The following elephants or elephant-like figures occur in mythology and religion: Airavata, an elephant ridden by the Hindu god Indra. Erawan, the Thai version of Airavata. Ganesh, an elephant-headed Hindu deity. Malini, an elephant-headed goddess associated with the birth of Ganesha. Girimekhala, the elephant that carries Mara in Theravada Buddhism. Vinayaki, an elephant-headed Hindu goddess. Kasogonagá, a Toba deity described as either an elephant or an anteater. An elephant god doubtlessly existed in the predynastic period of ancient Egypt, as indicated from the statuette of a man with the head of an elephant, which was discovered by Jean Vercoutter in a temple in Sudan, Wad ban Naqa. In 1970, during the German expedition of Musawwarat es-Sufra at Sudan, there was also discovered a graffito on the eastern outside wall of the Temple of Mut, which appears to be an elephant-headed figure wearing a sun disk. See also Gaja, elephants in Hindu mythology List of fictional elephants List of historical elephants List of legendary creatures References E Lists of elephants