Cover page of the English translation of Matanga Lila
Matanga Lila is a treatise in Sanskrit dealing with the life and behaviour of elephants. The title has been translated as Elephant-sport.[1] It is a treatise in 263 stanzas divided into twelve chapters of varying length. In the treatise, the author's name has been mentioned as Nilakantha, but nothing more is known about the author. From the popularity of the text in the region now comprising the modern state of Kerala in India, it is thought that the author might have lived there. Also, nothing definite is known about the date of the work.
Matanga Lila is a text about the Indian elephant science, which is a technical science dealing with the taming and training of elephants, and also the anatomy and zoological features of elephants.[2] Franklin Edgerton, who published a translation of the text to English, has argued that the content of the text represents the codification of orally-transmitted traditions of practical knowledge. In support of this contention he noted that the "signature texts such as the Matanga-Lila" contain over 130 technical words, for which there are no clear Sanskrit etymologies.[3]
^Edgerton, F. (1985). The Elephant-Lore of the Hindus: the Elephant-sport (Matanga-lila) of Nilakantha (Reprint of 1931 ed.). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 8120800052.
^Wink, A. (1997). Al-Hind the Making of the Indo-Islamic World: The Slave Kings and the Islamic Conquest : 11Th-13th Centuries Volume 2. BRILL. p. 100. ISBN 9789004102361.
^Locke, P. (2008). "Captive elephant management, the Tharu, and the Nepali state" (PDF). International Institute for Asian Studies Newsletter. 49: 14. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
MatangaLila is a treatise in Sanskrit dealing with the life and behaviour of elephants. The title has been translated as Elephant-sport. It is a treatise...
(east), Mahāpadmasama (south), Saumanasa (west), and Bhadra (north). The MatangaLila associates the Ashtadiggajas as vehicles (vahana) of the Ashtadikpala...
water like an elephant's rut juice upon being pressed by Hanuman. In the MatangaLila (300 BCE to 300 CE) musth is described with "Excitement, swiftness, odor...
Indian manuscripts and treatises with notable amongst these including MatangaLila (elephant sport) of Nilakantha. The manuscript Hastividyarnava is from...
Edgerton (1931). The Elephant-lore of the Hindus: The Elephant-sport (Matanga-lila) of Nilakantha. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-0005-2., pp. 29-38...
1981 Mathangaleela Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam Translation of MatangaLila; written in 1904 for Kadalai Manaykkal Namboothiri; first published in...
also developed a fascination for elephants and this led him to study MatangaLila, a Sanskrit treatise about elephants, under Kochunni Thampuran of Kodungallur...
chakra is seen in the middle panel of the throne. The figure of yaksha Matanga on an elephant is on the left side of shrine while one of yakshi Siddhaiki...
it was explained that Anjana Devi, mother of Hanuman, approached sage Matanga seeking a way for her to be blessed with a son. She was advised to do penance...
example, in the five niyamas listed by Markandeya Purana in verse 36.17, Matanga Parameshvaram in verse 17.31, and Pashupata Sutra in verse 1.9, each suggest...
guiding the brothers on their quest. She resides in the hermitage of sage Matanga in the Pampa Lake region. When Rama and Lakshmana reach her ashram, Shabari...
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