The curse of the white elephant
The curse of the white elephant
When we read our puranic stories many of us have a
doubt. If God is supposed to be loving, why does he punish people? If the
rishis are knowledgeable and learned, why do they curse people? We need to
understand that many of these stories are told to us not to narrate what
happened to one person or some people but to help us learn a lesson. Some of
these incidents also turn out to be a blessing by which man kind gains
something. Let us see one such incident.
The forest was thick and dark. It was spring. Flowers
of all variety were blooming in the smaller plants. The big canopy of trees
made it difficult for sunlight to pierce through. In between all this thick
vegetation, a dark elephant was wandering listless. Unlike other elephants in
the wild, this one seemed to have a regal bearing. It was looking tired and
sad. The elephant thought about its glorious past and regretted its current
plight.
Who was this elephant? It was none other than
Airavat, the celestial elephant. Airavat was born from the milky ocean. It came
from the churning of the milky ocean that also gave the celestial horse
Uchchaisrava.
Airavat thought about his life in the Indraloka. He
was considered the most beautiful elephant with his four tusks and seven trunks.
When he rose from the milky white ocean when the Devas and Asuras churned it, the
brilliance of his milky white dazzled all standing there. Devendra (King of the
Devas) took permission from Lord Vishnu to make him his mount. Since then
Airavat had witnessed many events, happenings and discussions in the Indra loka.
Unfortunately, he along with his master Indra was
disrespectful towards Sage Durvasa. Durvasa cursed him to roam around the
forests on earth for hundred years like any wild elephant. Airavat carried his
memories and longed to be back in Indra loka.
Airavat had been wandering for many years now. He
had lost track of time. Suddenly he came to a beautiful pond. He did not know
the name of the pond but it was Kadambavana the favourite place of Lord Shiva
and Devi Meenakshi. Airavat was amazed to see beautiful flowers in the pond.
Airavat also saw a beautiful Shiva linga near by.
Overcome with sorrow, he plucked a beautiful lotus and offered it to the Shiva linga.
He also bathed in the pond, filled his trunk and did an abhisheka of the Shiva
linga. He felt better and was happy to see that he seemed to be less black than
before.
Airavat liked the place and decided to stay there.
He made it a habit of doing the Shiva puja everyday with flowers from the pond
and with abhisheka by filling his trunk with water. Slowly his sorrow and
dejection reduced. He also got back his white complexion and lustre. A few
years passed. Airavat became totally devoted to Shiva. Pleased with the
offering, Shiva appeared before him and granted him a boon. Airavat wanted
nothing but to serve the Lord and to become a support for the Shiva temple
standing there.
Lord Shiva said that he would be happy to grant the
boon, but Airavat had a different duty. Indra, who was also cursed by the Sage
Durvasa, had completed his penance and was back in Devaloka. Shiva told Airavat
to go back to its master and continue his duties.
Airavat obeyed Shiva and started moving out of the
place. After travelling some distance, he could not bring himself to leave
Kadambavana and his Lord Shiva. As a token of its devotion, Airavat established
another beautiful pond called Airavata pushkarani filled with beautiful lotuses
and installed a Shiva linga nearby called Airavateshwara. It set up another
temple for Ganesha and called it Airavata Ganesha. It continued staying there
and perform its every day puja to Shiva and Ganesha.
Lord Indra sent his messengers to Airavat wanting
it to come back to the Devaloka to take up its duties. In obedience, the
elephant travelled some more. But he was reluctant to leave his Airavateshwara.
He missed his Lord Shiva. Airavat established one more Shiva linga in that
place and as a mark of respect to its master called the linga Indreshwar.
Indra’s messengers came again to request Airavat to
return to its duties. This time, reluctantly Airavat went back to Devaloka and
resumed its duties. Indra was happy to have his beautiful mount back. Airavat
then narrated his experience in Kadambavana and how his curse got lifted while
staying there.
Lord Indra too came to worship Indreshwara and Airavateshwara
and Airavata Ganesha. He also granted the boon that whoever bathes in Airavata
pushkarani (tank) and does puja to Airavata Ganesha and Airavateshwara will be
granted entry into the Dev loka.
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