In Hindu mythology, what is the name of the divine elephant that serves as the mount or vehicle of Lord Indra, king of the gods?

Introduction / Context:

This question belongs to Hindu mythology and general religious knowledge. It asks about the name of the divine elephant that serves as the mount or vehicle of Lord Indra, who is regarded as the king of the gods and lord of thunder and rain in many traditional texts. Such questions often appear in cultural awareness sections of competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The deity in question is Lord Indra.
• The mount or vehicle is a celestial elephant.
• Several mythological names are given as options.
• We assume familiarity with basic Puranic stories and iconography.

Concept / Approach:

In Hindu tradition, many gods are depicted with specific vahanas or vehicles. Indra is famously shown seated on a white, multi tusked elephant named Airavata. The approach is to remember this specific association and differentiate it from other divine beings and objects such as the horse Uchchaihshravas or the bird Garuda.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative Check:

To verify, note that Uchchaihshravas is a celestial horse that emerged during the churning of the cosmic ocean, not an elephant. Garuda is the eagle like bird mount of Lord Vishnu. Parijata is a divine tree, and Kesava is one of the names of Vishnu, not the name of an elephant. Only Airavata fits the description of Indra mount, confirming that it is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option B, Uchchaihshravas, is a seven headed divine horse often associated with Indra but not his regular mount in iconography.

Option C, Kesava, is a name and form of Lord Vishnu, not the name of Indra elephant.

Option D, Garuda, is the bird vehicle of Vishnu, famous for fighting serpents, and has no elephant form.

Option E, Parijata, is a celestial flowering tree, sometimes linked with stories of Krishna, and is not a living mount or animal.

Common Pitfalls:

Students may confuse Uchchaihshravas with Airavata since both are powerful creatures linked to Indra and the churning of the ocean. Some may also mistakenly choose Garuda because of its prominence as a divine vehicle. To avoid such confusion, learners should clearly map each major deity to the correct vahana: Indra with Airavata, Vishnu with Garuda, Shiva with Nandi, and so on.

Final Answer:

The elephant that serves as the mount of Lord Indra is called Airavata.