Airavata (Sanskrit: ऐरावत, lit. 'belonging to Iravati') is a divine elephant, characterized by four tusks, seven trunks and a white complexion. He is the "king of elephants" also serves as the main vehicle for the deity Indra.[1] It is also called 'abhra-Matanga', meaning "elephant of the clouds"; 'Naga-malla', meaning "the fighting elephant"; and 'Arkasodara', meaning "brother of the sun".[2] 'Abhramu' is the elephant wife of Airavata. Airavata is also the third son of Iravati. In the Mahabharata he is listed as a great serpent.[3]
Indra (alias Sakra) and Shachi riding the five-headed Divine Elephant Airavata, Folio from a Jain text, Panch Kalyanaka (Five Auspicious Events in the Life of Jina Rishabhanatha), c. 1670–1680, Painting in LACMA museum, originally from Amber, Rajasthan
Detail of the Phra Prang, the central tower of the Wat Arun ("Temple of Dawn") in Bangkok, Thailand, showing Indra on his three-headed elephant Erawan (Airavata).
The appearance or birth of Airavata varies according to different Hindu texts. In the Ramayana, Airavata was born to Iravati (descendant of the sage, Kashyapa) whereas, the Vishnu Puran notes that Airavata was born from the churning of the ocean of milk.[1][4] According to the Matangalila, Airavata was born when Brahma sang sacred hymns over the halves of the egg shell from which Garuda hatched, followed by seven more male and eight female elephants. Prithu made Airavata king of all elephants. One of his names means "the one who knits or binds the clouds" since myth has it that these elephants are capable of producing clouds. The connection of elephants with water and rain is emphasized in the mythology of Indra, who rides the elephant Airavata when he defeats Vritra.
It is believed that the elephant guards one of the points of compass.[5] Airavata also stands at the entrance to Svarga, Indra's palace. In addition, the eight guardian deities who preside over the points of the compass each sit on an elephant. Each of these deities has an elephant that takes part in the defense and protection of its respective quarter. Chief among them is Airavata of Indra. There is a reference to Airavata in the Bhagavad Gita:
Of horses, know Me to be the nectar-born Uchchaihshravas; of lordly elephants, Airavata and of men, the monarch.[6]
Airavata is also known for being the cause of the churning of the ocean of milk. Once sage Durvasa presented a garland to Indra, who passed it on to Airavata. The elephant then threw the garland on to the ground, which angered Durvasa and resulted in the demigods to be "subject to old age and death." Reversing the curse required the devas to retrieve the nectar of immortality by churning the ocean of milk.[7][1]
At Darasuram near Tanjore is a temple where it is believed that Airavata worshipped the Lingam; the Lingam is named after him as Airavateshwara. This temple, which abounds in rare sculpture and architectural workmanship, was built by Rajaraja Chola II (1146–73 CE).[8]
Jain traditionedit
In Jain tradition, when a Tirthankara is born, Indra descends with his consort, Shachi, riding their mount, the great elephant Airavata, to celebrate the event.[9]
Erawan (Thai: เอราวัณ, from PāḷiErāvana, or SanskritAirāvana) is one of the Thai names of Airavata. It is depicted as a huge elephant with either three or sometimes thirty-three heads which are often shown with more than two tusks. Some statues show Indra, the king of Tavatimsa Heaven, riding on Erawan.[citation needed]
Modern Art Depiction Of Airavata
The elephant became the symbol of Bangkok by association with Indra during its foundation as the capital of the new Rattanakosin Kingdom .[10] It is also sometimes associated with the old Lao Kingdom of Lan Xang and the defunct Kingdom of Laos, where it was more commonly known as the "three-headed elephant" and had been used on the royal flag.[11]
In popular cultureedit
Airavata is a recruitable character in the Megami Tensei video game series.
Airavata is referenced in the song "The Animal Tent" on the album The Circus by The Venetia Fair:
Here comes Airavata; the elephant controls the rainclouds, His skin the rumbling earth (Airavata!)
^Williams, George M. (27 March 2008). Handbook of Hindu Mythology. OUP USA. p. 52. ISBN978-0-19-533261-2.
^Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 64.
^Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 10, Verse 27) 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
^Lochtefeld, James G. (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M. Rosen. p. 19. ISBN978-0-8239-3179-8.
^Ali Javid; ʻAlī Jāvīd; Tabassum Javeed (2008). World Heritage Monuments and Related Edifices in India. Algora Publishing. p. 57.
