Among the Zulus of Africa, the word "elephant" connotes respect and admiration. Indians commonly believe that seeing an elephant on first opening one's eyes in the morning is lucky. A Buddhist sutra which records the Buddha's previous lives mentions the Buddha taking the form of an elephant. Buddhists also believe that touching an elephant can help one along the road to enlightenment.
非洲祖魯人一向視大象為尊崇的代名詞；印度人普遍認為睜開眼睛可以看到大象是幸運的，記錄佛陀前身的《本生經》，提到佛陀曾生成象身，佛教徒也認為摸象有助開悟，今天亞洲一些廟宇中還養著象。