Our Rukku

Rukku, our beautiful female elephant residing at Arunachaleswarar Temple who is now around 15 years old was born in the Mudumalai Theppakadu Elephant Camp. The below extract from the data base of Elephant News, is for all intents and purposes Rukku's birth certificate, which you can view at this link here.

To all elephant lovers, make sure to visit the absolute Elephant information encyclopedia and database at this link here. 

Around December 19, 2014 Rukku left the Temple and Tiruvannamalai on her way to a six week rejuvenation camp. To read an earlier posting go to my narrative at this link here. 

There are many interested parties around India working to win freedom for all captive elephants which also includes Temple Elephants. So maybe one day our sweet Rukku will be allowed to make a journey to the Reserve Forests without having to return to a captive life.

The next three photographs are of Rukku's return from Holiday at the Rejuvenation Camp. 

Oh! dear, back to work

If only my holiday would last forever

Thought I would never see that stick again!

Last week I escorted 12 participants of the Padma Torsten 2014 Retreat on a tour of Arunachaleswarar Temple. I explained to members of the group (before we visited the Temple) that Rukku is a captive sentient being and it is perhaps inappropriate to visit her looking to see party tricks. In this respect most elephants in this country are trained to take money from a person's hand, pass the coin to the mahout (trainer) and then touch the supplicant's head with the trunk. 

My suggestion to the group was instead of going to the Temple making demands on the poor creature, we should instead go with treats and joy and give gentle Rukku some group love. After intense Googling to discover the favoured snacks of Elephants, we turned up at the Temple with a four kg mix of delicious Elephant-friendly treats. After permission from the mahout, we happily hand fed our dear Rukku.

Rukku

Snack time for our girl

Visit to an Elephant

Being that I love elephants and also enjoy a nice, celebratory procession, I visited Sri Seshadri Ashram yesterday (Saturday October 5, 2013) in order that I could view the procession connected with the Raja Parivara Puja, which was scheduled to leave that Ashram at 4.00 p.m. As things usually get off to a slow start I turned up at Sri Seshadri Ashram at about 4.30 pm. But was disappointed to see that neither the horse nor cow (for the puja) had arrived, and that arrangements for the procession seemed to be delayed.

Fortunately the sweet elephant from Trichy was on time and was waiting patiently at the Ashram whilst snacking on some nice greens. I was told that she had been transported from Trichy by lorry, which I suppose in these days of speeding vehicles on overburdened roadways is the safest solution. In quieter times elephants would have a nice walk to functions. In days previously whenever Sri Sathya Sai Baba was switching from his Puttaparthi Ashram to his Whitefield Ashram, his elephant Geeta, would be taken between those stops by a long, leisurely walk. 

I waited at Sri Seshadri Ashram till about 5.00 p.m. but as not much progress was being made starting up the procession, decided to leave and go upon my household shopping duties. 

Having a little munch

Checking it all out

Wearing freshly painted face decorations

Pots inside Sri Seshadri Siddhar Hall

Young lads with their musical instruments

The sweet elephant wearing her "fancy dress" outfit

Mahapuja for 18 Siddhars, Arunachala

While visiting various Swamis and Shrines off the Girivalam Roadway a couple of days ago, noticed this large poster telling about a nice function scheduled for a few days time. Years ago I attended such a Raja Mahapuja and it was a grand, beautiful occasion. 

If you don't have time to go to the various functions at Sri Seshadri Swsamigal Ashram or at the Viji Marriage Hall (off the Girivalam Roadway) then think about having a nice view of the celebratory procession that will be moving its way on the Chengam Road early this Saturday morning. Below are details of the upcoming Function.

The Maha Guru Mutheri Dhayana Sanga Peetam invites all to a Raja Parivara Puja which will be performed for the 18 Siddhars at Tiruvannamalai. 

Right click on poster for enlargement to read 

Poster in Tamil with full details

On October 5th, 2013 in the evening at 4.00 p.m., a procession will start from Sri Seshadri Swamigal Ashram and end at the Viji Marriage Hall on the Girivalam roadway. The procession will be very grand and include (as in such Rajapujas), an Elephant, Horse and Cow and celebratory music. The Kumbhas will be kept at a special tent and poojas will be performed at that place which is adjacent to the Marriage Hall on the girivalam roadway. 

On October 6th, 2013 in the early morning at 4.00 a.m., a special Mahakumbha Puja will be performed for 18 Siddhars with 18 Mahakumbhams at the above place.