Gajendra Moksha -God is My Anchor

God is My Anchor
The story of Gajendra Moksha
Gajendra through his experience in life
comes to the realization that God is his
anchor. Once he reaches that stage he
become oblivious to the terrible danger
he is in and the pain he is feeling. WE all
aspire to be like him. We will go deep
into his story to find out how did he do
it. This is a two part presentation!
SB 8.2.1 — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, there is a very large
mountain called Trikūṭa. It is ten thousand yojanas [eighty thousand
miles] high. Being surrounded by the Ocean of Milk, it is very
beautifully situated.
SB 8.2.2-3 — The length and breadth of the mountain are of the same
measurement [eighty thousand miles]. Its three principal peaks, which are made of
iron, silver and gold, beautify all directions and the sky. The mountain also has
other peaks, which are full of jewels and minerals and are decorated with nice
trees, creepers and shrubs. The sounds of the waterfalls on the mountain create a
pleasing vibration. In this way the mountain stands, increasing the beauty of all
directions.
SB 8.2.4 — The ground at the foot of the mountain is always
washed by waves of milk that produce emeralds all around
in the eight directions [north, south, east, west and the
directions midway between them].
SB 8.2.5 — The inhabitants of the higher planets — the Siddhas,
Cāraṇas, Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, serpents, Kinnaras and Apsarās —
go to that mountain to sport. Thus all the caves of the mountain are full
of these denizens of the heavenly planets.
SB 8.2.6 — Because of the resounding vibrations of the denizens
of heaven singing in the caves, the lions there, being very proud
of their strength, roar with unbearable envy, thinking that
another lion is roaring in that way.
The Energy wasted in proving
my greatness……….
Envy even in heaven but there
is no envy in the spiritual
world!
SB 8.2.7 — The valleys beneath Trikūṭa Mountain are beautifully decorated by
many varieties of jungle animals, and in the trees, which are maintained in
gardens by the demigods, varieties of birds chirp with sweet voices.
SB 8.2.8 — Trikūṭa Mountain has many lakes and rivers, with beaches covered
by small gems resembling grains of sand. The water is as clear as crystal, and
when the demigod damsels bathe in it, their bodies lend fragrance to the
water and the breeze, thus enriching the atmosphere.
SB 8.2.9-13 — In a valley of Trikūṭa Mountain there was a garden called Ṛtumat. This
garden belonged to the great devotee Varuṇa and was a sporting place for the
damsels of the demigods. Flowers and fruits grew there in all seasons. Among them
were mandāras, pārijātas, pāṭalas, aśokas, campakas, cūtas, piyālas, panasas,
mangoes, āmrātakas, kramukas, coconut trees, date trees and pomegranates. There
were madhukas, palm trees, tamālas, asanas, arjunas, ariṣṭas, uḍumbaras, plakṣas,
banyan trees, kiṁśukas and sandalwood trees. There were also picumardas, kovidāras,
saralas, sura-dārus, grapes, sugarcane, bananas, jambu, badarīs, akṣas, abhayas and
āmalakīs.
SB 8.2.14-19 — In that garden there was a very large lake filled with shining golden lotus flowers
and the flowers known as kumuda, kahlāra, utpala and śatapatra, which added excellent beauty
to the mountain. There were also bilva, kapittha, jambīra and bhallātaka trees. Intoxicated
bumblebees drank honey and hummed with the chirping of the birds, whose songs were very
melodious. The lake was crowded with swans, kāraṇḍavas, cakrāvakas, cranes, and flocks of
water chickens, dātyūhas, koyaṣṭis and other murmuring birds. Because of the agitating
movements of the fish and tortoises, the water was decorated with pollen that had fallen from
the lotus flowers. The lake was surrounded by kadamba flowers, vetasa flowers, nalas, nīpas,
vañjulakas, kundas, kurubakas, aśokas, śirīṣas, kūṭajas, iṅgudas, kubjakas, svarṇa-yūthīs, nāgas,
punnāgas, jātīs, mallikās, śatapatras, jālakās and mādhavī-latās. The banks were also abundantly
adorned with varieties of trees that yielded flowers and fruits in all seasons. Thus the entire
mountain stood gloriously decorated.
