Gajah

Balinese constellation: Gajah (an elephant), re-drawn by Jessica Gullberg for the planetarium software Stellarium (CC-BY Youla Azkarrula & Jessica Gullberg)

Gajah is an Oceanic name from Bali (Indonesia). The lintang of gajah is found in intersection of Rědite (Sunday, in saptawara) and Paing (in pancawara) in a series of palelintangan. Lintang gajah means an elephant constellation.

Etymology and History

Gajah (IPA: /ˈɡad͡ʒah/ [ˈɡa.d͡ʒah]) is derived from Sanskrit गज, gaja, means elephant.

Spelling Variants

• gadja (old spelling)
• gaja

Origin of Constellation

Among the various animals, elephants are animals that have almost always appeared in the history of human civilization. In this world, animals that are part of the Elephantidae family only have two types left, namely, the African Elephant - Loxodonta africana - the largest elephant species in the world, and the Asian Elephant - Elephas maximus. From the genus Loxodonta, there are two subspecies: Loxodonta africana - the African Elephant that lives in savanna areas, and Loxodonta cyclotis - the African Elephant that lives in African forests.

While the distribution of Asian Elephants is only in several Asian countries, including parts of West Asia, the coast of Iran, China, Bhutan, India, parts of Nepal, Burma, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The Asian Elephants are also divided into several subspecies; Elephas maximus indicus - Indian Elephant, the elephant with the largest population in Asia, and Elephas maximus maximus - a subspecies of elephant known as the Sri Lankan Elephant. These subspecies have the largest body size among other Asian elephants.

Although researchers have divided elephants into two species and several subspecies, it turns out that all elephants in the world are considered to have several similarities. In addition to being the largest mammal on land, elephants are also classified as the smartest animals in the world. In addition to their special abilities, elephants also have a psychology that is very similar to humans, they have emotions. With the various specialties they have, it is not surprising that elephants often appear in the history of human civilization. It is recorded that several nations in the world, especially Asia, have a close relationship with this elephant figure, of course, in a cultural context.

In Hinduism, the elephant has a connection with deities. On the one hand, an elephant is a vehicle of the God Indra; together they eradicate the forces of evil. Known as Airawata, this elephant takes the form of a white elephant. Airawata is also often referred to as the leader of the elephants in the world as well as the guardian of the universe.

On the other hand, God Ganesha is a god who has an elephant’s head with a human body. In India,  Ganesha is one of the most widely worshiped gods. Ganesha is worshiped as the god of salvation and the wards off disaster or danger. In this aspect, the manifestation of Ganesha as a statue is often found in various places, such as riverbanks, ravines, and other places considered dangerous by the Hindu community. While in Indonesia, especially Bali and Java, Ganesha is well known as the god of knowledge, wisdom, peace, and the arts.

Mythology / Religion

Gajah Airawata

India

In the Hindu concept, Airawata is the son of Irawati. She is one of the daughters of Daksha, one of the sons of Brahma. Many versions call Daksha one of the creator gods. In another version, Daksha is also called Kasyapa.

Thailand

Many versions also say that Airawata is the most famous mythological animal in Thailand, perhaps because of this animal, Thailand is nicknamed the land of the "White Elephant". Unlike the Indian version, in Thailand Airawata is known as Erawan. Its form is also slightly different from the Indian version. In Thai culture, Airawata or Erawan is an animal that takes the form of a three-headed white elephant with more than two tusks.

Puppet Version (Wayang)

Airawata is said to have originated from the process of digging the Samudera Manthana (Manthana ocean). Once upon a time, Garuda was on his way to find Tirta Amerta to free Kasyapa, his mother, who was being enslaved by Kadru, the mother of the dragons. In his searching, Garuda was told by the gods to cut the peak of Mount Mandaragiri and then dig the Manthana ocean using the peak. With the help of Vishnu, Garuda was able to find the Tirta Amerta. In the digging process, new figures emerged in the concept of this puppetry, including the Goddess Laksmi, later known as the shakti of Bhatara Visnu, Laksmi is worshiped as the god of fertility, prosperity, wealth, luck, justice, and wisdom, the Moon, Tirta Amerta and the Airawata Elephant itself. This version also says that the elephant Airawata had a brother, namely the elephant Puspadhenta, who was the mount of King Baladewa - in the Indian version known as Balarama, he was the older brother of Bhatara Kresna, ruling in the country of Mandura, the son of King Vasudewa.

Ganesha

In Hindu mythology, Ganesha is the son of Bhatara Siwa and the goddess Parvati. From this physical form, he is often called by the name Gajanama.

Once, Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva, decided to take a bath in her palace located on the peak of Mount Kailash. However, every time she prepared to take a bath, the palace guards seemed unable to provide her with a peaceful privacy. Therefore, Goddess Parvati decided to create a loyal guard who would protect her while she took a bath. Parvati then collected the turmeric paste that covered her body, and from this simple material, she formed the figure of a boy. With her powers, she gave life to the figure and named him Ganesha. Parvati then gave a command to Ganesha, "My son, I am going to take a bath. Stand at the door and do not let anyone enter without my permission." Ganesha, full of responsibility, was ready to carry out his task faithfully.

Later, Lord Shiva, the husband of Goddess Parvati, returned to his palace. He was surprised to see an unfamiliar figure standing at the door. When Shiva tried to enter the room, Ganesha blocked his way. Shiva looked at him in surprise and asked, "Who are you, young man, who dares to block my way?". Politely and firmly, Ganesha replied, "My mother is taking a bath and does not want to be disturbed. I have been ordered not to let anyone enter, not even Lord Shiva himself."

Shiva, offended by the boy's audacity, glared at Ganesha sharply. "Little boy, you may not know who I am. I am Shiva, the ruler of the universe. No one can block my way, especially in my own house."

However, Ganesha remained loyal to his mother's orders and said that he was only carrying out the duties given by her.

Shiva was offended. Shiva then called the Ganas (his followers) to get rid of Ganesha, but none of them succeeded in defeating him. Seeing the situation getting tense, Shiva, who was impatient, finally released his Trident and cut Ganesha's head, separating it from his body. At that time, Goddess Parvati came out of her bathroom and found Ganesha lying lifeless. She cried seeing her son lying on the ground without a head. While Shiva stood nearby with his trident still in his hand. Parvati shouted angrily at Shiva in sadness while telling how Ganesha was created.

The remorseful Shiva promised to bring Ganesha back to life, but his body had to be given a new head. To get a human head, of course there had to be a severed toddler's neck. The beheading process could be done, only on the condition that the toddler had to be kidnapped when he was not in his mother's arms while sleeping. (Then this is one of the reasons why parents in India, Bali or Java have a habit of not putting their babies out of reach).

Because they could not find a baby or toddler sleeping separately from their mother, they looked for an animal head as a replacement. Shiva sent the Ganas (his followers) to look for the head of the first living creature they found facing north. After searching, they found an elephant. At that time the elephant ridden by the God Indra named Airawata was drunk and fell asleep in a position that violated the rules, namely sleeping with his head facing north. For this violation, the Ganas then beheaded the Elephant Airawata, and the elephant's head was then brought back to Shiva.

With his power, Lord Shiva attached the elephant's head to Ganesha's body and gave him life again. Ganesha came back to life, but this time with the head of an elephant. With this awakening, Shiva gave Ganesha the powers of the God of Dispelling Obstacles and the God of Wisdom, ensuring that he would be respected throughout the universe.

Image Variants

• 

  Lintang Gadjah (CC-BY Alfred Maaß, (1929), Astrologische Kalender der Balinesen)

• 

  Lintang Gajah in the cloth (CC-BY UPTD Museum Bali)

• 

  Lintang Gajah (CC-BY Youla Azkarrula taken in the ceiling of Taman Gili Klungkung Palace Bali)

Cultural Beliefs

Numerology (Neptu/Urip)

Rědite (Sunday, in saptawara) has a value of 5 and Paing (in pancawara) has a value of 9. Thus, the total urip on this lintang is 14.

Astrological Characteristics

Authoritative, have supernatural powers, can get rich quickly, have a long life, have many children, but unfortunately they find it very difficult to accept criticism from others and are too firm in their positions.

Matching Gemstones

Kecubung (amethyst), Mirah (ruby) dan Nila (Saphire).

All HIP Stars within this constellation

HIP 15900, HIP 16083, HIP 16322, HIP 16924, HIP 17058, HIP 17309, HIP 17408, HIP 17453, HIP 17776, HIP 17832, HIP 17847, HIP 17851, HIP 17900, HIP 17921, HIP 18033, HIP 18170, HIP 18471, HIP 18485, HIP 18508, HIP 18717, HIP 18724, HIP 18735, HIP 19009, HIP 19038, HIP 19076, HIP 19261, HIP 19284, HIP 19376, HIP 19388, HIP 19641, HIP 19672, HIP 19877, HIP 19990, HIP 20087, HIP 20171, HIP 20186, HIP 20205, HIP 20255, HIP 20261, HIP 20417, HIP 20430, HIP 20455, HIP 20484, HIP 20493, HIP 20533, HIP 20542, HIP 20614, HIP 20635, HIP 20641, HIP 20648, HIP 20661, HIP 20711, HIP 20713, HIP 20732, HIP 20789, HIP 20842, HIP 20877, HIP 20885, HIP 20889, HIP 20894, HIP 20995, HIP 20995, HIP 21029, HIP 21039, HIP 21053, HIP 21082, HIP 21137, HIP 21408, HIP 21421, HIP 21459, HIP 21517, HIP 21588, HIP 21604, HIP 21683, HIP 21689, HIP 21881, HIP 21961, HIP 22128, HIP 22176, HIP 22565, HIP 22850, HIP 22949, HIP 23068, HIP 23088, HIP 23497, HIP 23589, HIP 23871, HIP 23883, HIP 23900, HIP 23949, HIP 24512, HIP 24820, HIP 24822, HIP 24977, HIP 24984, HIP 25428, HIP 25539, HIP 25695, HIP 25695, HIP 25806, HIP 26451

References

• References (general)