Elephants have played an important role in Thailand throughout history and today the elephant (chang Thai) remains an enduring symbol. In bygone eras elephants were used in warfare; more recently elephants have been used as beasts of burden, particularly in the logging industry. The elephant also has special spiritual significance with its association with Buddhist and Hindu beliefs: It is believed that Queen Maya (mother of the Buddha) was only able to conceive after having a dream that a white elephant entered inside her. The relationship between novice monks of this temple and the gentle giants is a reverential one