is a term for 'elephant' used in Vedic texts. Other terms for 'elephant' include and .
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.
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, (animal with a hand) occurs in RV 1.64.7 and RV 4.16.14.
RV 9.57.3 and RV 6.20.8 mention s, 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] is translated as 'elephant'. Megasthenes[4] and Nearchos[4] also connect with 'elephant'. The term is only used in the Samhitas, and especially in the Rigveda.[5] [6]
Another term that may mean 'elephant' is (RV 8.33.8; RV 10.40.4). According to Macdonell and Keith, refers to elephants.[7]
The Akananuru (27) and the Purananuru (389) state that elephants were raised and trained in ancient Tamilagam's northern boundary of Venkatam hills, Tirupati.