In India, who is the god that looks like an elephant?
143455
Ganesh\n\nGanesh is the Hindu elephant-headed god, Ganesha (or Ganesh) is known (by various names in different parts of India and on different occasions) as the Remover of Obstacles, the god of domestic harmony and of success. He is the most beloved and revered of all the Hindu gods, and is always invoked first in any Hindu ceremony or festival. He is the son of Parvati (the wife of Shiva, the Destroyer, the most powerful of the Hindu trinity of principal gods). There are many stories about how Ganesha got his elephant head, and about his exploits and antics. He was created as an ordinary boy, but was decapitated in battle. Shiva's emissaries were sent into the forest and told to get the head of the first animal they found and to fit that head onto the boy's neck. They found a little elephant, and it worked!
186514
An elephant's shadow.
659471
linga is the sacred phallus and principal symbol of the Hindu god Shiva and nearly always presented in connection with the yoni. i don't know where you're getting the anal orifice thing from
506753
Vishnu is regarded as a major god in Hinduism and Indian mythology. He is thought as the preserver of the universe while two other major Hindu gods Brahma and Shiva, are regarded respectively, as the creator and destroyer of the universe. \n\nThe original worship of Vishnu, by the Aryan conquerors of India or the original Dravidian inhabitants is not definitely known. In the ancient Vedas, the body of literature known as the Veda, and sacred literature of the Aryan conquerors, Vishnu is ranked among the lesser gods and is usually associated with the major Vedic god Indra who in the epics and Puranas fights against dragons and demonic forces. These latter writings emerge during the later development of Hinduism. \n\nIt is throughout this literature and especially through incarnations that Vishnu is raised to higher rankings within the Hindu pantheon. He becomes the prominent second god of the Trimurti, the Hindu Triad, while Brahma is first and Shiva is third. \n\nIn some Puranic literature Vishnu is said to be eternal, an all-pervading spirit, and associated with the primeval waters that are believed to have been omnipresent before the creation of the universe. \n\nThe concept of Vishnu being the preserver of the world came relatively late in Hinduism. Presumedly it sprang from two other beliefs: that men attain salvation by faithfully following predetermined paths of duty, and that powers of good and evil (gods and demons) are in contention for domination over the world. When these powers are upset Vishnu, it is further believed, descends to earth, or his avatar, to equalized the powers. Further it is thought that ten such incarnations or reincarnations of Vishnu will occur. Nine descents are said to have already occurred, the tenth is yet to come. Rama and Krishna were the seventh and eighth. \n\nAnother interesting speculation concerning Vishnu's role as preserver among many modern scholars is that it is characteristic of the practitioners of Hinduism to raise local legendary heroes to gods in the Hindu pantheon. \n\nVishnu is portrayed as blue or black shinned and has four arms. He has a thousand names and their repetition is an act of devotion
667983
May be some buddhists followed traditional Brahma statues.\n\nIt is Buddha and four faces just symbolise that he was extraordinary.\n\nThe reason why the Hindu deities are represented in this way is simple: it is to show that they are gods, that they differ from human beings and have more and greater powers that they. A symbol such as a multi-armed image, graphically portraying God's astounding versatility and superhuman might. The use of symbolism extends to every detail of the image of a deity.\n\nIt is obtuse to confuse Hinduism's images with idolatry, and their multiplicity with polytheism. They are runaways from which the sense-laden human spirit can rise for its "flight of the alone to the Alone." \n\nBehind the lush tangle of religious imagery, is a clear structure of thought. Hinduism, in its plethora of symbols and images, is endlessly complex and therefore endlessly misunderstood, but its true mission is both simple and universal: soul-enlightenment. Hinduism is goal-oriented, not way-oriented. In other words, its focus is the ultimate attainment, Self-realization, in God. Symbolism helps the seeker to concentrate his mind on the worship and meditation of god.\n\nGod's innumerable forms, and the acknowledgement of His Presence in everything, are an expression of the extraordinary vitality of India's collective imagination down through the ages.
934897
The entire Elephant population of India.\n\nPhew, what a responsibility!
953724
What about an elephant?
405251
yes, in hindu mythology
886816
What are you, an elephant?
981900
God is an Indian. That is why it tries to save the Indian team from losing.
470582
I believe it relates to the time when India was part of the British Empire.  Elephants were and are used as farm animals but were also used at events and celebrations.
708028
The elephant is the symbol of the Republican Party, because during the time of Pres. Abraham Lincoln, the King of Siam (sorry, don't have his name -- I think King Rama IV), sent some elephants to Lincoln, as a gesture of admiration and good will.\n\nSorry, don't know about the donkey symbol.
549386
Ishwar = God\nJeev = Living being\nJagat = World
647351
"Sri Maha Pratyangira Devi is a powerful Devi who is said to have destroyed Sarabheswara's arrogance. Sarabheswara is a ugra avatar of Siva. She is also known as Narasimhika [ in Kalisahasranama Stotram] : She who is the Ferocious Half Human Half Lion of Courage. It is said that when Narashimhika shake her Lion's Mane, she throws the stars into disarray. She is enveloped as bliss in the letter "Ksham".\n\nSri Pratyangira Devi is also associated with Sri Cakra. She is considered to be a powerful repellent of the influences generated by witch-craft. In Sri Cakra worship, she protects the devotees against all odds and guides him/her along the right path.\n\nIn some image she is shown as dark complexion, terrible in aspect, having a lion's face with reddened eyes and riding a lion, entirely nude or wearing black garments, she wears garland of human skulls; her hair strands on end, and she holds a trident, a serpent in the form of a noose, a hand-drum and a skull in her four hands. She is also associates with Bhairava, and she has a variant form viz Atharvana-Bhadra-Kali."
560005
Yes, and the elephant is a fairy with a large dick.
397279
No.  This is a false representation of the hindu religion.  They consider the cow to be a sacred animal because of it's milk.  It being related to the mother's milk, thus life sustenance.
190286
Himar - Donkey\nKaswara - Lion\nIbl - Camel\nKalb - Dog\nbigaal - Mules (Sura Nahl)\nKhail - Horses\nFeel - Elephant\nBaqra - Cow\nDha'n - Sheep (Sura 6 - 143)\nma'z - Goat \nkhinzeer - Pig\nqirdathun - Ape\nzi'b - Fox (Sura Yusuf)\nthu'baan - snake\n\nMay be there are others...