a serene, expansive lake. Immersed in its cool waters, Gajendra splashed and played, reveling in his strength and the admiration of his companions.

But fate had a lesson in humility waiting for him.

As Gajendra bathed arrogantly, a crocodile lurking in the depths seized his foot in a powerful grip. The mighty elephant, unaccustomed to being challenged, fought with all his strength to free himself. The struggle was fierce and relentless, continuing for a thousand years. The crocodile’s domain was water, where it drew its strength, while Gajendra, a creature of the land, grew weaker by the moment.

As the battle dragged on, Gajendra’s pride and sense of superiority were stripped away. His queens, friends, and herd—once a source of his strength—abandoned him, unable or unwilling to help. Alone and utterly exhausted, Gajendra realized the futility of relying on worldly power, ego, and relationships.

In this moment of despair, clarity dawned. Gajendra folded his trunk in prayer and turned his thoughts to Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Being. Surrendering completely, he plucked a lotus flower from the lake with great effort, lifted it as an offering, and prayed:

“Narayana, Preceptor of all, Bhagavan, I bow down to you!”

Hearing Gajendra’s sincere plea, Lord Vishnu immediately appeared, descending from Vaikuntha on His divine Garuda. Vishnu’s radiant form filled the skies, a vision of compassion and grace. As Gajendra offered the lotus flower, the Lord accepted it, a symbol of his total surrender. With a single stroke of His Sudarshana Chakra, Lord Vishnu severed the crocodile’s grip, freeing Gajendra from its clutches.

The Deeper Significance

Gajendra Moksha is more than a tale of divine intervention; it is a profound allegory for human life:

  1. The Elephant’s Pride: Gajendra symbolizes the human ego, engrossed in the pleasures of the world, believing in its own power and invincibility.
  2. The Crocodile’s Grip: The crocodile represents the clutches of worldly attachments, desires, and karma that drag us deeper into the cycle of suffering.
  3. The Long Struggle: The thousand-year battle signifies the prolonged struggle of the soul caught in samsara (the cycle of birth and death).
  4. Abandonment by Others: Just as Gajendra’s companions left him, worldly relationships and possessions cannot ultimately save us from life’s challenges or the grip of destiny.
  5. Surrender to the Divine: True liberation comes when we let go of pride and ego, surrender to the divine, and call out with heartfelt devotion.

Gajendra’s realization and surrender teach us that it is not through strength or status, but through humility and devotion, that we can overcome life’s greatest challenges. Lord Vishnu’s swift response demonstrates the boundless compassion of the Divine, always ready to rescue a sincere devotee in need.

This timeless story serves as a reminder that the path to moksha (liberation) lies in surrendering to the Supreme and recognizing our dependence on divine grace.

My father and brother

Once my father and my brother, Harinand, went to Ganeshpuri. He was a young child. Many times, children cry and create a ruckus to accompany their parents even against their wishes. Young Hari forcefully went to Ganeshpuri. Reaching there he found none was there to play. He felt bored and pressured my father to return home the same day. Father felt embarrassed to ask Bhagvan’s permission to return and without permission returning home was against the protocol. But my bother created so. much ruckus that my father was so frustrated that he decided to return home on sly.
Without informing Baba they left. They boarded the Tanga, the only means to go from Ganeshpuri to Vajreshwari to catch the Vasai bus. tonga or tanga is a two-wheeled cart drawn by a single horse. It is used for transportation in the Indian subcontinent. There is a canopy over the body, one seat faces forward for the driver and one passenger, and one seat faces the rear for a second passenger

However much the horse carriage man, the Tangawala, tried horse would not move. He forcefully pushed the horse but the horse would turn around and face the Ashram. They pulled it and made him face the road leading to Vajreshwari, it would turn around and face the opposite direction towards Kailas Bhuvan. This happened so many times that the villagers gathered wondering what was happening. The horseman too scratched his head. He hit the horse mercilessly but it would not budge an inch towards Vajreshwari!!!
Finally, my father understood why it was happening. They had pulled a fast one on Bhagavan. They returned yo Bhagavan who just stared at them. He might have had His purpose and reason for stalling them. Once my father and brother got down from the Tanga, the horse began to gallop towards Vajreshwari.
Bhagavan has a purpose in making things happen the way they happen, maybe differently and contrary to our wishes.

A Daughter & Mother:

There’s another story of a girl who regularly drove with her aged mother to Ganeshpuri late evening or returned from Ganeshpuri after 9 in the evening. Her uncle did not like the idea of driving late in the evening as it was risky. In case of any breakdown, there was very little chance of getting any help. She was adamant and ignored her uncle’s advice. One night, she decided to return to Mumbai around ten o’clock along with her mother. However, no matter how much she tried, her car refused to move forward. It would only go in reverse. She even called a mechanic, who did all he could, but the car remained stubborn. Defeated, she decided to call it off and return to their room. The next morning, the car was completely normal, and they moved all over Ganeshpuri and Vajreshwari. She returned home safely leaving Ganeshpuri at six in the evening.

Pilgrimage on foot to Ganeshpuri

Remember, Baba cares. When we act recklessly, it is He who is troubled as the responsibility for our safety falls on Him. There was a couple who took it as their penance to make a pilgrimage to Ganeshpuri on foot. They decided to walk the distance from Thane to Ganeshpuri. On the way, the lady suffered from severe dysentery. Every few kilometres they had to stop and take the help of the villagers. With great difficulty, they finally reached Ganeshpuri in the evening. In Vaikunt Ashram, Bhagavan was at the window as if waiting for someone. No sooner the couple exhausted and dehydrated step in, He admonished them and asked “Are you putting This One to the test?” 

Appa Apte goes in search of Shree Shaligram Swami

Once, Shree Shaligram Swami left for an unknown destination without informing anyone, leaving his devotee, Shree Keshav Apte (Appa), deeply restless. Days passed without any news, and Appa’s concern grew unbearable. Driven by his devotion and desperation, Appa decided to seek Bhagavan Nityananda’s guidance on Swamiji’s whereabouts and well-being.

One morning, Appa embarked on an arduous journey, walking 50 km from Thane to Ganeshpuri. On reaching Ganeshpuri, he bathed in the Kunda and approached Bhagavan Nityananda with folded hands. Without Appa uttering a word, Bhagavan, in His infinite compassion and omniscience, assured him that Shree Shaligram Swami was safe and well.

The very next day, Appa received a postcard from Swamiji himself, confirming that all was well. The note ended with an unexpected but heartfelt request:

“Appa, do not walk long distances. If you undertake such penance, my legs ache.”

Appa was stunned. How had Swamiji come to know about his long journey to Ganeshpuri? More profoundly, he realized that his Sadguru shared his burdens so intimately that even his physical strain caused Swamiji pain. This understanding humbled Appa deeply, and he resolved never to take any action that could bring discomfort to his beloved Guru.

This incident beautifully illustrates how deeply connected a true Sadguru is to their devotees. Our actions, even undertaken with devotion, can inadvertently trouble them. It serves as a gentle reminder to approach our spiritual path with mindfulness, care, and a deep sense of responsibility towards our Guru’s well-being.

Bhagavan loves us. He cares, warns, guides, and enlightens. We must be vigilant. We must accept His guidance. When a child takes a risky step, it is the Mother who is troubled.

Remember:

– Baba loves and cares and warns us for our safety.
– He guides and enlightens us.
– We must be alert, vigilant, and accept Him.
– When we take risky steps, it’s like troubling our Mother (Bhagvan).