Gaja

thumb|Gajendra Moksha, a Hindu legend where [[Vishnu saves an elephant from a crocodile|263x263px]] Gaja () is a Sanskrit word for elephant. It is one of the significant animals finding references in Hindu scriptures, as well as Buddhist and Jain texts.

==History== In the context of the history of Ancient India, the earliest depiction of gaja is found on the seals discovered at sites (like Harappa and Mohenjo Daro) of the Indus Valley civilisation (3000 BCE – 1700 BCE). Some scholars believe that by that time elephants had been tamed and domesticated, and used for peaceful and possibly for other purposes. Rigveda 8-33-8 mentions a Wild Elephant. Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya reports use of war elephants during warfare.