GURUVAYUR EKADASI & GAJARAJAN KESAVAN

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Guruvayur Ekadasi today Pioneer News Service / Guruvayur The Guruvayur Ekadasi will be celebrated on Sunday. The Sree Krishna temple and the town have completed preparations for the celebrations. The ekadasi vilakku and udhayasthamana pooja by the Devaswom Board are the main rituals on the day. The board has made elaborate arrangements to provide facilities for the tens of thousands of devotees expected to throng the temple on Ekadasi day, said Devaswom administrator K Anil Kumar. The rituals connected with Ekadasi will conclude with dwadasi panamsamarpanam at the Koothambalam of the temple on Monday morning. The police force is also making special arrangements to manage the crowd and traffic on the Ekadasi day. Police helplines are functioning at east and west Nadas of the temple and other places, said circle inspector of police Biju Bhaskar. Meanwhile, elephants of the Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple paid tributes to their legendary predecessor Guruvayur Kesavan on the eve of the Ekadasi Festival. Thirty-five elephants

marched in a procession from the Manjulal in the eastern road to the temple and garlanded the statue of Kesavan, the tusker that served the temple for long years before its death. Known for its majestic appearance and total devotion, Kesavan has been the subject of many a temple lore and even a popular Malayalam film was made on the tusker. A large crowd gathered to witness the elephant march, followed by a sumptuous feast for the animals. Guruvayur elephants pay homage to predecessor GURUVAYUR: Elephants of Guruvayur Sri Krishna temple here on Saturday paid tributes to

their legendary predecessor, Guruvayur Kesavan, on the eve of the Ekadasi Festival. Thirty five elephants marched in a procession from the 'Manjulal' in the eastern road to the temple and garlanded the statue of Kesavan, the tusker that served the temple for long years before its death a few decades back. Known for its majestic appearance and total devotion, Kesavan has been the subject of many a temple lore and even a popular Malayalam film was made on the tusker. A large crowd gathered to witness the elephant march, followed by a sumptuous feast for the animals. Tusker Guruvayur Padmanabhan offered floral tributes to the Kesavan statue in the Panchajanyam compound in the temple town. GAJARAJAN KESAVAN It was one of the majestic elephant which served the Lord in all its sincerity and uniqueness. Valiya Raja of Nilambur once prayed to the Lord to save his family and property from the enemies attack. He promised to offer one of his many elephants if his wish is fulfilled. His wish was fulfilled and he offered an elephant which later became the famous Guruvayur Kesavan. On his arrival, Kesavan was 10 years old and elephant Padmanabhan was the undisputed king. Young Kesavan acquired all the kingly gestures and nobleness of Padmanabhan and even excelled him. He would bend his front-legs only before those who holds Lord's Thidambu to enable them to climb upon him, all others were to climb by his behind-legs. He never caused any bodily

harm to anyone. He sometimes was called "Lunatic Kesavan", but never spoiled any sanctity. Even if he became wild outside Guruvayur, he would straightaway come to Guruvayur, go round the temple and stood where he used to be chained. In 1973, first time in history, the Golden Jubilee of the services of an elephant to the temple was celebrated. Kesavan was conferred upon the honour of "GAJARAJAN" (king of elephants ). However, on famous Ekadasi day, 2nd December 1976, Kesavan fell ill while Thidambu was placed on his head. He couldn't hold on his legs. The Thidambu was soon transferred to another elephant and Kesavan was brought to the Kovilakam compound. He died in front of the Lord with his trunk stretched in front. He was 72, 3.2metres tall, and participated in every

ceremony at the temple.Kerala's biggest and grandest elephant, Gajarajan Kesavan, served the Lord and people for the long 54 years. Who have seen him will never forget Kesavan. To commemorate him, a 12 feet high statue has been erected in front of Sreevalsam rest house. regards from, http://www.hindushakti.tk

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