The name of Airāvata (Airavata) have been mentioned several times in the epics and the Purāṇas (Puranas) as the king of elephants as well as the best elephant ever. In the Purāṇas (Puranas), the names of four divine elephants (in other opinion, eight divine elephants) are mentioned who surround the earth. Airāvata (Airavata) is a prime one among these divine elephants.
[See Dighastī (Dighasti)]
It was mentioned in the Mahābhārata (Mahabharāta) that Krodhavaśā (Krodhavasa), the daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha) gave birth to nine baby girls. Maharṣi Kaśyapa (Maharshi Kasyapa) was the father of these girls. Bhadramanā (Bhadramana) was one of these daughters of Krodhavaśā (Krodhavasa). Airāvata (Airavata), the best elephant was the son of this Bhadramanā (Bhadramana).
However, the identity of Airāvata that is found in Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata, is more convincing and acceptable that what is given in the Purāṇa(s). In Purāṇa(s). Airāvata or Airāvaṇa has been referred to as the son of Irāvatī, daughter of Krodhavaśā. So his name is Airāvata. Pulaha Prajāpati was the father of Airāvata.
In Purāṇa, there are several legends related to Airāvata. In Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa, it is said that Brahmā, the great Gransire of humankind, once created such a plethora of energy that would enlighten the entire world. It would be the source of light and energy. By order of Brahmā, Aditi, the mother of gods, contained that energy in her womb. But when that energy started growing in the womb of Aditi, the entire world got heated up, and the gods were scared that the world will be destroyed by this extreme energy, if it is born. So they requested Brahmā to reduce the energy of the womb of Aditi. Brahmā, reducing some of the energy, created another ovum and he placed that in the womb of Irāvatī, wife of Pulaha Prajāpati. And Airāvata the chief of the elephants.
In Vāyupurāṇa, it has been said that Bhauvana Viśvakarmā, reducing the energy of the Sun, created a separate ovum. Rathantara took this in his hand, and chanting Sāma, came in front of Irāvatī. Irāvatī held that ovum within herself. At that very moment, the shape of an elephant seemed to be visible to her eyes, She thought, her son would be of that shape. According to Irāvatī̍s conception, her son was born in the shape of an elephant.
In several Purāṇa(s) and in Mahābhārata, there are more than one descriptions of the shape of Airāvata, king of the elephants. According to Mahābhārata, Airāvata has four teeth–
airāvata caturdantaṃ kailāsamiva śṛṇgiṇam.
According to Bhagavata Purāṇa, Airāvata and all other elephants belonging to his clan are white, and they have four teeth. As per Mahābhārata, a couple of bells called Vaijayantī are tied to the neck of Airāvata. In several śloka(s) of Mahābhārata-purāṇa, Airāvata, king of elephants, has been mentioned. The heroism of many powerful kings has been compared to that of Airāvata.
Airāvata, who carries Indra, is also described as assisting Indra in bringing down rains. In Mahābhārata, it is said that Airāvata collects water from the underworld and drenches the clouds with that water. Then Indra makes the rain fall.
From the legend found in Viṣṇupurāṇa, it appears that Airāvata is one of the indirect causes of Samudramanthana. Once sage Durvāsā went out travelling across the world, and he met Indra. Durvāsā had in possession a divine garland of Pārijāta flower (or Santānaka flower) which he received from God Viṣṇu (in another opinion, from an Apsarā). Durvāsā gave the garland to Indra, which he took and placed on the head of Airāvata. The elephant got annoyed with the smell of the flower, and lifted it with its trunk, and threw it away. Feeling insulted, sage Durvāsa angrily said to Indra — “Eulogic hymns offered by such sages as Gautama and Vaśiṣṭha, psychofancy of human beings and the uncomparable wealth of the heavenly abode have made you so proud, that you have dishonoured this garland which is blessed by God Śrī Hari, and insulted me as well. As a result of this, the entire heavenly abode will be deprived of Śrī.
Soon, as a result of Durvāsā̍s curse, the realm of gods began to be out of grace and glory. All the wealth of svarga began to decline, and the realm of gods fell our of grace. To restore Śrī to heaven, gods took the initiative of Amṛtamanthana, along with the Asura(s). However, In some Purāṇa(s) it is found that Airāvata came out the Kṣīroda sea at the time of Samudramanthana.
According to Purāṇa, Abhramū is the wife of Airāvata. Abhramū had four elephant-sons, sired by Aiāvata. They are called Anjana, Supratīka, Vāmana, and Padma.