“OM GANESHAYA NAMAH”
It was two years ago on Ganesh Chaturthi that the first edition of Monday Truclusions was published. I still remember Jaideep coming home and we discussing the details about the weekly write up. It is amazing how time flies, but it has, and over two years and 57 articles, I have met so many wonderful people, published a book, and become a much better writer. But the best part I have learnt so much and become a much better person! Since Truclusions began with this pious festival, I dedicate today’s article to Lord Ganesh.
Today I want to talk about how we complain about so many problems in our lives, but hardly take time to think of the root cause of all those issues. Today let me tell you a story that can help us ponder how we might ourselves be responsible for our problems. Before pointing to others for our problems, it’s a chance to introspect!
The Elephant & The Crocodile
Once there lived an elephant by the name, Gajendra in a garden called “Rtumat” created by Lord Varun, the rain god. He truly was like his name and because of his prowess ruled over the herd of elephants that lived there and the land too. Obvious enough, Gajendra was very proud of his strength, his capability to rule over the land, and every single quality he possessed.
One day to get rid of the heat, the herd decided to go and cool off the heat in the garden lake. While he was enjoying the chill of the waters, a huge crocodile who lived in the depth of the lake suddenly caught Gajendra’s leg in his powerful jaws. The huge elephant tried as much as he could to pull himself out of trouble. But he couldn’t.
All his relatives and friends got worried and stood behind him, hoping that he would be able to overpower the croc. But he wasn’t able to, finally when they realised that the elephant might not make it back with them. They walked back into the garden heavy hearted. Gajendra continued to try hard but could not make it out of the croc’s deadly jaws. He cried in life-threatening agony and pain.
Finally he realised that all his strength put together will not get him out of his agony, that was when he gave up his pride, ego and all the prejudices of existence. In complete faith and humility, he surrendered to the supreme lord. He then in his prayer picked up a lotus that had bloomed in the lake and rose it in respect to the lord.
Accepting the elephant’s gratitude and love towards him, the lord rushed to his aid. He at once slashed the crocodile using his omnipotent weapon and freed the elephant from his anguish. The elephant bowed to his saviour in all devotion and thanked him for coming to save him.
Then the lord informed him that in his previous birth the elephant was a great king and very great devotee of his saviour. But despite all his good deeds, he once did not respect a sage by not receiving him in the appropriate way. The sage saw traces of arrogance in the king. Irate by the king’s arrogant behaviour the sage cursed him to be born as an elephant and not be liberated to salvation.
But when the king in his animal form surrendered to the lord giving up all his ego. The lord decided that the devotee be delivered to the liberation he deserved. Hence the king attained salvation.
The crocodile who was slashed by the all-pervasive lord was a king too. Once it so happened that while he was bathing in a river, he pulled a leg of a sage who was praying to the sun in the evening.
Furious on the king, the sage cursed him to be born as a crocodile in his next life. But when the king in all humility pleaded for the sage’s mercy, he took pity on him and assured the king that he would be delivered to salvation, when the supreme lord himself ends his mortal existence. This is how both creatures were liberated when they gave up the ego and pride they had acquired because of their strengths.
Food For Thought
The symbolic meaning of this story being, the elephant is the helpless human. He is caught in materialistic desires, sins and ignorance, which are referred to as the deadly crocodile and the lake is the endless cycle of birth. The story depicts the destruction of ego and pride.
It also makes us realise that without complete faith in what we do, be it work, prayer or anything for that matter. It doesn’t fulfil its true potential. Hence the question to be asked is “Are we doing what we ought to do in complete faith? Does doubt cloud our mind when we do anything? Or does it not? Time to think about it!
Liked reading this? Then you might also like to read Monday Truclusions – The Joy, Wisdom & Learnings In Traditional Story Telling!
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