airavata, gajendra, redirects, here, other, uses, gajendra, disambiguation, cambodian, foundation, elephant, foundation, sanskrit, ऐर, वत, belonging, iravati, divine, elephant, characterized, four, tusks, seven, trunks, white, complexion, king, elephants, also. Gajendra redirects here For other uses see Gajendra disambiguation For the Cambodian foundation see Airavata Elephant Foundation Airavata Sanskrit ऐर वत lit belonging to Iravati is a divine elephant characterized by four tusks seven trunks and a white complexion He is the king of elephants also serves as the main vehicle for the deity Indra 1 It is also called abhra Matanga meaning elephant of the clouds Naga malla meaning the fighting elephant and Arkasodara meaning brother of the sun 2 Abhramu is the elephant wife of Airavata Airavata is also the third son of Iravati In the Mahabharata he is listed as a great serpent 3 Indra alias Sakra and Shachi riding the five headed Divine Elephant Airavata Folio from a Jain text Panch Kalyanaka Five Auspicious Events in the Life of Jina Rishabhanatha c 1670 1680 Painting in LACMA museum originally from Amber Rajasthan Contents 1 Hindu tradition 2 Jain tradition 3 Flags with Airavata 4 Erawan 5 In popular culture 6 See also 7 Citations 8 General references 9 External linksHindu tradition edit nbsp Detail of the Phra Prang the central tower of the Wat Arun Temple of Dawn in Bangkok Thailand showing Indra on his three headed elephant Erawan Airavata The appearance or birth of Airavata varies according to different Hindu texts In the Ramayana Airavata was born to Iravati descendant of the sage Kashyapa whereas the Vishnu Puran notes that Airavata was born from the churning of the ocean of milk 1 4 According to the Matangalila Airavata was born when Brahma sang sacred hymns over the halves of the egg shell from which Garuda hatched followed by seven more male and eight female elephants Prithu made Airavata king of all elephants One of his names means the one who knits or binds the clouds since myth has it that these elephants are capable of producing clouds The connection of elephants with water and rain is emphasized in the mythology of Indra who rides the elephant Airavata when he defeats Vritra It is believed that the elephant guards one of the points of compass 5 Airavata also stands at the entrance to Svarga Indra s palace In addition the eight guardian deities who preside over the points of the compass each sit on an elephant Each of these deities has an elephant that takes part in the defense and protection of its respective quarter Chief among them is Airavata of Indra There is a reference to Airavata in the Bhagavad Gita Of horses know Me to be the nectar born Uchchaihshravas of lordly elephants Airavata and of men the monarch 6 Airavata is also known for being the cause of the churning of the ocean of milk Once sage Durvasa presented a garland to Indra who passed it on to Airavata The elephant then threw the garland on to the ground which angered Durvasa and resulted in the demigods to be subject to old age and death Reversing the curse required the devas to retrieve the nectar of immortality by churning the ocean of milk 7 1 At Darasuram near Tanjore is a temple where it is believed that Airavata worshipped the Lingam the Lingam is named after him as Airavateshwara This temple which abounds in rare sculpture and architectural workmanship was built by Rajaraja Chola II 1146 73 CE 8 Jain tradition editIn Jain tradition when a Tirthankara is born Indra descends with his consort Shachi riding their mount the great elephant Airavata to celebrate the event 9 Flags with Airavata editLaos nbsp Flag of French Laos 1893 1952 nbsp Flag of Laos 1952 1975 nbsp Laotian royal standard 1952 1975 Siam Thailand nbsp Thong Airaphot thngixyrapht King s Absent Standard 1855 1891 amp 1897 1910 nbsp Thong Chuthathipathai thngcuthathipity King s Absent Standard 1891 1897 nbsp Flag of the Bangkok Metropolitan AdministrationErawan edit nbsp Erawan statue in Chiang Mai Thailand Erawan Thai exrawn from Paḷi Eravana or Sanskrit Airavana is one of the Thai names of Airavata It is depicted as a huge elephant with either three or sometimes thirty three heads which are often shown with more than two tusks Some statues show Indra the king of Tavatimsa Heaven riding on Erawan citation needed nbsp Modern Art Depiction Of AiravataThe elephant became the symbol of Bangkok by association with Indra during its foundation as the capital of the new Rattanakosin Kingdom 10 It is also sometimes associated with the old Lao Kingdom of Lan Xang and the defunct Kingdom of Laos where it was more commonly known as the three headed elephant and had been used on the royal flag 11 In popular culture editAiravata is a recruitable character in the Megami Tensei video game series Airavata is referenced in the song The Animal Tent on the album The Circus by The Venetia Fair Here comes Airavata the elephant controls the rainclouds His skin the rumbling earth Airavata Airavata is the name of the Volvo bus service that Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation provides 12 See also editErawan Shrine Erawan MuseumCitations edit a b c Dalal Roshen 2010 Hinduism An Alphabetical Guide Penguin Books India pp 13 14 ISBN 978 0 14 341421 6 Dowson John 1870 A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion Geography History and Literature London Trubner amp Company p 180 Ganguli Kishori Mohan SECTION XXXV Mahabharata Pratap Chandra Babu Williams George M 27 March 2008 Handbook of Hindu Mythology OUP USA p 52 ISBN 978 0 19 533261 2 Gopal Madan 1990 K S Gautam ed India through the ages Publication Division Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Government of India p 64 Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10 Verse 27 Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Lochtefeld James G 2002 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism A M Rosen p 19 ISBN 978 0 8239 3179 8 Ali Javid ʻAli Javid Tabassum Javeed 2008 World Heritage Monuments and Related Edifices in India Algora Publishing p 57 Goswamy 2014 p 245 Roy Edward Van 2018 Siamese Melting Pot Flipside Digital Content Company Inc pp 16 17 ISBN 978 981 4762 85 4 Reynolds Frank E ed 1982 Three worlds According To King Ruang A Thai Buddhist Cosmology Berkeley ISBN 0 89581 153 7 KSRTC launches Volvo buses with pantry and toilet The Hindu 19 July 2012 Retrieved 27 August 2014 General references editGoswamy B N 2014 The Spirit of Indian Painting Close Encounters with 100 Great Works 1100 1900 Penguin Books ISBN 978 0 670 08657 3External links edit nbsp Media related to Airavata at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Airavata amp oldid 1217905273, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
