Ankus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The ankus (sometimes called bullhook, elephant hook, or elephant goad) is a tool used in the handling and training of elephants. It consists of a hook (usually bronze or steel) which is attached to a two- or three-foot handle.

The handle can be made of any material, from wood to ivory, depending on the wealth and opulence of the owner. Contemporary bullhooks which are used for animal handling generally have handles made of fiberglass, metal, plastic, or wood.

The ankus is found in armories and temples all across India, where elephants march in religious processions and perform in various civil capacities. They are often quite ornate, being decorated with gemstones and engravings to be appropriate for the ceremonies in which they are used.

In Rudyard Kipling's Second Jungle Book story "The King's Ankus", Mowgli finds the magnificently-jeweled ankus of the title in a hidden treasure chamber. Not realizing the value men place on jewels, he later casually discards it in the jungle, unwittingly leading to a chain of greed and murder amongst those who find it after him.

[edit] In Hinduism

An ankus is one of the eight auspicious objects (known as Astamangala) of Hinduism and certain other religions of the Indian subcontinent. A goad is also an attribute of many Hindu gods, including Ganesha.

[edit] References

• Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola

[edit] External links