Guruvayur Keshavan

Gajarajan Guruvayoor Kesavan (1904 - December 2, 1976) is perhaps the most famous and celebrated Elephant of Kerala, South India. Kesavan was donated to the Guruvayoor Hindu temple by the royal family of Nilambur in 1916 when he was about 10 years old. [ [http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/11/stories/2005121102861000.htm The Hindu : National : `Guruvayur Kesavan' remembered ] ] It is a common custom in Kerala to donate elephants to the deity of the temple as an offering. Standing over 3.2 meters tall, Kesavan was known for his devout behavior. Kesavan died on "Guruvayur Ekadasi," considered a very auspicious day. He fasted for the entire day and dropped down facing the direction of the temple with his trunk raised as a mark of prostration. The anniversary of his death is still celebrated in Guruvauyur. Hundreds of elephants line up before the statue and the chief elephant garlands it. Kesavan was conferred the unique title "Gajarajan" (Elephant King), by the Guruvayoor Devaswom.

The Guruvayoor Devaswom erected a life-size statue of Keshavan in its precincts as tribute to the services he rendered to the presiding deity of the temple. His tusks, along with a majestic portrait of the elephant, can be still seen adorning the entrance to the main temple enclosure. His life is the subject of a Malayalam feature film which bears his name.

References

* [http://www.guruvayurdevaswom.org/kesavan.shtml Guruvayoor Devaswom Webpage]
* [http://imdb.com/title/tt0155734/ IMDB]

Footnotes

ee also

* Elephants in Kerala culture
* Guruvayur Temple