Punnathur Kota World's only temple owned elephant home
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Sports
  • Business
  • More
    • RSS in News
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
SUBSCRIBE
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Sports
  • Business
  • More
    • RSS in News
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Culture
  • Defence
  • RSS in News
  • Subscribe
Home General

Punnathur Kota World's only temple owned elephant home

Archive Manager by WEB DESK
Oct 8, 2006, 12:00 am IST
in General
Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement chairman Sohail Abro

Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement chairman Sohail Abro

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterTelegramEmail

Thirupathi, Sabarimala and Guruvayur are the three major temples in South India visited by crores of devotees, all through the year. If there is some attractive magnetic force which differentiates Guruvayur from other temples, it is the temple owned elephant home, popularly known as Aanathavalam or Punnathur Kota. As per records of Discovery Channel and Animal Planet, it is the only temple-owned domesticated elephant home in the whole world.

Kerala is a State where elephants are used for daily processions in the temple called Sheeveli and for the annual festivals called Ezhunallipu where elephants decorated with brass ornaments, coloured umbrellas carry idols of gods around the temple. There are almost 1,000 domesticated elephants in Kerala owned by temples and individuals. Guruvayur is the largest owner of elephants having 56 male and 6 female beauties in its stables.

None of these elephants are bought by the temple. They are all donated by devotees for fulfillment of their wishes. This function is called Nadairuthai.

Download Organiser App

Another unique event of Guruvayur is the elephant race which happens on the first day of the annual temple festival which comes in February. Here all the temple elephants take part in a race called Aanaottam and the elephant coming first carries the idol of Sri Guruvayurappan (Krishna) for the next ten days of the festival.

The elephant home at Punnathur Kota, an old palace of a local king, was started in 1976 with 16 elephants, since there was no space to keep them near the temple. Now the number has increased to 62 with 3 to 4 elephants joining every year.

Among the elephants of Guruvayur temple the most famous was the legendary Guruvayur Kesavan who celebrated his 60th birthday in 1973 and was then named Gajaraj. He was a darling of all devotees of Sri Guruvayurappan and was a majestic figure with height of 11.5 feet and long tusks. His death in 1976 was received in total sorrow by elephant lovers all over the world. His huge statue is erected in Guruvayur and every year all the temple elephants come in a procession and garland his statue.

Another elephant, the 10 feet high Guruvayur Padmanabhan is now the Gajaraj and is as loved by devotees and children as they loved Kesavan. Padmanabhan, now commands the highest price among Kerala elephants for participating in temple festivals. An amount of Rs 2.50 lakh per day is to be given for getting Padmanabhan for a day. Padmanabhan is the real VIP of Kerala with ministers, Chief Minister, Governor, stars, etc. waiting to have a glimpse of him.

All the Guruvayur elephants are very well looked after, and they undergo one month rejuvenation treatment in June-July months where they are given ayurvedic tonics, massages and baths. Normally, an elephant bath takes six hours.

Hence, children, a visit to Kerala?Gods own country is not complete without, seeing Guruvayur and Gods own elephants.

ShareTweetSendShareSend
Previous News

World of Women Trafficking of girls for commercial exploitation

Next News

Orissa signs MoUs for producing 10,920 MW of power

Related News

I-Day 2022: PM Modi lauds Defence forces after ‘Made-In-India’ gun used for first time in ceremonial salute on I-Day

I-Day 2022: PM Modi lauds Defence forces after ‘Made-In-India’ gun used for first time in ceremonial salute on I-Day

Churning for the Amrit Kaal

Churning for the Amrit Kaal

Sri Aurobindo’s contribution to the revolution and the evolution

Sri Aurobindo’s contribution to the revolution and the evolution

Independence Day 2022: President Murmu pays homage at National War Memorial

Independence Day 2022: President Murmu pays homage at National War Memorial

Check out top five quotes from PM Modi’s Independence Day 2022 speech

Check out top five quotes from PM Modi’s Independence Day 2022 speech

Five Dreams – Sri Aurobindo’s Message to India

Five Dreams – Sri Aurobindo’s Message to India

Comments

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Organiser. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.

Latest News

I-Day 2022: PM Modi lauds Defence forces after ‘Made-In-India’ gun used for first time in ceremonial salute on I-Day

I-Day 2022: PM Modi lauds Defence forces after ‘Made-In-India’ gun used for first time in ceremonial salute on I-Day

Churning for the Amrit Kaal

Churning for the Amrit Kaal

Sri Aurobindo’s contribution to the revolution and the evolution

Sri Aurobindo’s contribution to the revolution and the evolution

Independence Day 2022: President Murmu pays homage at National War Memorial

Independence Day 2022: President Murmu pays homage at National War Memorial

Check out top five quotes from PM Modi’s Independence Day 2022 speech

Check out top five quotes from PM Modi’s Independence Day 2022 speech

Five Dreams – Sri Aurobindo’s Message to India

Five Dreams – Sri Aurobindo’s Message to India

The glorious Journey: India @75

The glorious Journey: India @75

76th Independence Day: Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat hoists Tricolour at RSS headquarters in Nagpur

76th Independence Day: Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat hoists Tricolour at RSS headquarters in Nagpur

India’s Defence legacy of 75 years and future journey

India’s Defence legacy of 75 years and future journey

KT Jaleel’s Futile Exercise To Clarify His Anti-National Post

KT Jaleel’s Futile Exercise To Clarify His Anti-National Post

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Cookie Policy
  • Refund and Cancellation
  • Delivery and Shipping Policy

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Business
  • RSS in News
  • Special Report
  • Sci & Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Books
  • Interviews
  • Travel
  • Health
  • Obituary
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Refund and Cancellation

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies