AIRAVATAM-THE WHITE ELEPHANT Dear friends,
I felt a contradictionabout the white elephant Iravata. In legends it is told, Indra placed the sacred garland givento him by sage Durvasa on his white elephant Iravata, it was spoiled by the elephant and Durvasacursed Indra. Consequence was losingwealth and prosperity by Devas. For getting them back for devas churningof the milky ocean was done. During Churning Iravata was appeared. How can it be? I made Google searchin AI mode and the consequent QA is the content of this posting. Hope this could be informative to normal members. Not to Highly informative ones. Gopalakrishnan 04-02-2025 Iravata Indra placed the garland given by Sage Durvasa on his divinewhite elephant, Airavata (or Airavat). The incident occurred when Indra, ridingAiravata, was given a special,sacred garland by Durvasa, which he carelessly hung on theelephant's trunk or tusks. Thefragrant flowers attracted bees, irritating the animal, which then threw the garlandto the ground and trampled it. The Elephant: Airavata, who is the mount (vaahana) of LordIndra, is a majestic white elephant, often described with multiple trunks ortusks. The Consequence: This act of disrespect enraged Durvasa, leading him to curse Indra and the Devas to lose their power, prosperity,and wealth. Resulting Event: The loss of power caused by the curse led tothe churning of the Ocean of Milk (Samudra Manthan) Lord Indra placed thegarland given by Sage Durvasa on his divine white elephant, Airavata. This isas per Vishnupurana. Actually, both theories are considered "correct"depending on which scripture you follow. Hindu mythology often contains different versions of thesame event across various Puranas and Itihasas. Here is how the two main theories compare: Samudra Manthan Theory: According to the Mahabharata and Bhagavata Purana,Airavata did indeed emerge as one of the 14 treasures (ratnas) from theChurning of the Milky Ocean. In this version, he was "born of the ocean" and claimed by LordIndra as his divine vehicle. Brahma’s Egg Theory: The Matangalila and other textsoffer a differentorigin story. It is said that when Lord Brahma sang sacred hymnsover the halves of the golden egg shell from which Garuda hatched, Airavata emerged as the first andgreatest of eight male elephants. Genealogical Theory: In the Ramayana,Airavata is described as the son of Iravati, who was a granddaughter of thesage Kashyapa. Why the confusion? Some scholars explain these discrepancies by noting thatHindu cosmology operates in cycles called Manvantaras. Each cycle has its own Indraand its own version of these events, meaning Airavata may have appeareddifferently in different ages. What are the ashtadikpalaka elephants and details The Ashtadik gajas (literally "eight elephants of thequarters") are the eightmythical elephants that support the earth and guard the eight cardinaland intermediate directions. They are often described as the vehicles (vahanas)of the Ashtadikpala, theeight divine guardians of those directions. According to the Amarakosha and other texts, each male elephant has acorresponding female consort (Ashtadikkarinis): Direction Male Elephant Female Consort Guardian Deity East Airavata Abhramu Indra South-East Pundarika Kapila Agni South Vamana Pingala Yama South-West Kumuda Anupama Nirrti West Anjana Tamrakarni Varuna North-West Pushpadanta Shubhradanti Vayu North Sarvabhauma Angana Kubera North-East Supratika Anjanavati Ishana Key Details: Symbolism: These elephants symbolize immense strength and thepreservation of the cosmic order. They are seen as the pillars that prevent theearth from falling into the cosmic ocean. Origin Myth: The Matangalila states that Brahmacreated them from the two halves of a golden egg shell. The male elephantsemerged from the right shell, and the female elephants from the left. Literary Reference: Historically, the term was alsoused to honour the eight great poets in the court of King Krishnadevaraya of the VijayanagaraEmpire, comparing their intellectual power to these divine elephants WHETHER THE EZHARAPONNANA IN EATTUMANOR TEMPLE ,KERALA HAS ANY RELATION TO ASHTADIK PALAKAS? Yes, the Ezhara Ponnana (Seven-and-a-Half Golden Elephants) inthe Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple are directly related to the Ashtadig gajas. In temple tradition, these eight statuettes represent theAshtadig gajas (the eight elephants that guard the eight cardinal directions): Seven Full Elephants: Represent seven of the cardinalguardians like Airavata, Pundarika, and others, standing at about two feettall. The "Half" Elephant: Represents Vamana, the elephant