Hastin

Hastin (हस्तिन्) is a term for 'elephant' used in Vedic texts. Other terms for 'elephant' include Ibha (इभ) and Vārana (वारण).

The elephant in the Rigveda

In Rigveda 1.84.17 and 4.4.1. and probably other instances, the Rigveda seems to refer to elephants (e.g. Bryant 2001: 323), an animal native to South Asia. It has been speculated that some of these verses might be references to domesticated elephants.^[1] In RV 1.64.7, 8.33.8 and 10.40.4, "wild" elephants are mentioned.

Mrga Hastin

In the Rigveda and in the Atharvaveda, the term is translated as 'elephant' (according to Keith and Macdonell, Roth and other scholars).^[2] In the Rigveda, Mrga Hastin (animal with a hand) occurs in RV 1.64.7 and RV 4.16.14.

Ibha

RV 9.57.3 and RV 6.20.8 mention ibhas, a term meaning 'servant, domestics, household' according to Roth, Ludwig, Zimmer and other Indologists.^[3] Other scholars like Pischel and Karl Friedrich Geldner translate the term as 'elephant'.^[4] According to Sayana,^[4] Mahidhara^[4] and the Nirukta,^[4] ibha is translated as 'elephant'. Megasthenes^[4] and Nearchos^[4] also connect ibha with 'elephant'. The term ibha is only used in the Samhitas, and especially in the Rigveda.^[5][6]

Varana

Another term that may mean 'elephant' is Varana (RV 8.33.8; RV 10.40.4). According to Macdonell and Keith, Varana refers to elephants.^[7]

The elephant in other Hindu texts

The Akananuru (27) and the Purananuru (389) state that elephants were raised and trained in ancient Tamilagam's northern boundary of Venkatam hills, Tirupati.

Notes

References

• Bryant, Edwin (2001). The Quest for the Origins of Vedic Culture. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-513777-9.
• Macdonell, A.A. and Keith, A.B. 1912. The Vedic Index of Names and Subjects.
• Talageri, Shrikant: The Rigveda: A Historical Analysis. 2000. ISBN 81-7742-010-0

See also

• Sacred cow