Gajendra, aka: Gaja-indra; 4 Definition(s)
Introduction
Gajendra means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
1a) Gajendra (गजेन्द्र).—The legend of Viṣṇu freeing the elephant in trouble. While wandering in the hills, this lord of elephants felt thirsty and entered a lake in the Trikūṭa hill. While drinking water, a crocodile caught hold of its feet. Finding himself on the brink of death, Gajendra bestowed his thought on Hari on account of the vāsana of the previous birth. Pleased with his prayer, Hari flew on Garuḍa with his cakra and released the animal from the crocodile. The elephant attained a form like that of Hari. This elephant was in his previous birth a Pāṇḍyan king by name Indradyumna devoted to Hari but cursed by Agastya to be born as elephant.1 Hari blessed Gajendra who got mokṣa by satsaṅga.2 Hence Gajendramokṣa.3
- 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa III. 19. 35: VIII. 1. 30: 2. 20-33: 3 (whole): 4. 6-25.
- 2) ibid. X. 71. 9: XI. 12. 6.
- 3) ibid. II. 7. 15-16.
1b) The Airāvata which came out of the churning of the ocean of milk. It was taken up by Indra.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 251. 3.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Gajendra (गजेन्द्र).—The king of the elephants. He was saved from a crocodile by Lord Viṣṇu and awarded liberation.
Source: ISKCON Press: GlossaryLanguages of India and abroad
Sanskrit-English dictionary
Gajendra (गजेन्द्र).—
1) an excellent elephant, a lordly elephant; किं रुष्टासि गजेन्द्रमन्दगमने (kiṃ ruṣṭāsi gajendramandagamane) Ś. Til.7; ऐरावतं गजेन्द्राणां (airāvataṃ gajendrāṇāṃ) Bg.1.27.
2) Airāvata, Indra's elephant.
3) Name of a tree; गजेन्द्र- कुसुमाकीर्णम् (gajendra- kusumākīrṇam) Mb.13.132.12. °कर्णः (karṇaḥ) an epithet of Śiva.
Derivable forms: gajendraḥ (गजेन्द्रः).
Gajendra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms gaja and indra (इन्द्र).
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryGajendra (गजेन्द्र).—m.
(-ndraḥ) 1. A large and excellent elephant. 2. Indra'S elephant E. gaja, and indra chief.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Relevant definitions
Starts with: Gajendracarma, Gajendracharma, Gajendramoksham, Gajendramokshana, Gajendrasya.
Full-text: Gajendramokshana, Huhu, Panagadi, Manidatta, Satyadhara, Siladhara, Manorama, Shrutadhara, Lasavati, Yajuhsvamin, Lasaka, Vishnu, Hari.
Relevant text
Search found 18 books and stories containing Gajendra, Gaja-indra; (plurals include: Gajendras, indras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (by Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī)
Verse 2.7.29 < [Chapter 7 - Jagad-ānanda: The Bliss of the Worlds]
Verse 2.7.21 < [Chapter 7 - Jagad-ānanda: The Bliss of the Worlds]
The Bhagavata Purana (by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
Chapter 4 - Gajendra Returns to the Spiritual World < [Canto VIII - Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations]
Chapter 3 - Gajendra’s Prayers of Surrender < [Canto VIII - Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations]
Chapter 2 - The Elephant Gajendra’s Crisis < [Canto VIII - Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations]
Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 1.2.21 < [Part 2 - Devotional Service in Practice (sādhana-bhakti)]
Verse 1.2.37 < [Part 2 - Devotional Service in Practice (sādhana-bhakti)]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 4: Iatrochemistry (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 56 - Treatment for chronic diarrhea (28): Grahani-gajendra rasa < [Chapter III - Jvaratisara fever with diarrhoea]
Preceptors of Advaita (by T. M. P. Mahadevan)
(iv) Potana < [56. Some Authors of Works in Regional Languages]