Airavata (Samskrit : ऐरावतः) is the celestial white elephant, which arose
during ksheerasaraga mathana (churning of the milky ocean) and was offered
as the mount for Indra, the swargadhipati according to Vishnupurana (1.9.7,
25). Said to be the son of Iravati, according to another version Airavata
was instrumental in bringing about the churning of the ocean. Here we
present different aspects of Airavata.
While in general context Airavata is referred to as the celestial elephant
conveyance of Devendra, it also refers to {Vishnu and vayu puranam}
Name of a serpent that accompanies Surya in his ratha (chariot) during the
month of Kartika in the Sharat season (52.14)
विभावसुभरद्राजौ पर्जन्यैरावतौ तथा । विश्वाची-सेनजित्संज्ञौ कार्त्तिके
चाधिकारिणाः ।। 11 ।।[4] (Vish. Pura. 2.10.12)
vibhāvasubharadrājau parjanyairāvatau tathā । viśvācī-sēnajitsaṁjñau
kārttikē cādhikāriṇāḥ ।। 11 ।। (Vish. Pura. 2.10.12)
Name of an important serpent born to Kashyapa and his wife Kadru (mother of
all serpents). Arjuna's father-in-law, Ulupi's father, Kauravya was a noble
serpent born of Airavata. (Maha. Adi Parv. 213.18). Shesha was the first
born, Vasuki after him, followed by Airavata, Takshaka, Karkotaka and
Dhanajaya (names of the snakes given below)
शेषः प्रथमतो जातो वासुकिस्तदनन्तरम्। ऐरावतस्तक्षकश्च कर्कोटकधनञ्जयौ।।
(Maha. Adi. 1.35.5)
śēṣaḥ prathamatō jātō vāsukistadanantaram। airāvatastakṣakaśca
karkōṭakadhanañjayau।।
An asura killed by Sri Krishna as per Mahabharata (Sabha parva adhyaya
38)One can come to know the form of this divine elephant as given below.
white elephants with four tusks, swift-footed belonging to the lineage of
Airavata (Bhag. Pura. 10.59.37) a large elephant (Sarga 14, [[Ramayana_(
रामायणम्)|Aranyakanda]], Ramayana)
Legends of Airavata
There are many legends about Airavata in different Puranas and Itihasas.
Lineage of Airavata
Valmiki Ramayana in the [[Ramayana_(रामायणम्)|Aranyakanda]] 14th Sarga, the
wounded Jatayu describing his family history to Sri Rama, gives the
following account about the origin of Airavata :
Kasyapa, one of the Prajapatis, married the eight daughters of Daksa. One
of them named Krodhavasa had ten daughters by Kasyapa.
दश क्रोधवशा राम विजज्ञे अपि आत्मसंभवाः । मृगीम् च मृगमंदाम् च हरीम्
भद्रमदाम् अपि ॥३-१४-२१॥ (Valm. Rama. 3.14.21)
daśa krōdhavaśā rāma vijajñē api ātmasaṁbhavāḥ । mr̥gīm ca mr̥gamaṁdām ca
harīm bhadramadām api ॥3-14-21॥
मातंगीम् अथ शार्दूलीम् श्वेताम् च सुरभीम् तथा । सर्व लक्षण संपन्नाम् सुरसाम्
कद्रुकाम् अपि ॥३-१४-२२॥ (Valm. Rama. 3.14.22)
mātaṁgīm atha śārdūlīm śvētām ca surabhīm tathā । sarva lakṣaṇa saṁpannām
surasām kadrukām api ॥3-14-22॥
ततः तु इरावतीम् नाम जज्ञे भद्रमदा सुताम् । तस्याः तु ऐरावतः पुत्रो लोकनाथो
महागजः ॥३-१४-२४॥ (Valm. Rama. 3.14.24)
tataḥ tu irāvatīm nāma jajñē bhadramadā sutām । tasyāḥ tu airāvataḥ putrō
lōkanāthō mahāgajaḥ ॥3-14-24॥
Meaning : They were: Mrgi, Mrgamada, Hari, Bhadramada., Matangi, Shardule,
Sveta, Surabhi, Surasa and Kadruka. Of them Bhadramada gave birth to a
daughter, Iravati. Airavata the large elephant is Iravati's son.
Mahabharata (Adi Parva Adhyaya 66) describes the origin of all creatures,
and mentions that Airavata is the son of Bhadramana.
