Hastin
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196714882
2008-03-08T07:03:17Z
Charles Matthews
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/* Ibha */ lk
'''Hastin''' is a term for [[elephant]] used in Vedic texts. Other terms for elephant include ibha and varana.
== The elephant in the Rigveda ==
In Rig Veda 1.84.17 and 4.4.1. and probably other instances the Rig Veda seems to refer to [[elephant]]s (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.<ref>RV 4.4.1, 9.57.3 (where "the people deck him like a docile king of elephants"), 6.20.8; Talageri, Shrikant (2000)</ref> 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).<ref>Vedic Index, II, 501; II, 171</ref>. In the Rig Veda, ''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 ''{{IAST|ibha}}''s, a term meaning "servant, domestics, household" according to Roth, Ludwig, Zimmer and other Indologists.<ref>In RV 4.4.1 and 6.20.8, ibha is translated as servants/attendants by Griffith.</ref> Other scholars like Pischel and [[Karl Friedrich Geldner]] translate the term as elephant.<ref>Vedic Index, I, 79</ref> According to [[Sayana]]<ref>Vedic Index, I, 79</ref>, [[Mahidhara]]<ref>Vedic Index, I, 79</ref> and the [[Nirukta]]<ref>Vedic Index, I, 79</ref>, ibha is translated as elephant. [[Megasthenes]]<ref>Vedic Index, I, 79</ref> and [[Nearchos]]<ref>Vedic Index, I, 79</ref> also connect ibha with elephant. The term ibha is only used in the Samhitas, and especially in the Rig Veda.<ref>Vedic Index, I, 79. </ref><ref>RV 1.84.17; 4.4.1; 9.57.3; and perhaps 6.20.8. Vedic Index, I, 79.</ref>
=== 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.<ref>Vedic Index, II, 288</ref>
== The elephant in other Hindu texts ==
The [[Akananuru]] (27) and the [[Purananuru]] (389) state that elephants were raised and trained in [[Tirupati]]. According to another [[Sangam]] poem, the [[mahout]]s trained the elephants using Sanskrit.<ref>[[Mullaippattu]] 35, quoted from Kalavai Venkat, Review of "Early India"</ref>
== Notes==
<references/>
== 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]]
[[Category:Sanskrit words and phrases]]
[[Category:Elephants]]
[[Category:Mammals of India]]