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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 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.<ref name=":0">Vettam, Mani. (1975). ''[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft Puranic encyclopaedia : A comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature.]'' Delhi:Motilal Banasidass.</ref>
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 (इन्द्रः)|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.<ref name=":0">Vettam, Mani. (1975). ''[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft Puranic encyclopaedia : A comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature.]'' Delhi:Motilal Banasidass.</ref>
== Airavata Swarupa ==
== Airavata Swarupa ==
While in general context Airavata is referred to as the celestial elephant conveyance of Devendra, it also refers to<ref name=":0" />
While in general context Airavata is referred to as the celestial elephant conveyance of Devendra, it also refers to<ref name=":0" />
* Name of a serpent that accompanies Surya in his ratha (chariot) during the month of Kartika <ref>The Vishnu Puranam (English Translation) ([https://archive.org/stream/VishnuPurana/Vishnu%20Purana#page/n223 Amsha 2 Adhyaya 10])</ref> Sharat season (52.14)<ref>Vayu Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AB%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 52])</ref>
* Name of a serpent that accompanies [[Surya (सूर्यः)|Surya]] in his ratha (chariot) during the month of Kartika <ref>The Vishnu Puranam (English Translation) ([https://archive.org/stream/VishnuPurana/Vishnu%20Purana#page/n223 Amsha 2 Adhyaya 10])</ref> Sharat season (52.14)<ref>Vayu Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AB%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 52])</ref>
<blockquote>विभावसुभरद्राजौ पर्जन्यैरावतौ तथा । विश्वाची-सेनजित्संज्ञौ कार्त्तिके चाधिकारिणाः ।। 11 ।।<ref>Shri Vishnu Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6 Amsha 2 Adhyaya 10])</ref> (Vish. Pura. 2.10.12)</blockquote><blockquote>vibhāvasubharadrājau parjanyairāvatau tathā । viśvācī-sēnajitsaṁjñau kārttikē cādhikāriṇāḥ ।। 11 ।। (Vish. Pura. 2.10.12)</blockquote>
<blockquote>विभावसुभरद्राजौ पर्जन्यैरावतौ तथा । विश्वाची-सेनजित्संज्ञौ कार्त्तिके चाधिकारिणाः ।। 11 ।।<ref>Shri Vishnu Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6 Amsha 2 Adhyaya 10])</ref> (Vish. Pura. 2.10.12)</blockquote><blockquote>vibhāvasubharadrājau parjanyairāvatau tathā । viśvācī-sēnajitsaṁjñau kārttikē cādhikāriṇāḥ ।। 11 ।। (Vish. Pura. 2.10.12)</blockquote>
* 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)
* 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)
<blockquote>शेषः प्रथमतो जातो वासुकिस्तदनन्तरम्। ऐरावतस्तक्षकश्च कर्कोटकधनञ्जयौ।। (Maha. Adi. 1.35.5)<ref>Mahabharata ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-01-%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5-035 Adi Parva Adhyaya 35])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>śēṣaḥ prathamatō jātō vāsukistadanantaram। airāvatastakṣakaśca karkōṭakadhanañjayau।।</blockquote>
<blockquote>शेषः प्रथमतो जातो वासुकिस्तदनन्तरम्। ऐरावतस्तक्षकश्च कर्कोटकधनञ्जयौ।। (Maha. Adi. 1.35.5)<ref>Mahabharata ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-01-%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5-035 Adi Parva Adhyaya 35])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>śēṣaḥ prathamatō jātō vāsukistadanantaram। airāvatastakṣakaśca karkōṭakadhanañjayau।।</blockquote>
* An asura killed by Sri Krishna as per Mahabharata (Sabha parva adhyaya 38)
* An asura killed by Sri Krishna as per [[Mahabharata (महाभारतम्)|Mahabharata]] (Sabha parva adhyaya 38)
One can come to know the form of this divine elephant as given below.
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)<ref>Tagare, Ganesh Vasudeo. ''[https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.126199/2015.126199.Ancient-Bharat's-Tradition-And-Mythology-Vol10-Part-4#page/n390 The Bhagavata Purana, Part 4 (Skanda 10).]'' Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass Pvt. Ltd.</ref>
* white elephants with four tusks, swift-footed belonging to the lineage of Airavata (Bhag. Pura. 10.59.37)<ref>Tagare, Ganesh Vasudeo. ''[https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.126199/2015.126199.Ancient-Bharat's-Tradition-And-Mythology-Vol10-Part-4#page/n390 The Bhagavata Purana, Part 4 (Skanda 10).]'' Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass Pvt. Ltd.</ref>
* a large elephant (Sarga 14, Aranyakanda, Ramayana)
* a large elephant (Sarga 14, Aranyakanda, [[Ramayana (रामायणम्)|Ramayana]])
== Legends of Airavata ==
== Legends of Airavata ==
There are many legends about Airavata in different Puranas and Itihasas.<ref name=":0" />
There are many legends about Airavata in different [[Puranas (पुराणानि)|Puranas]] and [[Itihasa (इतिहासः)|Itihasas]].<ref name=":0" />
=== Lineage of Airavata ===
=== Lineage of Airavata ===
== References ==
== References ==
[[Category:Vedas]]
<references />
[[Category:Devatas]]
[[Category:Itihasa]]
[[Category:Puranas]]
[[Category:Ramayana]]
[[Category:Mahabharata]]