India, March 5 -- By Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik - Author, Speaker, Illustrator, Mythologist

Across India, the most familiar image of prosperity is Lakshmi flanked by two elephants pouring water over her. We see this in homes, shops, banks and even in modern advertising. But few pause to ask why elephants stand beside the goddess of wealth. Why not cows, horses, lions or birds? The answer reveals an economic truth born from India's geography, ecology and long memory.

India is a monsoon land. For four months, rains descend with such force that roads turn into rivers and fields into marshes. Today we complain about potholes and floods in cities. Imagine the situation 3,000 years ago. No tar roads, no concrete embankments, no drainage systems. V...