Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.962

c4.962

Besides these, there are eight diggajas (elephants of the universe) who bear the earth standing below in the nether world. It is stated that the sons of Sagara who went into the nether land in search of the lost horse of his father saw these elephants. As they went to the east they saw the huge elephant Virūpākṣa, holding the earth on its head. It is said an earthquake occurs when for a change it shakes its head. Going to the left of it they saw the elephant Mahāpadmasama holding the earth on its head on the south. Going again to the left of it they saw Saumanasa holding the earth on its head on the west and going to the left of it on the north they saw Bhadra holding the earth on its head. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa, Sarga 40).