Elephant News

[Guest guest]

Hari Om,

Dear Devotees,

 

For those of you interested in Elephants, here comes some

titbit's from Guruvayoor news.

 

Guruvayoor Elephant race was today and 'Krishna', a new comer won

the race. [he was donated to the temple by Jayalalitha in 2001]

This was the first time Krishna was running in the race.

Gopikrishna, the winner of the last two years did not participate in

the race due to illness. Elephant Krishna was the replacement of

Gopikrishna.

 

 

Annual elephant race starts from Manjulaal and proceeds through the

street all the way to the temple Gopuram. 44 elephants were

participated in the race this year. Only seven chosen elephants in

the front row are allowed to race (run). Others will follow them

behind as a procession. The first five of the seven to reach the

gopuram will be allowed inside the temple and whoever finishes first

circling the temple will be considered the winner. Winner will be

allowed to stay in the temple during the Utsavam as a special honor.

 

 

Other news-

 

'Gajarathnam' Guruvayoor Padmanabhan will be carrying the thidambu

(idol) on Kodiyettu, Aarattu, and on 6th and 8th days of

procession.

 

Guruvayoor Nandini will be carrying the thidambu on

Pallivetta,Aarattu and doing the ritual elephant race 'inside' the

temple as usual.

 

Punnathur kotta, a unique elephant sanctuary is the only one of its

kind in the World maintained by Guruvayoor Devaswom. Lord Krishna

has 51 elephants now in Puunahur Kotta. These elephants are the

offerings of the devotees to the Lord.

 

Om Namo Narayanaya:

 

Sunil.

 

 

PS: If you can read Malayalam, you may read an article about the

significance of Elephant race and see a picture following the link

below,

 

http://manoramaonline.com/servlet/ContentServer?

pagename=manorama/MalArticle/Malfullstory & cid=1108981273746 & c=MalArti

cle & p=1015299284311 & channel=mmFestival & count=7 & colid=1015308017604