THE ELEPHANT GAJENDRA ENTERS
SB 8.2.20 — The leader of the elephants who lived in the forest of the mountain
Trikūṭa once wandered toward the lake with his female elephants. He broke
many plants, creepers, thickets and trees, not caring for their piercing thorns.
SB 8.2.21 — Simply by catching scent of that elephant, all the other elephants, the
tigers and the other ferocious animals, such as lions, rhinoceroses, great
serpents and black and white sarabhas, fled in fear. The camarī deer also fled.
SB 8.2.22 — By the mercy of this elephant, animals like the foxes, wolves, buffalos,
bears, boars, gopucchas, porcupines, monkeys, rabbits, the other deer and many
other small animals loitered elsewhere in the forest. They were not afraid of him.
•
SB 8.2.23-24 — Surrounded by the herd’s other elephants, including females, and
followed by the young ones, Gajapati, the leader of the elephants, made Trikūṭa
Mountain tremble all around because of the weight of his body. He was perspiring,
liquor dripped from his mouth, and his vision was overwhelmed by intoxication. He
was being served by bumblebees who drank honey, and from a distance he could
smell the dust of the lotus flowers, which was carried from the lake by the breeze.
Thus surrounded by his associates, who were afflicted by thirst, he soon arrived at
the bank of the lake.
SB 8.2.25 — The King of the elephants entered the lake, bathed thoroughly and
was relieved of his fatigue. Then, with the aid of his trunk, he drank the cold, clear,
nectarean water, which was mixed with the dust of lotus flowers and water lilies,
until he was fully satisfied.
•
SB 8.2.26 — Like a human being who lacks spiritual knowledge and is too attached
to the members of his family, the elephant, being illusioned by the external energy
of Kṛṣṇa, had his wives and children bathe and drink the water. Indeed, he raised
water from the lake with his trunk and sprayed it over them. He did not mind the
hard labor involved in this endeavor.
Opulent
Home
Hardworking
Sex
Responsib
le
Power,
Career ,
Wealth
Liquor
Vision
Overwhelmed by
Intoxication
Served By
Bumble Bees
Smell Dust of
Lotus Flowers
Recreation,
Luxury
Travel, 5
Lifestyle
star
vacations
Influence
Prestige
SB 8.2.27 — By the arrangement of providence, O King, a strong crocodile was
angry at the elephant and attacked the elephant’s leg in the water. The elephant
was certainly strong, and he tried his best to get free from this danger sent by
providence.
Calamity
SB 8.2.28 — Thereafter, seeing Gajendra in that grave condition, his
wives felt very, very sorry and began to cry. The other elephants
wanted to help Gajendra, but because of the crocodile’s great
strength, they could not rescue him by grasping him from behind.
Defense
Importance of being situated in our natural
position
• SB 8.2.29 — O King, the elephant and the crocodile fought in this way,
pulling one another in and out of the water, for one thousand years. Upon
seeing the fight, the demigods were very surprised.
Struggle
• SB 8.2.30 — Thereafter, because of being pulled into the
water and fighting for many long years, the elephant became
diminished in his mental, physical and sensual strength. The
crocodile, on the contrary, being an animal of the water,
increased in enthusiasm, physical strength and sensual power.
Result
Moment of Self Awareness
•
SB 8.2.31 — When the King of the
elephants saw that he was under
the clutches of the crocodile by the
will of providence and, being
embodied and circumstantially
helpless, could not save himself
from danger, he was extremely
afraid of being killed. He
consequently thought for a long
time and finally reached the
following decision.
Look Inward
Pause!!! To Begin
Social Status
SB 8.2.32 — The other elephants, who are my friends
and relatives, could not rescue me from this
danger. What then to speak of my wives? They
cannot do anything. It is by the will of providence
that I have been attacked by this crocodile, and
therefore I shall seek shelter of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, who is always the shelter
of everyone, even of great personalities.
