Āirāvata (आइरावत).—A species of white elephants with four tusks;1 the elephant of Indra.2 Lord of elephants; travelling in the sun's chariot during the month of kārtika;3 Indra rode on, to see Kṛṣṇa;4 defeated by Garuḍa in a fight between Kṛṣṇa and Indra.
Airāvata, the Lord of the elephant. In the Viṣṇu Purāṇa we are told how Airāvata was made the chief of all elephants. When the Maharṣis had crowned Pṛthu as the sovereign King, Brahmā gave new posts of honour to many of the devas. He made SOMA (Moon) the lord of the Stars and Planets, of Brahmins, Yajñas and herbs. Kubera was made the overlord of all Kings; Varuṇa was made the master of the seas and all water; Viṣṇu, the lord of the Ādityas and Pāvaka (Fire) the lord of the Vasus. Along with these Brahmā made Airāvata the lord of all elephants. (Chapter 22, Viṣṇu Purāṇa). The breaking of Airāvata’s tusks. There is a story of how the tusks of Airāvata were broken narrated in the Āsurakāṇḍa of Skanda Purāṇa. Once an asura (demon) named Śūrapadma attacked devaloka. A fierce battle ensued between the gods and asuras. In the course of this battle, Jayanta, Indra’s son, was hit by an arrow and at once he fell dead. Enraged by this Airāvata rushed at Śūrapadma’s chariot and shattered it to pieces. Airāvata then attacked Śūrapadma who broke his tusks and hurled him down to the earth. Airāvata lay paralysed for a long time; then he got up, retired to a forest and prayed to Lord Śiva. With the grace of Śiva Airāvata regained his lost tusks and was able to return to devaloka. Other details about Airāvata. (1) There is a belief that Airāvata is one of the eight elephants guarding the eight zones of the universe. These eight elephants are called the Aṣṭadiggajas. Airāvata is supposed to guard the eastern zone. (Chapter 66, Ādi Parva, Mahābhārata). (2) Airāvata and three other diggajas are supposed to reside in Puṣkara Island. (Chapter 12, Bhīṣma Parva, Mahābhārata). ஐராவதம். இலங்கெயிற் றயிரா பதத்தொடு கடிதுவந்தன னிந்திரன் [airavatham. ilangeyir rayira pathathodu kadithuvanthana ninthiran] (தக்கயாகப்பரணி [thakkayagapparani] Verses 6.16.24-25 Garga samhita कुण्डले देव-मात्रे च दत्ते वै मत्-प्रियेच्छया ऐरावत-भवा नागा भौमासुर-समृद्धयः मद्-इच्छया समानीताः श्री-कृष्णेन महात्मना मत्-कारणान् महा-वैरं शक्रे ऽपि कृतवान् हरिः kuṇḍale deva-mātre ca datte vai mat-priyecchayā airāvata-bhavā nāgā bhaumāsura-samṛddhayaḥ mad-icchayā samānītāḥ śrī-kṛṣṇena mahātmanā mat-kāraṇān mahā-vairaṃ śakre 'pi kṛtavān hariḥ Because of my wish Lord Kṛṣṇa returned Aditi's earrings and Indra's parasol. Because of my wish Lord Kṛṣṇa took Bhaumāsura's riches and his elephants powerful as Airāvata. Becasue of me Lord Kṛṣṇa fought with Indra. Brihaddharma Purana (abridged) [by Syama Charan Banerji] He stopped blowing his conch and sought instructions from Ganga who said that the cave was impassible in its present state, but that if he could go and fetch Indra s elephant known as Airavata he could make a passage for them through it. Bhagiratha, accordingly, went to Airavata, and bowing down before him preferred his request to him as directed by Ganga.... Chapter 46 - History of Ganga (continued, 10) Jnaneshwari (Bhavartha Dipika) [by Ramchandra Keshav Bhagwat] I am Airavata amongst the elephants—the glory of kings. I am ambrosia secured from the churning of the sea. I am amongst all men, the King, a manifestation of spiritual power, who is served by all his subjects.... Read full contents: Verse 10.26-27 Harivamsha Purana [by Manmatha Nath Dutt] Then when Airavata regained strength, the battle between Krishna and Indra once more raged fiercely. 95. They shot at each other gem-bedecked arrows resembling snakes in shape and carefully tempered and whetted on stone, 96. O king, thereafter the wielder of the bolt of heaven hurled at Garuda, Airavata s enemy, his thunder again and again with great noise. 97.... Read full contents: Chapter 74 - The Fight between Krishna and Indra B G Verse 10.27 उच्चैःश्रवसम् अश्वानां विद्धि माम् अमृतोद्भवम् । ऐरावतं गजेन्द्राणां नराणां च नराधिपम् ॥ २७ ॥ uccaiḥśravasam aśvānāṃ viddhi mām amṛtodbhavam | airāvataṃ gajendrāṇāṃ narāṇāṃ ca narādhipam || 27 || Of horses know Me to be Uccaiḥśravā, born from the churning of the ocean to extract nectar. Among elephants I am Airāvata, and among men I am the king. In Valmiki Ramayan, Sundar Kanda [4.27.12] states that Hanuman, on entering Lanka, sees FOUR-TUSKED elephants (Gomphotheres) guarding the palaces of Ravan. These elephants are very tall, imposing and have been trained to protect Lanka from invaders. Similar description is given by Trijata, the ogress guarding Sita in Chapter 27 of the same Kanda when she dreams of Lord Rama coming to Sita’s rescue riding an elephant high as a hill and bearing four tusks. triviSTapa nibham divyam divya naada vinaaditam | vaaji heSita samghuSTam naaditam bhuuSaNaiH tathaa || 5-4-26 rathaiH yaanaiH vimaanaiH ca tathaa gaja hayaiH shubhaiH | *vaaraNaiH ca catuH dantaiH* shveta abhra nicaya upamaiH || 5-4-27 bhuuSitam rucira dvaaram mattaiH ca mR^iga pakSibhiH | raakSasa adhipateH guptam aavivesha gR^iham kapiH || 5-4-28 Translation: The great Hanuma entered secretly Ravana’s inner city which was equal to paradise, rendered noisy by neighing of horses and tinkling of ornaments, by chariots, vehicles and aerial-cars and decorated by auspicious elephants and horses and great elephants with four tusks and by birds and animals in heat. It had beautiful entrances and was protected by thousands of rakshasas with great strength. uttamam raakshasaavaasam hanumaanavalokayan | aasasaadaatha lakshmiivaan raakshasendraniveshanam || 5-9-4 catur viSaaNair dviradaiH triviSaaNaiH tathaiva ca | parikSiptam asambaadham rakSyamaaNam udaayudhaiH || 5-9-5 Translation : Hanuman the glorious one neared and observed the best residence of Rakshasas and the house of Ravana, containing elephants with four tusks and also those with three tusks, those with two tusks and still not crowded. It was protected by soldiers bearing raised weapons. K Rajaram IRS 4226 -- 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/CAL5XZoqUtb4XDNTw0zNJBXJ0pGMPim-sxFoL2EhEiOcx2oQc4Q%40mail.gmail.com.
