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Jain Thought and Culture
the vahana of Indra,“ bull of Siva,42110n of Durga,43 hamsa of Brahma44 and peacock of Kartikeya 45 These animals were symbols of fertility and had association with the Mother Goddess cult, both these factors additionally paved the way of their popularity as auspicious objects 'If we look at the evidence of Puranas we find that the cult aspect of these four animals either as deity or as auspicious object was much more widespread than perhaps one would believe in the first instance For example, it is stated in Padma Purana46 that the Earth Goddess appearing before king Prithu in the form of these four animals, first as elephant, then as lion, then as a she buffalo and finally as a cow17
Among the animals white elephant was the first seen by Devananda in her dream 'Hasti' or elephant occurred in Vedic literature as mrga,48 sukladanta,49 naga50 and varana51 and was famous for its strength52 and virility 53 In Indian mythology only one white54 "elephant is known, the Airavata55 or Aairavana, the elephant of Indra It was produced from the ocean at the time of its churning by gods and demons According to another account it was created along with its consort and other seven couples by Prajapati himself These eight
41 Mahabharata, 13 829, IV 31 1231 42 See, Yaduvamshi Salvamata, p 64, 65, fn 2 Cf Matsya Purana, 18, Vayupurana, 30 180 261 43 Markandeya Purana, ch 82 44 Banerjea, JN DHI p 379 45 Brhatasamhita (57 V 41) montions his vahana as 'Barhiketu' 46 Padmapurana, Bhumikanda, ch 27 95 101 47 Banerjea JN, DHI pp 104-5, and ins 48 Vedic Index, Vol II, pp 171-72 49 Ibid , Vol II, p. 384 Cf Ait Br, VIII 233 50 The word naga once appears in Satapatha Brahmana (XI, 2 7 12) in form of Mahanaga which mean 'great snake' or 'great elephant' Cf also, Ait Br , VIII 22 51 Vedic Index, Vol II p 228 52 RY, I 64 7, AV, II 22 1-3 53 AV, III 22 6. VI 70 2. Cf SB. III 1 3, 4, Chandogya Upanisad, VII 24 (vide Vedic Index, Vol 1) 54 Cf Gonda, J, Aspects of Early Visnuism p 128 55 Other meaning of Aurayata are a descendant of Ira-Vat', 'prodnced from ocean' and 'name of a mythical serpent' Cf Moneir Williams Sanskrit English Dictionary, p 234 Cf also Vamana Purana, 69 209-11. Matsyapurana, 8 7 IL 1S supposed to be the best among the elephants-Airavatam gajendram (Mahabharata, VI 31 1231)