UttaraRamayana - Samudra-manthan Story
This is one anecdote of how Airavata was responsible for the churning of
the milk-ocean. According to Uttararamayana version Once the sage Durvasas
went to Devaloka. The devis gave him a grand reception at which Menaka
presented him with a garland made of fragrant flowers. Durvasa on his way
back meets and gives the sacred garland to Devendra. Indra, in all
arrogance placed it on Airavata's tusk. The fragrance of the garland
attracted a large number of bees to it. They swarmed round the head of the
elephant and annoyed it. Airavata pulled the garland to pieces, trampled it
and threw it away. Insulted Durvasas pronounced a curse that all the
devatas would be subjected to the ills of oldage. Upon request by Indra the
rishi relented and told him that if the Devas drank Amrta obtained by
churning the ocean of milk they would remain ever youthful. Accordingly,
the ocean of milk was churned by the joint effort of the Devas and Asuras
and in the end the Devas cleverly took part of it. When the Devas drank
Amrta, they regained their youth and immortality.
Mahabharata - Samudra-manthan Story
However, we find another story in Mahabharata of how Airavata rose as one
of the treasures during samudra- manthan. It is said that when the devas
and asuras churned the ocean of Milk, the four tusked, huge elephant also
came up along with the other treasures such as Kalpavriksha, Kausthuba and
Apsaras.
ततो जज्ञे महाकायश्चतुर्दन्तो महागजः। कपिला कामवृक्षश्च कौस्तुभश्चाप्सरोगणः।
(Maha. Adi. 1.18.52)[8]
tatō jajñē mahākāyaścaturdantō mahāgajaḥ। kapilā kāmavr̥kṣaśca
kaustubhaścāpsarōgaṇaḥ।
The Bhagavata Purana also describes the emergence of Airavata from
samudra-manthan.(Bhag. Pura. 8.8.17)[9] According to Ramayana, Indra's
elephant Airavata was responsible for the churning of the ocean of Milk.
But in the Mahabharata, it is said that a white elephant with four tusks
arose during the churning of the ocean of Milk and that Devendra caught and
tamed it. An explanation for this discrepancy may be seen in Visnu Purana,
3rd Section, Chapter 1. Now six Manvantaras have passed. This is the
seventh Manvantara. Each Manvantara has a new Indra. According to this,
different Indras have their own Airavatas.
Gajadhipati
In the Visnu Purana we are told how Airavata was made the chief of all
elephants. When the Maharsis had crowned Prthu as the sovereign King,
Brahma gave new posts of honour to many of the devatas.
पितृणां धर्मराजं तं यमं राज्येऽभ्यषेचयत् । ऐरावतं गजेन्द्राणाम् अशेषाणां
पतिं ददौ ।। ५ ।।
pitr̥ṇāṁ dharmarājaṁ taṁ yamaṁ rājyē'bhyaṣēcayat । airāvataṁ gajēndrāṇām
aśēṣāṇāṁ patiṁ dadau ।। 5 ।।
पतत्रिणाञ्च गरुडं देवानामपि वासवम् । उच्चैःश्रवसमश्वानां वृषभन्तु गवामपि ।।
६ ।।
patatriṇāñca garuḍaṁ dēvānāmapi vāsavam । uccaiḥśravasamaśvānāṁ vr̥ṣabhantu
gavāmapi ।। 6 ।।
शेषन्तु नागराजानं मृगाणां सिंहमीश्वरम् । वनस्पतीनां राजानं
प्लक्षमेवाभ्यषेचयत् ।। ७ ।।
śēṣantu nāgarājānaṁ mr̥gāṇāṁ siṁhamīśvaram । vanaspatīnāṁ rājānaṁ
plakṣamēvābhyaṣēcayat ।। 7 ।। (Vish. Pura. 1.22.5 - 7)
Summary : He made Soma (Moon) the chief of the Stars and Planets, of
Brahmins, Yajnas and herbs, Kubera over the rajas; Varuna the master of the
seas and all water; Visnu, chief of the Adityas. Along with these Brahma
made Yama the chief of pitrs, Airavata of the innumerable elephants; Garuda
of the Birds, Indra of the devatas, Ucchaisravas of the horses, Vrshabha of
the cattle, Sesha of the serpents, Lion of the beasts and Plaksha (fig
tree) of the medicinal trees
One of the Astadiggajas
There is a belief that Airavata is one of the eight elephants guarding the
eight zones of the universe. These eight elephants are called the
Astadiggajas. Airavata is supposed to guard the eastern zone. (Chapter 66,
Adi Parva, Mahabharata).
Airavata and three other diggajas are supposed to reside in Puskara Island.
(Chapter 12, Bhisma Parva).
Airavata's Defeat
There is a story of how the tusks of Airavata were broken, narrated in the
Asurakanda of Skanda Purana. Once an asura (demon) named Surapadma attacked
devaloka. A fierce battle ensued between the devatas 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 Airavata rushed at Surapadma's chariot
and shattered it to pieces. Airavata then attacked Surapadma who broke his
tusks and hurled him down to the earth. Airavata lay paralysed for a long
time; then he got up, retired to a forest and prayed to Lord Siva. With the
grace of Siva, Airavata regained his lost tusks and was able to return to
devaloka.
