Six-tusked White Elephant () is the mount of bodhisattva Samantabhadra (). As its name suggests, this white elephant traditionally has three pairs of tusks, though in artistic representations, it is sometimes depicted with only one pair of tusks. Additionally, variations include depictions of a three-headed elephant or Samantabhadra riding on a four-headed white elephant.
According to texts such as the Karma Sutra (), when à ÂÃÂkyamuni Buddha descended from the Tuá¹£ita Heaven () to be born into the human world, he rode on a six-tusked white elephant. His mother, Queen MÃÂyÃÂ, dreamed of a six-tusked white elephant entering her womb during a midday nap, and this vision heralded the birth of à ÂÃÂkyamuni Buddha. The Abhidharma-mahÃÂvibhÃÂṣàà ÂÃÂstra () states, "All bodhisattvas, when entering their mother's womb, take the form of a white elephant."
The Samantabhadra Contemplation Sutra () further elaborates that the six-tusked white elephant king is the mount of Samantabhadra. It teaches that if one contemplates and repents sincerely, the bodhisattva will manifest riding the six-tusked white elephant. The six tusks of the white elephant symbolize the Six PÃÂramitÃÂs (, the six perfections of generosity, morality, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom), while its four legs represent the Four Bases of Spiritual Power (, the four foundations of aspiration, effort, intention, and analysis). Alternatively, the six tusks are said to symbolize the Six Supernatural Powers , the six higher knowledges or abhijñÃÂ).
In Journey to the West, the White Elephant descends to the mortal world for seven days (equivalent to thousands of years in the human realm) alongside Manjusri Bodhisattva's Blue Lion and the Golden-Winged Great Peng. Together, they transform into demons, with the White Elephant taking the form of Yellow-Tusked Old Elephant (serving as the second king). They establish their stronghold at Lion-Camel Ridge and Lion-Camel Cave, commanding a group of lesser demons. Their goal is to capture and consume the flesh of Tang Sanzang to gain immortality, leading to a fierce battle with Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing. While Sun Wukong manages to evade capture, the other three are seized by the demons. Unable to defeat the three demons alone, Sun Wukong seeks the assistance of Manjusri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and Tathagata Buddha (). With their divine intervention, the three demons are ultimately subdued and brought under control.
In Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi), the White Elephant is depicted as Lingya Xian (, "Immortal of Numinous Tusks"), a disciple of the Jie Sect (). Due to conflicts between Huoling Shengmu () and Guang Chengzi, exacerbated by the scheming of Shen Gongbao, tensions escalate between the Jie Sect and the Chan Sect (), ultimately leading to war. During the Battle of the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation (), he commands the Two Forms Formation () to confront the disciples of the Chan Sect and the Zhou army. However, Puxian Zhenren (, the precursor to Samantabhadra Bodhisattva in the narrative) defeats Lingya Xian using the Taiji Talisman Seal (), forcing him to reveal his true form as a white elephant. Subsequently, the White Elephant becomes the mount of Puxian Zhenren.