International Conference on Asian Elephants in Culture & Nature
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Item Vaprakrīḍā: A Playful Butting of Elephants(Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Prabhudesai, A.‘Vaprakrīḍā’ is the word used in ancient Sanskrit literature for the playful butting of elephants against mounds. ‘Vaprakriyā’ or ‘Utkhātakeli’ are the other words used for the same act. Kalidāsa’s Raghuvaṁśam and Meghadūtam are the two Sanskrit texts which mention this behavior of elephants. Modern science has also accepted that elephants show this behavior to drain the excessive energy that gets accumulated in them during their rutting period. This behavior is seen in many mammals including bullocks and deer. The occurrences of ‘Vaprakrīḍā’ in Sankrit literature show the abilities of keen observation of ancient Indians. This paper will be dealing with this behavior of elephants on the following points: Finding occurrences of ‘Vaprakrīḍā’ in classical Sanskrit literature and tracing if there is any cultural importance of those Getting explanation of ‘Vaprakrīḍā’ from the scientific Sanskrit texts like ‘Hastyāyurveda’ and ‘Mātaṅgalīlā’ which are specially written to discuss elephant science by ancient Indians ‘Vaprakrīḍā’ in the light of modern science With regard to the above points, there will be a thorough study of this behavior of elephants from ancient time to modern time in this paper which will help to understand conceptions and misconceptions, if any, of ancient Indians related to the behavior of elephants.Item Role of Hastyadhyakṣa in Kauṭilya’s Arthaśāstra(Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Hota, K.N.In Kauṭilya’s administration the King was the Head of State and he appointed officials through a stringent procedure of selection, and only the deserving ones were finally selected and appointed by him for different positions. Officials are appointed for smooth running of the state. Some of the officials are known as adhyakṣas or the superintendents. Nearly 30 adhyakṣas were appointed in Kauṭilya’s administration. These superintendents are so competent that they are generally endowed with the excellences of the ministers and they are appointed to work according to their expertise. One of those superintendents is Hastyadhyakṣa who discharges his duty while looking after the entire set up of elephants. He ensured the following: the security of elephants in forest, their comfortable stay in stables constructed with as per their size in length, width and height, proper food with prescribed quantity as per their body size, regular health checkup by physicians, scheduled time for food, bath, sleep etc, proper training given for simple riding or for war, making them engaged as per different seasons and the rest. He should also see that elephants are caught only in summer season, cubs are generally not caught and if caught, they are meant for play only. However, he gets the work done by various attendants like security guards, trainers, cooks, drivers, foot-chainers and so on. Moreover, there is a provision of penalty for those who do not perform their duties as have been assigned to them. It appears that Hastyadhyakṣa is quite conversant with all related issues of elephants. This paper makes an attempt to highlight the duties of the said official while looking after the elephants envisaged in Arthaśāstra (AŚ), and it may see some reflections in this regard with other Sanskrit literary work like Śukranīti, Hastyāyurveda etc.