KR IRS 20226
On Fri, 20 Feb 2026 at 15:16, 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty <
[email protected]> wrote:
> *IRAVATAM- ADDITION*
>
> In Hindu cosmology, both the title of Indra and his divine mount Airavata
> (Iravatam) are positions *that change with each Manvantara. *
>
> *Key Facts About the Succession*
>
> Current Indra & Airavata: We are currently in the Vaivasvata Manvantara
> (the 7th of 14). The current occupant of the throne is named Purandara.
> According to the Vishnu Purana, each Indra has his own version of the
> celestial elephant Airavata.
>
> *A "Post" vs. an Individual:*
>
> While "Indra" is the name of the king of the Devas, it is essentially a
> title similar to "President" or "King". Just as a new person takes the seat
> of Indra, a new celestial being takes the role of his vahana, Airavata.
>
> Next in Line: In the upcoming Savarni Manvantara (the 8th), *the position
> of Indra is prophesied to be held by Mahabali (the former Asura king*).
> He will have a different Airavata as his mount.
>
> *Overview of Changes Across Manvantaras*
>
> Manvantara Name of Indra Mount (Vahana)
>
> 1st (Svayambhuva) Yajna Airavata (specific to that era)
>
> 2nd (Svarochisha) Vipaschit Airavata (specific to that era)
>
> 7th (Vaivasvata) - Current Purandara Airavata (Current)
>
> 8th (Savarni) - Future Mahabali Airavata (Future)
>
> While the name "Airavata" remains the same (just like the name "Indra"),
> the actual divine being fulfilling that role is different in each cycle.
> This reflects the cyclical nature of time in Hindu mythology, where roles
> in the celestial administration are re-filled every 71 Mahayugas (one
> Manvantara).
>
> These resources clarify that both Indra and Airavata are titles held by
> different beings across successive cosmic eras:
>
> *So Iravata is not immortal*
>
> In the strict sense of "eternal existence in the same body," no, Airavata
> is not immortal.
>
> In Hindu cosmology, almost all beings—including the Devas (gods) and their
> divine mounts—are subject to the cycles of time. Here is how his
> "mortality" works:
>
> 1. Lifespan of a Manvantara
>
> The position of Airavata, like that of Indra, lasts for exactly one
> Manvantara (approximately 306.72 million human years). According to the
> Vishnu Purana, at the end of this period, the current Indra, the
> Saptarishis (seven sages), and their associated deities "perish" or vacate
> their posts to be replaced by a new set in the next era.
>
> 2. The Nature of "Amara" (Deathless)
>
> While the Devas are often called Amara (immortal), this is usually
> "relative immortality."
>
> *The Nectar of Immortality*: Airavata and the Devas consumed Amrit
> (nectar) from the Churning of the Ocean, which freed them from "old age and
> death" within their current cosmic cycle.
>
> The Great Dissolution:
>
> At the end of a Kalpa (a day of Brahma), a Pralaya (dissolution) occurs
> where the lower realms of the universe are destroyed. At this point, even
> the most powerful celestial beings lose their physical forms.
>
> 3. Comparison with the "True" Immortals
>
> To see the difference, compare Airavata to the Chiranjeevis (the 7 or 8
> "truly" immortal beings like Hanuman or Ashwatthama).
>
> Airavata/Indra: They hold a post for a fixed duration and then move on.
>
> Chiranjeevis: They are individuals who have been granted the boon to live
> through multiple Yugas and Manvantaras until the end of the entire
> universe.
>
> In summary, the soul (Atman) of the being acting as Airavata is eternal,
> but the specific form and position of the divine elephant end when his term
> as Indra's mount expires.
>
> Ahalya incident
>
> Based on Hindu cosmology, the incident involving Ahalya, Gautama Rishi,
> and Indra occurred in the current Manvantara, which is the seventh, known
> as the *Vaivasvata Manvantara*.
>
> Current Context: We are presently in the Vaivasvata Manvantara, where
> Purandhara is the reigning Indra.
>
> Epic Source: The incident is detailed in the *Valmiki Ramayana (Bala
> Kanda),* which is part of the current historical and mythological
> framework of this epoch.
>
> Significance: The story involves Indra (the king of gods) visiting Ahalya
> (wife of Sage Gautama) in disguise, leading to a curse by the sage.
>
> The event is a well-known narrative, appearing in Vedic literature
> (*Shatapatha
> Brahmana) and Puranas, confirming its place in the current era. *
>
>
>
> *Posted by R. Gopalakrishnan 20-02-2026 – Information by Google search*
>
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