The second ability of Elenda's Hierophant triggers just once for each life-gaining event, no matter how much life was gained.

If Elenda's Hierophant is dealt lethal damage at the same time that you gain life, it won't receive a counter from its second ability in time to save it.

Each creature with lifelink dealing combat damage causes a separate life-gaining event. For example, if two creatures you control with lifelink deal combat damage at the same time, Elenda's Hierophant's second ability will trigger twice. However, if a single creature you control with lifelink deals combat damage to multiple creatures, players, and/or planeswalkers at the same time (perhaps because it has trample or was blocked by more than one creature), the ability will trigger only once.

If you gain an amount of life "for each" of something, that life is gained as one event and the second ability of Elenda's Hierophant triggers only once.

In a Two-Headed Giant game, life gained by your teammate won't cause the second ability of Elenda's Hierophant to trigger even though it caused your team's life total to increase.