The Indian or Asiatic Elephant 



Young Indian elephants, as shown by a specimen in 

 the British Museum, have hairy coats. 



As already mentioned, the elephant figures largely in 

 Hindu mythology ; the goddess Lakshmi being repre- 

 sented surrounded by elephants, while the god Ganesh 

 who sprang from an elephant-incarnation of Parvathi, 

 holds a position higher than other gods in religious 

 ceremonies. The story of his origin is as follows : 

 Parvathi was accused by her husband Shiva of infidelity, 

 whereupon her son Ganesh intervened to protect her. 

 His father, seizing a sword, cut off Ganesh's head at a 

 blow. Parvathi was disconsolate and would not speak 

 to her husband till he had given life to the slain son. 

 Shiva, solicitous to humour his wife and yielding to 

 the entreaties of all the gods, sent his army to find a 

 creature which slept with its head to the north ; and 

 when found to kill it and bring back its head to replace 

 that of the murdered Ganesh. The soldiers returned 

 with the head of an elephant, and placing it on the 

 trunk of Ganesh, there sprang into existence a creature 

 with the face of an elephant and the body of a man. 

 Little wonder that the elephant is credited with 

 remarkable intelligence. It is believed, for instance, 

 to be conscious of its dignity and importance the 

 moment its trappings are put on ; feeling that it is the 

 centre of attraction, and that without its presence the 

 procession would be a poor show. Peculiar forms of 

 worship or " puja," are performed in honour of the 

 elephant-god ; and at each of the eight cardinal points of 

 the compass there are believed to be a pair of elephants 

 and a divinity, who support the earth in its place. 

 According, however, to another version, the globe is 

 supported by a single elephant, which stands on a 

 tortoise. 



25 



