The Story of Airavata
I am Sarama, the
divine dog of Indra. It was once my job to find the cows stolen
by asuras. I found them in a nether world called Patala.
The asuras tempted me with many things a dog would love, but I stayed
faithful to Indra.
I have a story to tell you about another divine animal loyal to my master.
Listen...
During the churning of the ocean an elephant emerged from the active waters. The elephant's name is Airavata and he is the vehicle of Lord Indra. Airavata has four great tusks and is all white. When Airavata and other elephants first roamed the Earth they could fly. All elephants had wings! But, there came a day when the wings of all elephants were lost to them.
One of these grand animals was flying around one day and saw the most comfortable looking tree in which to land and rest. The elephant lowered its huge body down toward the giant tree. Unfortunately, the branches of that giant tree were not as strong as the elephant had first thought. Crash! Crash! Crash! The elephant broke through three ancient branches. The branches crumbled under the weight of the giant animal and fell through the tree limbs and crashed onto the forest floor. Finally, the flying elephant landed on a branch that was strong enough to hold its weight.
The elephant sighed with relief. The tree would provide the elephant with a comfortable place to rest and reenergize before continuing on with its journey.
Just as the elephant closed its big eyes, an angry voice came to it from below.
To the elephant's surprise, a sage was below casting angry words and faces up to the elephant. The sage had been deeply involved in his rituals and was interrupted by the destruction of the tree by the big animal.
The elephant knew that no good could come of an angry sage! The elephant prepared to take off into the air, but just as it stepped from the supporting branch, its wings disappeared! The elephant came crashing down to the forest floor and it came face to face with the sage.
"You have interrupted my important ritual! I have placed a curse on you and all of your kind. I have taken the wings from your back. You and the other elephants of the world will never soar again. You will live all of your life with your four feet on the ground,” ordered the sage.
The sage’s curse ended the flight of the elephant.
I have a story to tell you about another divine animal loyal to my master.
Listen...
During the churning of the ocean an elephant emerged from the active waters. The elephant's name is Airavata and he is the vehicle of Lord Indra. Airavata has four great tusks and is all white. When Airavata and other elephants first roamed the Earth they could fly. All elephants had wings! But, there came a day when the wings of all elephants were lost to them.
One of these grand animals was flying around one day and saw the most comfortable looking tree in which to land and rest. The elephant lowered its huge body down toward the giant tree. Unfortunately, the branches of that giant tree were not as strong as the elephant had first thought. Crash! Crash! Crash! The elephant broke through three ancient branches. The branches crumbled under the weight of the giant animal and fell through the tree limbs and crashed onto the forest floor. Finally, the flying elephant landed on a branch that was strong enough to hold its weight.
The elephant sighed with relief. The tree would provide the elephant with a comfortable place to rest and reenergize before continuing on with its journey.
Just as the elephant closed its big eyes, an angry voice came to it from below.
To the elephant's surprise, a sage was below casting angry words and faces up to the elephant. The sage had been deeply involved in his rituals and was interrupted by the destruction of the tree by the big animal.
The elephant knew that no good could come of an angry sage! The elephant prepared to take off into the air, but just as it stepped from the supporting branch, its wings disappeared! The elephant came crashing down to the forest floor and it came face to face with the sage.
"You have interrupted my important ritual! I have placed a curse on you and all of your kind. I have taken the wings from your back. You and the other elephants of the world will never soar again. You will live all of your life with your four feet on the ground,” ordered the sage.
The sage’s curse ended the flight of the elephant.
Research...
This story is mostly a general story about elephants and wings! I have introduced, however, Sarama, Indra's divine canine, and Airavata, Indra's divine vehicle. My research indicates that we will see more of Sarama and her two daughters, Shama and Shabala, in the Mahabharata. During the churning of the ocean very powerful things emerged. The white elephant, Airavata was one of these things. The name "Airavata" is derived from the name "Iravat" which means made from water. According to legend, elephants are believed to have the power to produce clouds. When Indra rides Airavata, the elephant delivers rain to the Earth.
In parts of Asia, people follow the cult of the white elephant. It is believed by some that the soul of a dead person may be contained by a white elephant. These elephants, when found in the wild, are captured and given to the king. The elephant is deeply cared for, even baptized, until its death. In other parts of Asia, the people believe that a white elephant brings good luck and some believe it is a guardian spirit.
Image information:
Airavata
Kalamkari Painting on Cotton
Artist...K. Murali
Bibliography:
The information about Sarama, the divine dog of Indra, I found at In The Love of Indian Canines.
Information about Airavata I found at Indian Divinity.
The information about the cult of the white elephant I found at The 1911 Edition Encyclopedia.