Hastin (हस्तिन्) is a term for 'elephant' used inVedic texts. Other terms for 'elephant' includeIbha (इभ) andVārana (वारण).
InRigveda 1.84.17 and 4.4.1. and probably other instances, theRigveda seems to refer toelephants (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 theRigveda and in theAtharvaveda, the term is translated as 'elephant' (according to Keith and Macdonell, Roth and other scholars).[2] In theRigveda,Mrga Hastin (animal with a hand) occurs in RV 1.64.7 and RV 4.16.14.
RV 9.57.3 andRV 6.20.8 mentionibhas, a term meaning 'servant, domestics, household' according to Roth, Ludwig, Zimmer and other Indologists.[3] Other scholars like Pischel andKarl Friedrich Geldner translate the term as 'elephant'.[4] According toSayana,[4]Mahidhara[4] and theNirukta,[4]ibha is translated as 'elephant'.Megasthenes[4] andNearchos[4] also connectibha with 'elephant'. The termibha is only used in theSamhitas, and especially in theRigveda.[5][6]
Another term that may mean 'elephant' isVarana (RV 8.33.8; RV 10.40.4). According to Macdonell and Keith,Varana refers to elephants.[7]
TheAkananuru (27) and thePurananuru (389) state that elephants were raised and trained in ancient Tamilagam's northern boundary of Venkatam hills,Tirupati.