The elephant is a vahan of Indra. This elephant is Airavata, and celestial elephants trace their lineage to Airavata.
In the past, Samvartaka and the thunderheads were summoned by Indra to lash at Vrindavana, when Krishna exhorted the Gopas that they should be worshipping Mount Govardhana instead of Indra. Samvartaka is the host of the thunderclouds/ the thunderheads. The thunderheads are a heavy bunch, like storm troopers if you will. Indra is like the chief of Field Marshall. Samvartaka is the General or at least commands the Cloud Division.. Indra's roar is Bhoh! Bhoh! Govardhana!! Hem kitem?! High above them (the cowherd village), suspended between heaven and earth, Krishna holds aloft the mountain in his hand. He holds Govardhana inverted abouve Vrindhavana---a living awning of earth, rock and forest. (Blocking the rains) [from, Krishna, life and song of the blue god, by Ramesh Menon, Rupa & Co]. Basically Krishna, stopped Indra and his fury. Indra unmoved, later says, "This cowherd is the Brahman!" (essentially, and in simple terms the Absolute or Undifferentiated Reality (I know, I know--not so simple). venantius j pinto > Message: 6 > Date: Mon, 31 May 2010 15:24:41 -0400 > From: Goanet News Service <[email protected]> > Subject: [Goanet] Blessings from goddess Gajlaxmi bring good rainfall > and prosperity > > (DEL) > Nandkumar Kamat, from the Goa University says, "In Goa, it could be a > symbolic worship for monsoonal showers. The elephant represents a > monsoonal cloud. Through Gajlaxmi worship a link between the sky and the > earth is established. The monsoonal rains invigorate the earth. The > earth-goddess becomes "Shakambari" or creator of vegetation." > > (DEL) > > > http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Blessings-from-goddess-Gajlaxmi-bring-good-rainfall-and-prosperity/articleshow/5991915.cms
