The ancient kingdoms of South India
had perennial rivers, monsoon forests and many elephants. Elephants
played a great role in many wars and were treated as a great wealth for the
Kingdom. The anthologies and epics of Sangam literature have given heroic
admiration to elephants. Elephants are majestic – the special battalion of
elephants was sought after … its thick hide would protect from injury ~ the
high riding portion gave the rider a good view to attack…
I love elephants and have many a times posted on ‘Alwar’
~ the temple elephant of Thiruvallikkeni
that was so endearing to all residents.
A few months back this elephant at Thrissur appeared so majestic. Nearer, Guruvayur devaswom maintains scores
of elephants. Gajarajan Guruvayur Keshavan perhaps the most
famous and celebrated captive elephant. Standing
over 3.2 meters tall, Keshavan was known for his devout behavior. The anniversary of his death is still
celebrated in Guruvauyur with many elephants lined up before the statue and the
chief elephant garlanding it. 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. Its tusks, along with a majestic portrait of
the elephant, are seen adorning the entrance to the main temple
enclosure. Its life is the subject of the 1977 Malayalam feature film Guruvayur
Kesavan, released the year after his death.
At
Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam, on day 6 evening, it is ‘Yaanai vahanam’
for Sri Azhagiya Singar ~ the one
at Thiruvallikkeni is in sitting posture with golden hue.
திருவல்லிக்கேணியில்
சிறப்புற நடைபெறும் தெள்ளிய சிங்கர் ப்ரம்மோத்சவத்தில் ஆறாம் நாள் இரவு கம்பீரமான யானை வாகனம். திருவல்லிக்கேணி யானை வாஹனம் அமர்ந்த
நிலையில், தங்க பூச்சுடன் ஜொலிக்கும். வாகனத்தின் மீது வெண்பட்டுடுத்தி, பெருமாள் பின்பு
பட்டர் அமர்ந்து சாமரம் வீசி வருவது தனி சிறப்பு. யானை வாயில் வாழை மரங்கள் வைத்து,
நிஜமான களிறு ஓடி வருவதைப் போல் இருக்கும். யானை வாகன புறப்பாட்டில் 'ஏசல்",
"ஒய்யாளி" என்று அழைக்கப்படும் சிறப்பு உண்டு.
Here are
some photos of the purappadu ~ one of Kanakaraj kumar and rest of Thirumalai
Vinjamoor Venkatesh.
adiyen Srinivasadhasan
9th July 2017
9th July 2017
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