Gajendra Moksha

A spiritual post, Atheist friends please bear with me !

For some reason this image of “Gajendra Moksha” shared by my uncle Sundararaman.K got stuck in my head and just wouldn’t leave. Now, we all know the story and the symbolic value conveyed through the story. Gajendra is the “human being” and the crocodile is the “sin” in the lake of “samsara” and “Vishnu” rescues us.

But what occurred to me during my morning run today, as I was letting my mind wander is, this story is also a metaphor to our day to day situations in life. Imagine us as “Gajendra”, the “Crocodile” as a problem we face in a situation which is the “Lake” and the person or idea that helps us come out of the problem as “Vishnu”. Well, that is straightforward but what is brilliant is the effectiveness and application of the story to any situation and any problem.

Sometimes Vishnu could be an idea/solution that helps us solve the problem. Vishnu could be a coffee that gets rid of our headache, Vishnu could be a guy sitting next to us in the train providing a spark to solve the problem, Vishnu could be a wife or husband providing help/effective advocacy that lifts us out of a burden, Vishnu could be our mum, dad or teacher providing guidance when we are lost, and so on.

No wonder Vishnu Sahasranama says “Vishnu” is in everything and everything is “Vishnu”! How beautiful! How profound!

Somehow, I couldn’t stop there. My run continued, so did my analysis of this beautiful story. Depending on situation one could be: “Vishnu” – the problem solver/resolution or “Garuda” – somebody who brings in a problem solver/resolution in to the scene or “Gajendra” – the affected party” or “Crocodile”, the problem itself. Yes, knowingly or unknowingly we can be the “Crocodile” as well! How very true. I know I have been one at times. Guess what, in that story, the “Crocodile” also gets Moksha at the end. Hopefully this realisation will help me to be less of a “Crocodile” and attain Moksha.

We all play different roles in different situations most often without realising it. Clearly there is a bit of “Vishnu” and a bit of “Crocodile” in all of us. I guess what we embrace is up to us. May be that is why great saint Thiruvalluvar wrote “Seek the Good and the Bad as well in a person and take the most of what is predominant when judging the person’s character”. Another great visionary whose thoughts have stood the test of time. He did not say “Good or Bad”, he emphatically wrote “Good and Bad as well..”.

Sometimes we need to eat our ego and just be the “Garuda” instead of “Vishnu”, sometimes just be a silent witness to a “Gajendra Moksha” happening in front of us without playing any part in it. One just has to turn his mind inwards and decide what his or her role is. Essence of “Hinduism” – Turn one’s mind inwards and seek the god, “Vishnu”, within.

A simple story with a universal truth hidden in it that can be applied at all times to all problem situations. How powerful! No wonder it has such a symbolic value.

I thank my uncle for sharing this !