Local Guides World
Srinivasan Radhakrishnan
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This Elephant statue has a huge legend behind it.
This elephant calf was gifted to the TEMPLE by VALIYA RAJA OF NILAMBUR on 4th Jan 1922 as a fulfilment of a promise / vow made by the king to the God for saving his family from his enemies.
It’s said that it was captured from the NILAMBUR FOREST.
Kesavan is said to be so devout to GURUVAYURAPPAN that it would come FIRST in the ANNUAL ELEPHANT RACE (AANAYOTTAM) to decide on the elephant to carry the IDOL during the processions.
A famous race is from the 1930’s when Kesavan defeated AKHORI GOVINDAN
In 1973 the DEWASOM BOARD gave it the title - GAJARAJAN - KING OF ELEPHANTS.
The legend although is that that as Keshavan started getting old, it lost the race - came 2nd.
So when the ELEPHANT was recommended to take rest in the temple’s grounds and another elephant was not ur into service, KESAVAN would come to the temple like before.
Next time Keshavan was taken 5 km away, but still he broke the chains and presented himself in front of the temple to provide his services.
That’s when they did a PRASHNAM and it came out the at until KESHAVAN is alive, he should serve.
They did a PRASHNAM in SRI PADMANABHA SWAMY TEMPLE of THIRUVANANDAPURAM for opening the closed vaults.
During the Guruvayur Ekadasi of 1976, Keshavan fell ill and was about to tremble during the deity procession. He was immediately taken to the stable where he fasted for the night and died few days later on 2 December 1976. He fasted for the entire day and dropped down facing the direction of the temple with his trunk raised as a mark of prostration
This elephant calf was gifted to the TEMPLE by VALIYA RAJA OF NILAMBUR on 4th Jan 1922 as a fulfilment of a promise / vow made by the king to the God for saving his family from his enemies.
It’s said that it was captured from the NILAMBUR FOREST.
Kesavan is said to be so devout to GURUVAYURAPPAN that it would come FIRST in the ANNUAL ELEPHANT RACE (AANAYOTTAM) to decide on the elephant to carry the IDOL during the processions.
A famous race is from the 1930’s when Kesavan defeated AKHORI GOVINDAN
In 1973 the DEWASOM BOARD gave it the title - GAJARAJAN - KING OF ELEPHANTS.
The legend although is that that as Keshavan started getting old, it lost the race - came 2nd.
So when the ELEPHANT was recommended to take rest in the temple’s grounds and another elephant was not ur into service, KESAVAN would come to the temple like before.
Next time Keshavan was taken 5 km away, but still he broke the chains and presented himself in front of the temple to provide his services.
That’s when they did a PRASHNAM and it came out the at until KESHAVAN is alive, he should serve.
They did a PRASHNAM in SRI PADMANABHA SWAMY TEMPLE of THIRUVANANDAPURAM for opening the closed vaults.
During the Guruvayur Ekadasi of 1976, Keshavan fell ill and was about to tremble during the deity procession. He was immediately taken to the stable where he fasted for the night and died few days later on 2 December 1976. He fasted for the entire day and dropped down facing the direction of the temple with his trunk raised as a mark of prostration