Gaja-Śānti in the Agni Purāṇa

Gaja-Śānti · gaja-śānti, “the rite of peace for elephants”

The Gaja-Śānti is the śānti (rite of peace and protection) for elephants, which removes the diseases of elephants and makes them grow and prosper. The Agni Purāṇa gives it in Chapter 291, at the close of its teaching on the care of horses and elephants. There Śālihotra, who has taught Suśruta the marks and the treatment of horses and the Aśva-Śānti, says: “I shall tell the Gaja-śānti, which removes the diseases of elephants.”

The rite is of two kinds. The nitya (regular) Gaja-Śānti is kept on the pañcamī tithi (the fifth lunar day): Bhagavān Vishṇu, Devī Lakshmī, Airāvata, the devas, the elements and the elephants of divine birth are worshipped, with homa and dakshiṇā. The naimittika (occasional) Gaja-Śānti is kept at Makara and the other saṅkrāntis (the sun’s passage into a new sign), outside the town, on a great lotus and maṇḍala. After it the king’s chosen elephant is raised to the rank of Śrī-gaja, the state elephant: a knower of the times speaks a mantra into its ear, reminding it of Arishṭa, the son of Airāvata, to whom the devas gave that rank in the war of the devas and asuras. Last, in the elephant stable, the king worships the ḍiṇḍima drum and gives it to the superintendent of the elephants.

The nitya Gaja-Śānti on pañcamī

On the pañcamī tithi the following are worshipped, homas are done for them and dakshiṇās are given:

If the elephant is then given abhisheka (a sacred bath) with the water of the śānti-kalaśa (the pot of the śānti rite), it grows and prospers (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 291).

The naimittika Gaja-Śānti at the saṅkrāntis

At Makara and the other saṅkrāntis the elephants are worshipped outside the town, in the north-east.

On a sthaṇḍila (prepared ground) a lotus is drawn. In its middle Bhagavān Vishṇu and Devī Lakshmī are worshipped. On its eight petals, in order, are worshipped Brahmā, Sūrya, Pṛthivī, Skanda, Ananta, Ākāśa, Bhagavān Śiva and Candra. In order from the east the dikpālas (guardians of the directions) beginning with Indra are worshipped, with their divine weapons: the vajra, the śakti, the daṇḍa, the tomara, the pāśa, the gadā, the śūla, the padma and the others.

Outside the petals, on the circle, Sūrya and the Aśvins are worshipped. In the south are worshipped the eight Vasus and the Sādhyas; in the south-west the Bhārgava and Āṅgirasa devatās; in the north-west the Maruts; in the south the Viśvedevas; and in the north-east the Rudras. Outside the eight-petalled lotus with its circular lines are worshipped the ṛshis who composed the sūtras, and Devī Sarasvatī; in the eastern part the rivers and the mountains; and in the north-east and the other corners the pañca-mahā-bhūtas (the five great elements).

Then a maṇḍala is made, with four corners and four doors, shining with the padma, the cakra, the gadā and the śaṅkha. Kalaśas are placed in the south-east and the other corners, and flags and toraṇas (arched gateways) are set up on the four sides. At the other doors the elephant-kings beginning with Airāvata are worshipped. In the east and the other directions a vessel of oshadhis (healing herbs) is placed for each devatā.

The elephants are worshipped and pradakshiṇa (circumambulation keeping them on the right) is done around them. A hundred homas are offered for each of the devatās. Then, setting out with the gaja-rāja (the king of the elephants) and with the sacred fire, to the sound of instruments, one returns home, and dakshiṇā is given to the brāhmaṇas, to the elephant physicians and to the others (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 291).

The Śrī-gaja mantra

Then a kālajña (a man who knows the times, an astrologer) mounts the gaja-rāja and says into its ear:

“O Gaja-rāja! The Mahārāja has appointed you to the rank of Śrī-gaja. You are the best of elephants. From today these kings will worship you with gandha, garlands and the best akshatas, and by his command the people too will always worship you. On the battlefield, on the road and in the house you must always protect the Mahārāja. O Nāga-rāja! Leave your animal nature and remember your divinity. Long ago, in the war of the devas and the asuras, the devas gave the rank of Śrī-gaja to Arishṭa, the son of Airāvata. All the tejas (radiant power) of that Śrī-gaja is established in your body. O Gajendra, may kalyāṇa (welfare) be yours! May the divine tejas within you be awakened! Keep protecting the king on the battlefield.”

If that gaja-rāja dies, the śānti is done again and the same mantra is spoken into the ear of another elephant. At an auspicious muhūrta (an auspicious time) the king mounts the consecrated gaja-rāja, and heroic warriors bearing weapons follow him (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 291).

The ḍiṇḍima in the elephant stable

In the hasti-śālā (elephant stable) the king draws a lotus on the ground and worships the dikpālas outside it. In the place of its filaments he worships the great nāga-rāja (the elephant-king), Bhū-devī and Devī Sarasvatī. In the middle he worships the ḍiṇḍima (a drum) with gandha, flowers and sandal, performs homa, and gives a kalaśa full of rasa to a brāhmaṇa.

He honours the gajādhyaksha (superintendent of the elephants), the gaja-rakshaka (elephant keeper) and the jyotishika (astrologer), and gives the ḍiṇḍima to the gajādhyaksha. Seated on the elephant’s hind part, the gajādhyaksha beats the ḍiṇḍima with an auspicious, deep sound (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 291).

The mantra to the elephants

Among the mantras for the royal insignia that Pushkara teaches, by whose worship the king gains victory, the Agni Purāṇa gives a mantra to the king’s elephants. It says: “Kumuda, Airāvata, Padma, Pushpadanta, Vāmana, Supratīka, Añjana and Nīla: these eight gaja-rājas were born of divine birth. Their sons and grandsons live in the eight forests. In each forest are born elephants of the Bhadra, Mandra, Mṛga and Saṅkīrṇa (mixed) jātis (breeds).” The mantra then calls on the great elephant to remember its jāti, to keep its vow and protect its master, with Devendra, wielder of the vajra, riding Airāvata close behind it. It asks the Vasus, Rudras, Ādityas, Maruts, the diggajas, the directions and the dikpālas to protect it in battle, and gives it radiance from the Moon, strength from Bhagavān Vishṇu, tejas from Sūrya, speed from Vāyu, steadiness from the mountain, victory from Bhagavān Rudra and fame from Indra (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 269).

Sources

  • Agni Purāṇa, Chapters 269, 291