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Mathanga leela a complete book on Asian elephants

Mathanga leela a complete book on Asian elephants Authored by Thirumangalathu Neela-kantan Moossathu - It is not easy to present scientific facts in enchanting verses; that too in language easily understood by a layman. Thirumangalathu Neela-kantan Moossathu by his classic work Mathanga-leela has done exactly the same; its poetry makes one read it without a brake. Sri T N Moossathu has authored two other classics also like Manushya-alaya Chandrika and Kavyollasam. It may also be mentioned that the he was the guru of Sri Ramanujan Ezhuthassan the creator of Ramayana in Malayalam.

Three classics from a guru

1, Mathanga-leela contains all about elephants and it is the best known among his works,
2, Manushya-alaya Chandrika (Vasthu (architecture) science),
3, Kavyollasam (dealing with grammar and melody)

A wine that is digestible

The most authoritative classic ever written on elephants undoubtedly is the Hasthy-ayurveda written by sage Pala- kapya in four volumes namely ‘Maha-roga’, ‘Kshudra’, Shallya and Utthara. This great work contains 12,000 verses in160 chapters; remained -and still remain- un-attainable even to ordinary scholars. To make an elephant science popular; it had to be made ‘digestible’; in Mathanga-leela T N Moossathu has done it. In other words; it is the ‘same wine’ that is far sweeter and digestible to ‘ordinary stomachs.

‘Hearsays’ physicians

Madambu Kunjukuttan an authority on Indian elephants; has remarked in his preface that ‘Even though there are so many elephants living in this part of the world; the sad fact remains that there exists no scientific methods for their treatments. Formerly the King of Tranvancore’ (southern portion of the present Kerala) and local land-lords entrusted the care of their elephants to certain families who were well versed in that job. Even people who took care of these animals rarely had studied ‘Hasthy-ayurveda’; most of them had to rely on hearsay of the original book; as it was too elaborated and tough.

An idea of the time

It must be on these circumstances that influenced Mr. Thirumangalathu Neelakantan Moossathu to give birth to Mathanga-leela which was simple to read yet contains all the gist of Hasthy-ayurveda. This book immediately pleased the targeted groups and was an instant hit all through the state. It may be noted that brevity and simplicity were not the only plus points this book enjoyed; it was so poetic that forced one to read it.

Mathanga-leela is written in 153 verses comprised in the following 12 chapters.

Mathanga Leela First chapter - One legend too many!

The book begins with a legend about the origin of elephants; they were originally flying animals created by Brahma. They were just eight in number and had the power to reach any place they wished and hence kept on shuttling between heaven and earth. One day while a sage by name ‘Deerkha-tapas’ was meditating in his hut under a banyan tree; these elephants landed on it and began to pick quarrels with each other; one of them broke a branch and threw it on the other; it fell on the sage’s hut. Deerkha-tapas got enraged and cursed all the elephants. It was due to this curse elephants lost their flight and power to talk! They still lead a life as beasts of burden; what a pity!

This first chapter also deals with the various types of elephants, the specialties of elephants from other animals etc.

In the second chapter; the uniqueness of elephants, as a conveyance, their use in warfare, styles of walking, styles in producing sounds, occasions of it producing auspicious sounds, based on some royal features that exist in certain elephants, the variations and its relevance of number of nails in elephants etc are subjected for detailed study.

The third chapter deals with the features of those elephants which are inauspicious to be kept by an owner; each kind of invalidity found in the elephants and its consequences, collection of moss on the organs and its cure, ‘vyala-hasthi’ etc are mentioned.

Fourth chapter deals with the life-expectancy of elephants; he describes the twelve organs of elephants like body, head, two eyes, mouth, two ears, neck, breast, two tusks and trunk as temples. The features of these ‘temples’ tell the fate and life expectancy of elephants.

The fifth chapter deals with ‘gaja-balam’ or strength of elephant, names of each elephant at particular age like churchuram, upasarpam, berberam, kalabham, kainari, shishu, marjjanan, prabhavan, chikki, protham, javanan, kalyanan, youdhan etc. These names are applicable from date of its birth until it reaches the age of fifty; along with these names its peculiar physical development associated with that particular age also are mentioned.
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The sixth chapter is about the measurements of elephants; the difference of measurements between male (bull) and female (cow) elephants; instructions regarding qualities of elephants that are to be subjected measurements, the standards of measures of each organs of elephants etc.

Seventh chapter deals with qualities, features and eligibilities that are to be assessed to grade elephants like those with royal features and those with undesired features that may bring un-luck to those who own it etc.

Eighth is about categorization based on many body and behavioral features like;

1, Deva-sathvam,
2, Asura-sthavam,
3, Gandharva-sathvam,
4, Yaksha-sathvam,
5, Raksha-sathvam,
6, Pishacha-sathvam,
7, Sarpa-sathvam,
8, Manushya-sathvam

Those coming under Manushya-sathvam are further divided in to four sub-categories (or castes) as per the chathur-varna (four tiered caste protocol) system (installed by Manu) in to Vipra-sathvam, Kshatriya-sathvam, Vaisya-sathvam and Shoodra-sathvam). Such a division was also applicable to human beings in ancient times can be called a precursor to the present caste systems.

Categorization does not end here; elephants as a whole are divided in to seven groups (or sathvas) and differences and similarities as per that. These are 1, Artha-vedi; 2, Uthana-vedi; 3, Gambhira-vedi; 4, Anvartha-vedi; 5, Prathyartha-vedi; 6, Karkkasha-vedi; 7, Sidha-vedi etc.

9th; the musth - Ninth chapter deals with the ‘musth, phenomenon found in male elephants; this book explains that musth is not an ailment, but an essential biological activity; and the secretions produced from the musth glands -found on the sides of both eyes- should be allowed to flow freely. It also states that all living things have this musth even though not externally visible. Yet too much flow and prolonged ‘periods’ are undesirable and should be treated; remedies are also mentioned to curb it.

The tenth chapter is about various methods adopted for capturing elephants; each methods of capturing and their desirable and undesirable consequences are also given in detail (those were times when machineries were not present and elephants were a must in logging and doing heavy jobs). Capturing and taming of wild elephants were as important as procuring machineries for the present day work sites.

Eleventh chapter deals with the methods for the taking care of elephants, how the newly caught elephant has to be taken care of, how to tame them, their food habits, daily ablutions, physical features, symptoms of diseases, treatments etc are dealt with in this chapter.

The twelfth chapter –the last- is for mahouts; it is a compilation of various things that ends in describing the qualities to be possessed by a mahout, methods of making elephants to obey, tools that can be used by him, elephant- language etc.

Mathanga leela is a book that is a must read not only for ‘elephant lovers’, veterinary physicians, historians, and those in animal welfare matters; it is good for even those who don’t cherish a soft corner for elephants because of its poetic qualities.

This article is indebted to Sri Thamarankulangara Dharma-Sastha Temple Committee and Sri Cheruvally Narayanan Nampoothiri (a scholar in Sanskrit, astrology and traditional architecture). He has translated Mathanga-leela in to Malayalam after conducting a thorough study of its root the Hasthy-ayurveda written by Pala-kapya.