What is my shelter in difficult times?
….objects I have developed a relationship
with and have attachment for
Social Status
What does the crocodile represent?
Miseries caused
by other living
entities
Miseries caused
by ones own body
and mind
Miseries caused
by natural causes
Maya
Characteristics of the crocodile
Crocodile compared with Maya
•Material world is ugly
•because it is separate from Krishna- only a she crocodile finds a he crocodile
attractive, the cheaters and the cheated
•Big Mouth
•We do not realize we are in it since the mouth is so big- it takes us one shot
•Camouflage:
•Maya comes camouflaged as innocent pleasure
•Spiritual justification, Self deception
•Silent:
•Maya enters our lives quietly if we do not have the proper vision to see through the
camouflage
•Many teeth:
• to hold us in place and cause pain. Some soft some sharp.
•Slippery:
•Once we slip hard to find our balance again on our own
Bhagavad Gita 7.14
•Strong, Sly , Powerful
daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī
mama māyā duratyayā
mām eva ye prapadyante
māyām etāṁ taranti te
This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of
material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have
surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.
A square peg goes through a lot of pain to fit into a
round hole
Bhagavad Gita 8.15
mām upetya punar janma
duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam
nāpnuvanti mahātmānaḥ
saṁsiddhiṁ paramāṁ gatāḥ
Bhagavad Gita 9.33
kiṁ punar brāhmaṇāḥ puṇyā
bhaktā rājarṣayas tathā
anityam asukhaṁ lokam
imaṁ prāpya bhajasva mām
After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogīs in
devotion, never return to this temporary world, which
is full of miseries, because they have attained the
highest perfection.
How much more this is so of the righteous
brāhmaṇas, the devotees and the saintly kings.
Therefore, having come to this temporary, miserable
world, engage in loving service unto Me.
SB 8.2.33 — The Supreme Personality of Godhead
is certainly not known to everyone, but He is
very powerful and influential. Therefore,
although the serpent of eternal time, which is
fearful in force, endlessly chases everyone,
ready to swallow him, if one who fears this
serpent seeks shelter of the Lord, the Lord gives
him protection, for even death runs away in
fear of the Lord. I therefore surrender unto
Him, the great and powerful supreme authority
who is the actual shelter of everyone
Krishna
can only
protect
Prahlada Maharaja prays in the same
mood
We may invent so many ways to be happy or to counteract the dangers of this
material world, but unless our attempts are sanctioned by the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, they will never make us happy
bälasya neha çaraëaà pitarau nåsiàha
närtasya cägadam udanvati majjato nauù
taptasya tat-pratividhir ya ihäïjaseñöas
tävad vibho tanu-bhåtäà tvad-upekñitänäm
“My Lord Nåsiàhadeva, o Supreme, because of a bodily conception of life, embodied
souls neglected and not cared for by you cannot do anything for their betterment.
Whatever remedies they accept, although perhaps temporarily beneficial, are certainly
impermanent. For example, a father and mother cannot protect their child, a physician
and medicine cannot relieve a suffering patient, and a boat on the ocean cannot protect
a drowning man.” (SMB 7.9.19)
Danger at every step
This material world is a place where there is danger
at every step
samäçritä ye pada-pallava-plavaà
mahat-padaà puëya-yaço muräreù
bhavämbudhir vatsa-padaà paraà padaà
padaà padaà yad vipadäà na teñäm
“For those who have accepted the boat of the lotus
feet of the lord, who is the shelter of the cosmic
manifestation and is famous as Muräri, the
enemy of the Mura demon, the ocean of the
material world is like the water contained in a
calf's hoof-print. Their goal is paraà padam,
Vaikuëöha, the place where there are no material
miseries, not the place where there is danger at
every step.” (SMB -10.14.58)
We may struggle for existence as far as our
intelligence allows and may try to take
care of ourselves, but unless the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa, ultimately
saves us from danger, our attempts will be
useless.
Thank you!
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
Strong Faith