Airavata was not human in shape; he was a large elephant. (See Sarga 14, Aranyakanda, Ramayana). KAURAVYA was a noble serpent which was born of Airavata. (M.B. Adi Parva, Chapter 218, Stanza 18).
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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 one legend. 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.
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== Airavata Swarupa ==
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While in general context Airavata is referred to the celestial elephant vahana of Devendra, other versions are also mentioned.
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* a species of white elephants with four tusks (Bhag. Pura. 10.59.37)
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* a large elephant (Sarga 14, Aranyakanda, Ramayana).
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* name of a mountain situated in Bharatavarsha, in a region south of mount Meru (Vara. Pura. Adhyaya 85)
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* KAURAVYA was a noble serpent which was born of Airavata. (M.B. Adi Parva, Chapter 218, Stanza 18).
== Airavata was responsible for Samudra-manthan ==
== Airavata was responsible for Samudra-manthan ==