Airavat (Mytholigical Elephant), Jain Temple

Museums are repositories of the cultural, literary, and artistic heritage of a people. They also offer significant potential for education and national integration. The museum movement in India began with the creation of the Indian Museum in Calcutta in 1814 by the Asiatic Society of Bengal. Following the enactment of the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act in 1904, several archaeological museums were established. Over the years, more museums have been set up to serve various disciplines such as art, archaeology, science, and technology. Today, India is home to over 360 museums.

In selecting subjects for a series of postage stamps on Museums of India, the Posts and Telegraphs Department aimed to represent the extensive span of Indian history and the diverse artistic expressions from different regions of the country.

The 25 paise stamp, for example, depicts the “Airavat” (early 19th century) from the Kachchh Museum in Bhuj. Airavat is associated with the Vedic deity Indra as his mount. Indra features prominently in the ancient lore of not only Hinduism but also Buddhism and Jainism. The figure of this mythological white elephant with seven trunks, mounted on wheels, is from a Jain temple in the Gujarat region, which is renowned for its wood carvings and wooden architecture.