Airavata

Airavata is a divine elephant from ancient Hindu stories. He is described as pure white and born with three heads, six tusks, and three trunks. In some stories, he has even more trunks and tusks, showing all ten directions. Airavata is known as the "king of elephants" and carries the powerful god Indra.

He has many special names, such as "elephant of the clouds," "the fighting elephant," and "brother of the sun." Airavata is the third son of a river goddess named Iravati. In the epic Mahabharata, Airavata is also described as a great serpent. His story shows how important elephants are in ancient myths and religious beliefs.

Hindu tradition

Airavata is a special elephant in Hindu stories. Different tales tell how he came to be. In one story, he was born to Iravati, who is linked to a wise sage named Kashyapa. Another story says he came from mixing the ocean of milk. Yet another tale says he was created when the god Brahma sang holy hymns over pieces of an eggshell.

Airavata is known as the king of elephants and is linked to clouds and rain. He carries the god Indra into battle. There is a famous verse that says Airavata is one of the great elephants, just as Uchchaihshravas is a great horse and monarchs are the greatest among people.

Airavata helps protect the world and stands at the entrance to Indra's palace. There is a special temple near Tanjore where it is said that Airavata once worshipped a sacred symbol called the Lingam.

Jain tradition

In Jain tradition, when a Tirthankara is born, Indra and his wife, Shachi, come down riding the big elephant Airavata to celebrate.

Flags with Airavata

In Laos, the divine elephant Airavata appeared on some important flags. These include the flag of French Laos from 1893 to 1952, the flag of the Royal Lao Government in Exile from 1952 to 1975 and again from 2003, and the Laotian royal standard used between 1952 and 1975.

In Siam, now known as Thailand, Airavata was on special royal standards. The "Thong Airaphot" standard was used by the king when away from the palace from 1855 to 1891 and again from 1897 to 1910. Later, the "Thong Chuthathipathai" standard served the same purpose from 1891 to 1897. The flag of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration also included this symbol.

Erawan

Erawan (Thai: เอราวัณ, from Pāḷi Erāvana, or Sanskrit Airāvana) is one of the Thai names of Airavata. It looks like a big elephant with three or sometimes thirty-three heads, and often has more than two tusks. Some statues show Indra, the king of Tavatimsa Heaven, riding on Erawan.

The elephant became a symbol of Bangkok because of its link with Indra when the city became the capital of the new Rattanakosin Kingdom. It is also linked with the old Lao Kingdom of Lan Xang and the former Kingdom of Laos, where it was called the "three-headed elephant" and appeared on the royal flag.

In popular culture

Airavata appears as a character you can choose in the Megami Tensei video game series.

The song "The Animal Tent" from the album The Circus by The Venetia Fair mentions Airavata.

Airavata is also the name of a bus service run by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation.