Matangalila and Hastyayurveda (study)
by Chandrima Das | 2021 | 98,676 words
This page relates ‘Tracking of Elephants in their natural abode’ of the study on the Matangalina and Hastyayurveda in the light of available epigraphic data on elephants in ancient India. Both the Matanga-Lila (by Nilakantha) and and the Hasti-Ayurveda (by Palakapya) represent technical Sanskrit works deal with the treatment of elephants. This thesis deals with their natural abode, capturing techniques, myths and metaphors, and other text related to elephants reflected from a historical and chronological cultural framework.
Tracking of Elephants in their natural abode
According to texts—[1]
Aforest known for the breeding of elephants is considered to be the paramount. The king must look after such forests and also those in which elephants are known to reside, with the help of the forest dwellers. Before capturing elephants one has to know the signs of their presence in the forests.
Gajaśāstra reveals the ways of finding out of elephant path which method is described by Vyāsa.[2] According to him one should recognise the herd of elephants by the forest creatures smeared with the urine and excreta of elephants, and covered with painful sores. Elephants are identified by their footsteps, trees scratched at being hit by them, the place where they lie down and their trumpeting’s (Chapter 6, v. 1516).[3] These methods were developed over a period of time and became region specific. It is interesting to know that in 12th century CE the taming and catching of elephants had become quite a refined art. Mānasollāsa too clearly stated that the tracing of the animal in the forest is a very crucial.
The method described in this treatise is similar to the Gajaśāstra. It says thus[4] —
presence of an elephant herd in a forest can be ascertained from animals of the forest smeared with urine and dung of the elephants and the leaves of aruṣka (Semecarpus anacardium) sticking on to them. It can also be inferred from the footmarks and droppings of the elephants, from the felled trees tore against by them, from their relaxing spaces, and also from their trumpets. Experts should catch the elephants according to the order of the king in grīṣma, i.e., summer time[5]. People were also aware of forests where the elephants of best breed lived.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Gajanan K. Shrigondekar. ed. Mānasollāsa, Vol.1, v.171, p. 45.
[2]:
[3]:
Ibid., Chapter 6, v. 15-16, p. 59.
[4]:
Gajanan K. Shrigondekar. ed. Mānasollāsa, Vol.1, v. 181-182, p. 45.
[5]:
Ibid., v. 184, p. 46.