The etymologic analysis of many tamil and sanskrit words for elephant shows the colour is a distinctive feature fundamental in the animal s classification and denomination in India. The main reference is to the colouring of skin. The present article, nevertheless, aims at showing the perception of colour doesn t exclusively regard a sensorial visual experience, but also gives the input for attributing deeper symbolic meanings to the elephant and for drawing it near other beings of natural world. It appears an interesting picture of cultural reconstruction.