Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Ashtadiggajas included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, 鈥榯he five characteristics of a Purana鈥�).
Story of A峁ａ弓adiggajas
and A峁⑨宫ADIKKARI峁喣猄. There are eight male and eight female elephants standing guard over the eight zones. They are:
Zone
Male Female
South-east 笔耻峁囜笉补谤墨办补 碍补辫颈濒腻
South-west Kumuda 础苍耻辫补尘腻
West 础帽箩补苍补 罢腻尘谤补办补谤峁嚹�
North-west 笔耻峁补诲补苍迟补 艢耻产丑谤补诲补苍迟墨
North 厂腻谤惫补产丑补耻尘补 础峁単补苍腻
North-east 厂耻辫谤补迟墨办补 础帽箩补苍腻惫补迟墨
(础尘补谤补办辞艣补) Besides these, there are four diggajas (elephants of the universe) who bear the earth standing below in the nether world. It is stated that the sons of Sagara who went into the nether land in search of the lost horse of his father saw these elephants. As they went to the east they saw the huge elephant 痴颈谤奴辫腻办峁, holding the earth on its head. It is said an earthquake occurs when for a change it shakes its head. Going to the left of it they saw the elephant Mah膩padmasama holding the earth on its head on the south. Going again to the left of it they saw Saumanasa holding the earth on its head on the west and going to the left of it on the north they saw Bhadra holding the earth on its head. (痴腻濒尘墨办颈 搁腻尘腻测补峁嘺, B膩lak膩峁囜笉a, Sarga 40).