ashva ),  cattle , sheep and goat play an important role in the Rigveda. There are also references to the  elephant  ( Hastin , Varana), camel  (Ustra, especially in  Mandala 8 ), ass (khara, rasabha),  buffalo  (Mahisa),  wolf ,  hyena ,  lion  (Simha), mountain goat (sarabha) and to the gaur  in