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Gajendra Moksha

 

There once lived an elephant named Gajendra. He was the leader of the elephants. One day he went to a nearby lake to pick some lotus flowers and offer it to Lord Vishnu. At that time a crocodile caught his leg. Gajendra trumpeted in pain and tried to free himself from the clutches of the crocodile, but couldn't. So, he prayed to Lord Vishnu holding a lotus as an offering. Vishnu's heart melted and immediately threw his discus at the crocodile. It died and Ganjendra was free from it's clutches. Gajendra bowed to Vishnu in reverence. Vishnu told Gajendra that he was a pious king named Indrayumna in his previous birth. But once when Sage Agastya had visited his kingdom, he did not rise up from his throne to greet him. So, Sage Agastya cursed him to be reborn as an elephant. But, due to his pious deeds in his previous birth, he will attain moksha in this birth. The crocodile also attained moksha because in his previous birth he was born as a king named Huhu. One day Sage Devala visited the kingdom of Huhu. When the two of them were bathing in the river, Sage Devala was offering a prayer to the sun god, king Huhu pulled his leg for fun but was immediately cursed by the furious Sage to be reborn as a crocodile. When Huhu begged for forgiveness, Devala told him that Lord Vishnu will free him from this curse and he would attain moksha. 





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