The state-elephant of Duṭṭhagāmaṇī. He was of the Chaddanta race, and was left by his mother and discovered by a fisherman, Kaṇḍula, after whom he was named. Mhv.xxii.62 f.

He grew up to be of great strength. When Duṭṭhagāmaṇī's father died, his younger son, Tissa, took possession of the queen-mother and of Kaṇḍula, the state-elephant, and fled, but in the battle between the brothers, Kaṇḍula shook himself free from Tissa and went over to Duṭṭhagāmaṇī, whom he served to the end of his life. Kaṇḍula took a prominent part in the campaign against the Damiḷā, distinguishing himself particularly in the siege of Vijitapura (Mhv.xxiv.15, 89). In the single combat between Eḷāra and Duṭṭhagāmaṇī. Kaṇḍula attacked Eḷāra’s elephant, Mahāpabbata, and disabled him (Mhv.xxv.5-83). It is said that once the warrior Nandhimitta seized Kaṇḍula by his tusks and forced him on to his haunches, and Kaṇḍula nursed a grudge against him until Nandhimitta rescued him from being crushed under a gate-tower which fell on him during his attack on Vijitapura. Mhv.xxv.22, 39 f; see also Dpv.xviii.53; Mbv.133.