THE ELEPHANT:The rulers of India trained and used the elephant in war. In 280 B.C.E. King Pyrrhus waged the first war using elephants against the Romans. Hannibal employed them in the battle between Rome and Carthage in 218 B.C.E. The Hindu god Ganesha (Lord of Hosts) has the head of an elephant and is very popular with the people as the god of removing obstacles. The god Indra rides a white elephant whose name is Airavata. Sometimes the deity Shiva wears an elephant skin. Krishna, whose highly sexed wife was Radha (She-Elephant), could assume an elephant form also. To the Hindu people, the elephant symbolizes royalty, intelligence, might, long life, sexual prowess, and strength of the sacred wisdom. The Buddhists class the elephant with the dove of peace, saying it represents wisdom, strength, prudence, and sovereignty. In Buddhist fertility rituals, the elephant is a symbol of the Sacred Marriage. The Chinese Buddhist deity P'u Hsien was said too ride a white elephant. The Greek Dionysus and the Roman Bacchus were sometimes pictured as riding in a chariot drawn by elephants. In this aspect, the animal represented victory over death, immortality, and long life. The symbolism of powerful magick in the elephant extended to its ivory, particularly during the Middle Ages. SuperstitionsElephants never forget. Elephants don't have the fantastic memory with which they are credited, although they are intelligent.Elephants only get pregnant once and live for 300 years. Elephants are afraid of mice. Magickal AttributesRemoval of obstacles and barriers.Always being willing to learn new things. Building confidence. Patience and confidence to tackle a new job, schooling, or learning situation. ChantBefore the power of GaneshaAll barriers and obstacles are removed. Through the wisdom of Ganesha I draw confidence and new opportunites. Under the love of Ganesha I learn and grow stronger in all ways. |