Airavata

Indra (alias Sakra) and Sachi Riding the five-headed Divine Elephant Airavata, Folio from a Jain text, Panchakalyanaka (Five Auspicious Events in the Life of Jina Rishabhanatha [Adinatha]), circa 1670-1680, Painting in LACMA museum, originally from Amber, Rajasthan

Detail of the Phra Prang, the central tower of the Wat Arun ("Temple of Dawn") in Bangkok, Thailand - showing Indra on his three-headed elephant Erawan (Airavata).

Airavata (ऐरावत) is a mythological white elephant who carries the Hindu god Indra.

Names

Airavata is also called 'Ardha-Matanga', meaning "elephant of the clouds"; 'Naga-malla', meaning "the fighting elephant"; and 'Arkasodara', meaning "brother of the sun". 'Abharamu' is the elephant wife of Airavata. Airavata has four tusks and seven trunks and is spotless white. It is known as Airavatam in Tamil and Erawan in Thai.

In Hindu traditions

According to the Ramayana, his mother was Iravati. According to the Matangalila, Airavata was born when Brahma sang sacred hymns over the halves of the egg shell from which Garuda hatched, followed by seven more male and eight female elephants. Prithu made Airavata king of all elephants. One of his names means "the one who knits or binds the clouds" since myth has it that these elephants are capable of producing clouds.

The eight guardian deities who preside over the eight points of the compass each sits on an elephant. Each of these deities has an elephant that takes part in the defense and protection of its respective quarter. Chief among them is Airavata of Indra.

The connection of elephants with water and rain is emphasized in the mythology of Indra, who rides the elephant Airavata when he defeats Vritra. This mighty elephant reaches down his trunk into the watery underworld, sucks up its water, and then sprays it into the clouds, which Indra then causes to rain forth cool water, thereby linking the waters of the sky with those of the underworld. Airavata also stands at the entrance to Svarga, Indra's palace.

There is a reference to Airavata in the Bhagavad Gita: "Of horses, know Me to be the nectar-born Ucchaisravas; of lordly elephants, Airavata and of men, the monarch." (Chapter 10, Verse 27)

At Darasuram near Tanjore is a temple where it is believed that Airavata worshipped the Lingam; the Lingam is named after him as Airavateswara. This temple, which abounds in rare sculpture and architectural workmanship, was built by Rajaraja Chola II (1146–73).

Erawan

Erawan statue in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Erawan (Thai: เอราวัณ) is the Thai name of Airavata. It is depicted as a huge elephant, having three, sometimes with 33 heads. The heads are often shown with more than two tusks. Some statues show the Hindu god Indra riding on Erawan.

It is sometimes associated with the old Lao Kingdom of Lan Xang and the defunct Kingdom of Laos. They had used Erawan, more commonly known as "The three headed elephant" as their Royal Flag.

In popular culture

Airavata is a recruitable character in the Devil Survivor video game.

Airavata is referenced in the song The Animal Tent on the album The Circus by The Venetia Fair: "Here comes Airavata; the elephant controls the rainclouds, His skin the rumbling earth (Airavata!)"

Flags with Airavata

Laos

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  Flag of French Laos (1893-1952)
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  Flag of Laos (1952-1975)
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  Laotian royal standard (1952-1975)

Siam (Thailand)

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  "Thong Aiyarapot" (ธงไอยราพต) King's Absent Standard (1855-1891 & 1897-1910)
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  "Thong Chudhathipathai" (ธงจุฑาธิปไตย) King's Absent Standard (1891 - 1897)