Elephant: 10 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
India history
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Introduction:

Elephant means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Christianity, the history of ancient India. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

Images (photo gallery)

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In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)

: Asian Agri-History: Pa艣u 膧yurv膿da (Veterinary Medicine) in Garu岣峚pur膩峁嘺

Elephant is a largest land animal living in Asia and Africa. In ancient India the elephant (in Sanskrit: gaja or hasti) is an important tool for Army as well as civil work of a King and also for temple rituals. Elephants are considered as vajra in war and also for different types of work. Only one elephant can win over six thousands horses. Hence one has to keep up the fitness of the elephants always. [...] Ancient Indian literature is flooded with information on animal care, health management, and treatment of disease. The Gaja-膩yurv膿da or Hasti-膩yurv膿da is mentioned in Veda, P奴ra峁嘺, Br膩hma峁嘺 epics. [...] The drugs, treatments enumerated in connection with diseases of horses may also be employed in the diseases of elephants. But the dosage is four times of that of a horse.鈥�(Cf. Garu岣峚pur膩峁嘺 and the 谤辞驳补-蝉腻尘补办补-办补峁Ｄ乱补).

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膧yurveda (啶嗋く啷佮ぐ啷嵿さ啷囙う, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of 膧yurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana

Elephants were traditionally trained, as one of the 鈥渟ixty four kinds of Art鈥�, according to the Kamasutra of Vatsyayana.鈥擟f. the Sanskrit 痴补颈苍补测颈办墨苍补, which refers to 鈥渒nowledge of proper behavior or the training of elephants and other domestic animal.鈥�.鈥擨ndian tradition, basically includes sixty four Art forms are acknowledged. The history of Indian Art covers approximately five thousand years which pre sents a rich and almost continuous record. The references of sixty four kinds of Kala (啶曕げ啶�, 办补濒腻) are found in the Bhagavatapurana, Shaiva-Tantras, Kamasutra of Vatsyayana etc.

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The Purana (啶啶班ぞ啶�, pur膩峁嘺s) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India鈥檚 vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (natya)

1) The Elephant is denoted by the Sanskrit term Gaja, whereas Gajadantahasta refers to one of the thirteen Combined-hand Gestures (in Indian Dramas) (known as 蝉补峁儁耻办迟补丑补蝉迟补蝉), according to the Vi峁ａ箛udharmottarapur膩峁嘺, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.鈥擳he word gajadanta denotes the danta i.e., tusk of gaja i.e., elephant. In the gajadanta posture, both hands in 蝉补谤辫补艣墨谤峁 position are bent towards each other along with the elbows and shoulders and this posture is used to show carrying the mountain.

2) The Gait of the Elephant is denoted by the Sanskrit term Gajagati, and represents one of the various Gatis (鈥渨ay of walking鈥�) (in Indian Dramas), according to the Abhinayadarpa峁嘺.鈥擜ccordingly, gaits (gatis) are explained along with some particular hand gestures. It shows that footsteps are to be followed by some hand postures. The gait of gaja i.e., elephant is always noticed as slow gait. The Abhinayadarpa峁嘺 suggests holding 辫补迟腻办补 hands in this gait.

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Natyashastra (啶ㄠぞ啶熰啶ざ啶距じ啷嵿い啷嵿ぐ, 苍腻峁瓂补艣腻蝉迟谤补) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya鈥攖heatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

Shilpashastra (iconography)

: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (shilpa)

Elephants are associated with the Winter Season, which follows specific guidelines of ancient Indian Painting (citra), according to the Vi峁ａ箛udharmottarapur膩峁嘺, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.鈥擳he Vi峁ａ箛udharmottarapur膩峁嘺 gives some instructions to make the picture of every season beautiful and natural. The winter season (艣颈艣颈谤补) should be depicted through the picture having pleased crows and elephants and a person shivering in cold. According to the Vi峁ａ箛udharmottarapur膩峁嘺 the picture should contain horizon filled with snow. [...] Thus, the Vi峁ａ箛udharmottarapur膩峁嘺 addresses various elements of nature, such as elephants in the winter season, since painting has much connection with time, mood and activity.

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Shilpashastra (啶多た啶侧啶ざ啶距じ啷嵿い啷嵿ぐ, 艣ilpa艣膩stra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): (Tibetan Buddhism)

Elephants (in Sanskrit: Gaja) can be controlled by one having the Siddhi (power) of Speech, according to verse 14.24bd-27 of the Laghu艣a峁僾ara, an ancient Buddhist Yogin墨 Tantra.鈥擜ccordingly: 鈥淭he S膩dhaka [who has] the Siddhi of speech can certainly attract a king or queen by [merely] thinking [it]. [...] And he can stop a river, a cart, a machine [like a water-wheel,] the ocean, elephants (gaja) and horses, clouds, a man or bird merely by means of his speech. He achieves everything which he desires by his speech鈥�.

: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka Ma峁囜笉ala

The Elephant is associated with the Yogin墨 (female deity) named Gaj墨, being situated in the 惭别诲颈苍墨肠补办谤补, according to the 10th century 岣屇乲膩r峁嘺va-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Sa峁僾ara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.鈥擜ccordingly, the 尘别诲颈苍墨肠补办谤补 refers to one of the three divisions of the 诲丑补谤尘补-辫耻峁璦 (鈥榙harma layer鈥�), situated in the 贬别谤耻办补尘补峁囜笉补濒补. The 36 pairs of 岣屇乲in墨s [viz., Gaj墨] and V墨ras are yellow in color; the shapes of their faces are in accordance with their names [e.g., Elephant]; they have four arms; they hold a skull bowl, a skull staff, a small drum, and a knife.

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Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha鈥檚 words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (惫补箩谤补测腻苍补) are collected indepently.

India history and geography

: Singhi Jain Series: Ratnaprabha-suri鈥檚 Kuvalayamala-katha (history)

Elephants were commonly depicted on the Sa峁僺膩racakra paintings (representing scenes of animal life), in ancient India, as mentioned in the Kath膩s (narrative poems) such as Uddyotanas奴ri in his 8th-century Kuvalayam膩l膩 (a Prakrit Camp奴, similar to K膩vya poetry).鈥擯age 185.21 f.: Here follows a description of a printed scroll illustrating the Jaina conception of 蝉补峁僺腻谤补肠补办谤补. [...] The 蝉补峁僺腻谤补-肠补办谤补 illustrated the three worlds of hell, human world and the world of gods. [For example:] Scenes of bird and animal life, e.g., fight between lion and elephant (as depicted in the Kail膩sa temple at Ellora).

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The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Relevant text

Search found 503 books and stories containing Elephant, Elephants, The elephant; (plurals include: Elephants, Elephantses, The elephants). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Elephants in the Kingdom and as a Royal Asset < [Chapter 5]

Techniques of Capturing Elephants (Introduction) < [Chapter 3]

Metaphors regarding Elephants < [Chapter 2]

+ 66 more chapters / show preview

Chapter 291 - Propitiatory rites for curing the ailments of Elephants (gaja-艣膩nti)

Chapter 287 - The treatment of the diseases of elephants (gaja-cikits膩)

Chapter 268 - N墨r膩jana (relating to King鈥檚 expedition)

+ 92 more chapters / show preview

Fauna (5): Domesticated Animals (a): Elephants < [Chapter 5 - Aspects of Nature]

Architecture (Buildings in a City) < [Chapter 4 - Cultural Aspects]

Politics and Administration (3): Sa峁僺pho峁璦 (War) < [Chapter 3 - Social Aspects]

+ 14 more chapters / show preview