Thread by @sk_diary1

Gajendra Moksha is believed to have happened at Kapisthalam.
Vishnu gave darshan to Gajendra Elephant,crocodile & gave them salvation.Temple pond Kapila Theertham which exists even now.
Gajendra Varadhar Temple, Kapisthalam - Near Kumbakonam,TN - one of the 108 Divya Desams.
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The Main Deity is Gajendra Varada (Adimoolan).Lord Vishnu is in reclining posture, Bhujanga Sayanam facing east direction.
The temple is believed to have been built by Cholas of the late 8th century AD, with later contributions from Vijayanagar kings & Madurai Nayaks.

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#threadstorytime -Legend of Gajendra Moksham from Bhagavatham

King Indradyumnan -a great devotee of Bhagwan Vishnu.Once Sage Duruvasa visited his place,but as king was in prayer couldn't welcome him.Angry sage cursed king to be born as elephant as he was proud his bhakti.

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King apologized to the sage for his negligence & moved by his innocence, the sage wished that he would continue to be a Vishnu devotee as an elephant & that Bhagwan Vishnu would relieve him & bestow salvation. Accordingly, the King was born as an elephant, Gajendra.

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Around same time,Koo hoo a Gandharva, playfully pulled the leg of Sage Devala while he was bathing.The angry Sage cursed him to be born as a crocodile.The Gandharva apologized, the Sage said that he would attain mukti by MahaVishnu's
Sudarshana chakra.

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Gajendra went into the pond to fetch flowers for Mahavishnu. A short while, Gajendra felt his leg being dragged from under the water.Gajendra tried to free himself but in vain.He realised that a huge crocodile had caught hold of his leg and was pulling him under water.

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However much he tried, Gajendra could not free himself from the strong grip of the crocodile.After a prolonged struggle, Gajendra realized that it will be a futile effort. He then prayed to BhagwanVishnu and surrendered to the God & cried calling “Adimoolam” to save him.

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Vishnu came to rescue on Garuda and sent his Sudarshana Chakra to fend off the crocodile. Both the elephant & crocodile turned to their human form by the grace of Vishnu. Since Vishnu appeared here to save the elephant Gajendra,he came to be known as Gajendara Varadar.

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All pics credit to respective owners.
Source text - Temple Purohit, Templesinindiainfo website

Gajendra Moksha Temple and #story #Thread- Kapisthalam, #TamilNadu -
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