Hastin

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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[edit]

In Rig Veda 1.84.17 and 4.4.1. and probably other instances the Rig Veda seems to refer to elephants (e.g. Bryant 2001: 323), an animal that is 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[edit]

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 Rig Veda, Mrga Hastin (animal with a hand) occurs in RV 1.64.7 and RV 4.16.14.

Ibha[edit]

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 Rig Veda.^[5]^[6]

Varana[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

↑ RV 4.4.1, 9.57.3 (where "the people deck him like a docile king of elephants"), 6.20.8; Talageri, Shrikant (2000)
↑ Vedic Index, II, 501; II, 171
↑ In RV 4.4.1 and 6.20.8, ibha is translated as servants/attendants by Griffith.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 ^4.4 ^4.5 Vedic Index, I, 79
↑ Vedic Index, I, 79.
↑ RV 1.84.17; 4.4.1; 9.57.3; and perhaps 6.20.8. Vedic Index, I, 79.
↑ Vedic Index, II, 288

References[edit]

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