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Overview
In Parker’s Western Province tale, an elephant descends from the Divine World and eats a farmer’s millet. The farmer first mistakes its footprints for the work of moving rice mortars, ties up the household vessels and even destroys his own. A night watch reveals the actual visitor. He plans to reach its heavenly home by hanging from its tail, with his wife, a washerman and the washerman’s wife forming a chain behind him.
During their ascent, the last woman asks how large a rice measure is in the Divine World. The farmer releases his grip to demonstrate with both hands, and all four fall from a great height and are killed. The elephant’s flight is real within the tale, while the supposedly animated mortars are the farmer’s error. No personal name, multiple heads or wings are given to the elephant.
A separately attributed North-western Province variant has a man descend with the elephant and invite villagers to accompany him back. This guide hangs from its tail while the others grasp one another’s waists. A question about heavenly coconuts makes the guide release his hand, causing everyone to fall; the variant does not expressly state that they die. Only the elephant reaches the Divine World. Parker’s additional Indian comparison uses a bull associated with Śiva, a different mount that is not merged with these elephants.
Origins & earliest records
Two regionally attributed Sri Lankan tellings in Parker
Records & interpretation
Complete English tale and attached notes read.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Village Folk-Tales of Ceylon, Volume III
No.227, pp.207–211, including The Tusk Elephant of the Divine World variant and comparative note
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
Primary records and illustrations
H. Parker, Village Folk-Tales of Ceylon III (1914)
III. No.227, pp.207–211
Complete main/variant/comparison read. Main Western Province four people die; variant Cultivating Caste North-western Province only says all fall, elephant alone reachesDivineWorld. Moving mortars mistaken footprints. NoAiravataidentity.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Historical primary tale translationParker, Village Folk-Tales of Ceylon III, No.227 and variantResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
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