The Role of Elephant in Indian Art and Mythology

In Indian history elephant is also used as a symbol for majesty, power and dignity. As legend goes on saying that elephant supposed to have come into existence out of the sea on the occasion of churning of the ocean (samudra-manthana) as Airavata, the milk-while elephant. Once accepted as born out of water it became the symbol for source of life. It symbolizes the principle of motherhood. It brings water from the underworld and sprinkles it on the head of Sri Laksmi, the mother goddess, and thus became the symbol of fertility, wealth, and abundance. In the Mahabharata it is stated that ‘seated on his elephant Indra pours down rain’ and that elephant ‘draws up water from the underworld for Indra to rain’. It shows that elephant had become a symbol of the raining clouds for the epic poets. According to Marshall the ‘elephant is floating on clouds which clearly emphasize his descent from the sky’. Elephant pillars of Mauryan period might have been the reminiscences of an ancient elephant cult. In Gita elephant is listed among the folk divinities and as one of the vibhutis (manifestation of might or power) of Krisna.

There are Jataka stories and Indian folk tales where we find references to elephant festivals. Susima Jataka referes to the elephant festival as Histi-mangala. The king used to give many elephants decorated with golden trappings, flags, and gold ornaments to a Brahmana well-versed in the three Vedas and Hasti-sutra (elephant sutra). In the Matiposaka Jataka there is a reference to a festival in which a stone image of the elephant was worshipped. In the Mahabharata that the dhvaja (banner/ flag) of Karna and Duryodhana was adorned by a bejeweled elephant. The stone pillars shown in the Vedika and Torana relief of the Sanchi and Bharhut stupa also provide us many sources on elephant cult. One of them depicts the four elephants back to back and the other two elephants and two lions back to back. These banners seem to be the outcome of ancient elephant cult.

Among the many pillars of Emperor Asoka, the Sankisa pillar is found surmounded with an elephant image. The inclusion of the elephant in the list of seven royal ratnas (gems) might have been one of the factors which enhanced its value in the eyes of the Buddhists.