of the South. Because the deity Vamana is often associated with a"short" or "dwarf" form, the elephant statuetterepresenting him was made only one foot tall (half the size of the others Key Facts about EzharaPonnana: Donation: They were donated to the temple bythe Maharaja of Travancore; Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma (though someaccounts say the presentation was completed by his successor, KarthikaThirunal). Composition: The statuettes are made of jackfruit wood and covered in nearly 13 kg ofgold plates. The Festival: They are kept in the temple vault and broughtout only once a year during the Ezhara Ponnana Darshanam at midnight on the eighth day of the temple'sannual Arattu festival. Alternative Legend: Another story suggests the 8th elephant is smaller because the local "Ettillath"Namboothiri families were traditionally entitled to one-eighth of any donation;by making the eighth elephant "half-sized," the temple effectivelykept the full set. WHAT ARE THESPECIALTIES OF IRAVATA? It seems you've got a keen eye for the "MVP" of theelephant world! Beyond just being Indra’s ride, Airavata (also known asAbhramu-matanga, meaning "Elephant of the Clouds") has some pretty legendary specsthat set him apart from your average tusker: Multi-Tusked &Multi-Headed: While often shown with one head, manyscriptures describe him with three, five, or even thirty-three heads.He typically sports fourmassive tusks, which are said to resemble the four peaks of MountMeru. Pure White Radiance: Unlike grey earthly elephants, Airavata is snow-white.This symbolizes purity and his origin from the Churning of the Milky Ocean. The Rain Maker: He has the unique ability to reachhis trunk down into the underworld (Patala), suck up water, and spray it intothe clouds. Indra then uses his thunderbolts to release that water as coolrain, making Airavata central to Agricultural fertility. King of All Elephants: He was anointed by Lord Brahma as the King of allElephants and serves as the leader of the Ashtadig gajas (the eightdirectional elephants we discussed earlier). Gatekeeper of Swarga: He guards the entrance to IndraLoka (Indra's Heaven), standing as a symbol of royal power and divineprotection. Thai Connection: In Thailand, he is known as Erawanand is a massive cultural icon. You’ll find him depicted on the oldnational flag and at the famous Erawan Museum in Bangkok. Since you mentionedthe Ezhara Ponnana earlier, would you like to know how the Airavata statuettespecifically stands out in that golden set at Ettumanoor? YES In the Ezhara Ponnana (Seven-and-a-Half Golden Elephants)collection at the Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple, Airavata holds a place ofdistinct prominence among the Ashtadig gajas (eight guardian elephants)represented there. How Airavata Stands Out: The Leader of the Set: While all eight statuettes are basedon the Ashtadig gajas, Airavatais historically the chief of these elephants and the guardian of the East.In the golden set, he is one of the seven "full-sized" elephants,standing roughly two feet tall. Royal Symbolism: Because Airavata is the vehicle ofLord Indra (the King of Gods), his presence in the set specifically reinforces the sovereignty andprosperity of the kingdom. The Travancore Maharaja donated these asan act of penance or protection, using Airavata’s image to symbolize divineimperial power. The Contrast with the "Half" Elephant: Airavata’smajestic 2-foot stature is highlighted by the contrast with the eighthelephant, which is only one foot tall. This smaller elephant represents Vamana(the guardian of the South), whose name and divine persona are literally linkedto being "short" or a "dwarf". Craftsmanship: Like the others, the Airavata statuette ismeticulously carved from jackfruit wood and encased in heavy gold plating.Collectively, the set uses about 13 kg of gold, making the Airavata figure oneof the most valuable sacred objects in the temple’s vault. The most special moment to see him is during the EzharaPonnana Darshanam at midnight on the 8th day of the annual Arattu festival,where he is paraded under the stars WHY LAVISH SPENDING IS TOLD AS IRAVATAM(WHITEELEPHANT In common usage, the term "White Elephant" (derivedfrom Airavata) refers to apossession that is useless or troublesome, especially one that is expensive tomaintain or difficult to dispose of . The connection between Airavata and "lavishspending" comes from a clever historical tactic rather than the deity'sdivine nature: The Burden of Luxury: Because Airavata is the King ofElephants and a divine being, a white elephant was considered sacred and could not be put to work. It required the highest quality food, specialized housing, and constant care, but provided zeroeconomic return. A "Gift"of Financial Ruin:Historically, Southeast Asian monarchs (like those in Thailand or Myanmar) were said to gift a white elephantto a courtier or rival who had displeased them. Because the animal was a royal gift and sacred, therecipient could not sell it or make it work, but they were forced to spend afortune on its upkeep . The Result: Therecipient would eventually go bankrupt trying to feed and maintain themagnificent, "holy" beast . In modern financial terms, a "White Elephantproject" is any massive investment—like an underused stadium or anoversized building—that costs more to keep running than it actually earns. In 2026, the conceptof the White Elephant continues to bridge ancient royal tradition with modernfinancial pitfalls. Royal Rituals of WhiteElephants In Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand and Myanmar, whiteelephants are not just animals but sacred symbols of divine kingship andprosperity. Ancient Criteria: To be officially recognised, an elephantmust possess seven auspicious characteristics, including white eyes, whitetoenails, and white hair. The Coronation Gift: In recent years, white elephantscontinue to be presented to monarchs. For instance, King Rama X of Thailand waspresented with a white elephant following his coronation ceremonies. Ritual Care: These elephants are never used for work orwar. They are housed in royal stables, overseen by Brahman ritual specialists, and receiveceremonial treatment, such as being anointed by the King with scented waterlaced with gold and gems. Auspicious Status: Their image remains central to nationalidentity, appearing on official seals and historical flags. Modern "WhiteElephant" Projects The idiom now identifies massive investments that areover-budget, underused, or serve as "monuments to vanity". Ryugyong Hotel (North Korea): Known as the"Hotel of Doom," this 105-story pyramid has remained largelyunfinished and unoccupied since 1987, despite its massive presence inPyongyang. Naypyidaw (Myanmar): The capital city is described as a"white elephant city." It features 20-lane highways and massiveshopping malls that are often entirely empty due to low population density. Russky Bridge (Russia): A $1 billion bridge built for a two-day summit to connecta tiny island population to the mainland. Olympic Stadiums: Host cities often struggle with"The Big Owe" (as Montreal's 1976 stadium was dubbed) because thefacilities are too expensive to maintain once the games end. Transportation Failures: Modern examples in 2026 includeunder-utilised metro projects in various Indian cities and the BerlinBrandenburg Airport, which suffered a decade of delays and cost overruns. Did You Know? Some white elephants actually"bounce back." TheEmpire State Building was called the "Empty State Building" for 20years before becoming profitable in the 1950s ARE THERE ANY WHITECOLOUR ELEPHANTS? I FOUND A CLAY COLOUR WHITE ELEPHANT IN JEDDAH SOUDI ARABIAZOO RECENTLY. Yes, white elephants arereal, but they arenot the snowy, brilliant white often imagined in mythology like Airavata. Theelephant you saw in the Jeddah zoo was likely a standard elephant that usedclay for protection. Here's the distinction between the mythical and real"white" elephants: Real-life"White" Elephants Real "white" elephants are not a distinct speciesand are usually regular Asian or African elephants with a condition calledleucism (a rare genetic mutation that reduces pigment) or, very rarely,albinism. Coloration: Their skin is typically a soft reddish-brownor a light, pale grey, which turns a noticeable pinkish color when their skinis wet. They often have light-colored eyelashes and toenails. They do not looklike a pure white marble statue. Location: They are extremely rare in the wildbut are highly revered in Southeast Asian countries, especially Thailand (known as the "Land ofthe White Elephants") and Myanmar, where they are consideredsymbols of royal power and good fortune and are kept in royal care. The Jeddah Zoo Sighting: The "clay colour whiteelephant" you observed in the Jeddah zoo was a regular elephant that had likely engaged in a dust bath or mud bath using light-coloured sand orclay. Elephantsdo this to cool down in the heat and protect their sensitive skin from the sunand parasites, giving them a temporarily white or pale, dusty coating This concludes AI QA.I will continue in 2nd and final part. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1733652170.71305.1770178721372%40mail.yahoo.com.
