Wish best wishes to you and your loved ones at this joy-filled time of Ganesha Chaturthi. In celebration of this day, I have uploaded a beautiful photograph of Rukku, who was Temple Elephant for many years at Arunachaleswarar Temple.
Showing posts with label temple elephant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label temple elephant. Show all posts
22 August 2020
Happy Ganesha Chaturthi
Wish best wishes to you and your loved ones at this joy-filled time of Ganesha Chaturthi. In celebration of this day, I have uploaded a beautiful photograph of Rukku, who was Temple Elephant for many years at Arunachaleswarar Temple.
23 March 2018
More News of Rukku’s Death
Rukku was brought to
Arunachaleswarar Temple at the very young age of 3 years. She remained alone
and in service at the Temple for 27 years after she had been given to the
Temple by the Tamil Nadu Government
Her death is believed to have occurred
as a result of injuries sustained when she
was being walked on her way to her enclosure. While walking through the Temple’s
fifth prakaram a pack of dogs barked and ran towards it. Rukku tried to
run away and hit a barricade. The mahout and a few others managed to calm her
and gave her water. After a while, she was taken to her shed. However, Rukku
panicked when a dog ran towards it. When she tried to run away, she hit a tin
sheet and sustained multiple injuries.
Temple authorities engaged a
veterinarian, however Rukku died within two hours of the accident. 15 days
before her 30th birthday
She was laid to rest near
Anjeneyar Temple (Vada Othavadai Street) in the afternoon after a team of six
veterinarians performed a postmortem.
A senior forest department official
said they had collected samples of vital organs for a detailed analysis to
ascertain the cause of the death. “It will take two week to get the report,”
added the official.
Hundreds of devotees and
residents of Tiruvannamalai paid homage to their beloved elephant whom they
called ‘Rukku’. One of the priests in the temple said Rukku was gentle. “The
sudden death of the elephant disturbs us. We offered special prayers.”
[Abridged from report in Times of
India]
22 March 2018
Death of Rukku, Our Elephant at Arunachaleswarar Temple
At the young age of approximately
30 years Rukku (the Temple elephant) passed away at her night enclosure at
Arunachaleswarar Temple at 12.30 a.m. on Thursday March 22, 2017.
It is my sincere hope that Rukku
will be the last Temple elephant held at Arunachaleswarar Temple. Below in a
narrative from an earlier posting, I tell of the sad, pitiful life, Rukku led
as a Temple Elephant.
Rukku on duty at Temple |
“So our dear sweet Rukku, who
never gets to meet other elephants or go on proper walks, is manacled all night
in a way she is barely able to move. So, after the undiluted misery of her
night, there should be at least something to look forward to in her day?—but
no, the day brings her hours of mind numbing, painful, standing in one spot to
beg . . . and get coins from pilgrims
for blessing them on the head with her trunk. How can it be a blessing for a
pilgrim when the cost of it is the torture of the one giving the blessing?
Try standing in one place for
eight to ten hours, not being able to move; just shifting from foot to foot,
and you will get an idea of the horror of dear Rukku’s day.
A message to all . . . remember
that by going to the Kerala processions (and similar functions), allowing
elephants to bless you with their trunk, going on elephant rides or visiting circuses,
processions or Elephant functions, you are unknowingly promoting the
exploitation and (often) torture of these magnificient, social and highly
intelligent beings.
Please support the Elephant by
not supporting its bondage, abuse or torture.”
Rukku’s life started far away
from Tiruvannamalai. She was born at The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and
National Park, daughter of Bama, a permanent resident at the Sanctuary.
Information from the International Elephant Registry |
A search The Hindu newspaper archives
of 2007 talk of Rukku’s mother and her retirement at the grand age of 60 years
old. To read full narrative go to this link here.
August 18, 2007
Udhagamandalam:
"A familiar figure at the
Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park has earned a much deserved rest:
she has joined the list of “pensioners.”
Bama, a female elephant, was
captured on August 1, 1963 in the Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary when she was
about 15 years old.
In 1965, she was brought to the Mudumalai sanctuary. Having attained the age of 60, she “retired” on July 31.
Bama, Rukku's Mother |
Bama had given birth to two male
and two female calves. While Rukku was given to the Tiruvannamalai temple,
Bairavi died in 1999. Wasim was at Mudumalai and Mahesh had been sold to Devar
Films.
Dr. Kalaivanan said that out of
the 24 departmental elephants at Mudumalai, Bama was the most docile . . ."
[abridged]
Arunachala Service
Even though Rukku’s life was desperately pitiful, her enforced tapas will lead to great auspiciousness for her.
Rukku during 2017 Deepam Nayanar Procession |
In the Skanda Purana Sri Siva
explains to his consort the efficacy of engaging in Arunachala service. He
tells of the unimaginable blessings received by people who display their
reverence and obedience to the Divine and illustrates the extent of those
blessings by giving examples of the result of performing Arunachala Service.
Spider and his Web |
A spider, going about her
business, spun a cobweb of threads in some spot around Arunachala. This
inadvertent act was sufficent for the spider to reincarnate as a devotee with
memory of its previous birth. The devotee returned to Arunachala with offerings
of opulent silk cloths.
Glow Worm |
A glow-worm of green colour came
and made its nest in a branch nearby the Hill. The worm attained salvation
because unintentionally its glow served in the place of a jyothi illuminating
and worshipping Arunachala throughout the night.
A mouse inadvertently dragged a cluster of jewels into the sanctum sanctorum of the Siva Lingam of Arunachaleswarar Temple and thereby brightened the shrine. The worship was enough for the mouse to attain instant liberation.
27 December 2013
Rukku Gone on Holiday
On December 19, Rukku our 15 year old female elephant from Arunachaleswarar Temple started off from Arunachaleswar Temple in the back of a lorry on her way to her 48 day vacation. This is her fourth such vacation, and from all reports boarded the transport lorry very enthusiastically.
Rukku having bath at Temple |
This holiday is part of a yearly elephant rejuvenation camp started in 2003 at Mudumalai (Theppakadu) sanctuary by the Chief Minister J Jayalaitha. In 2012-13, the rejuvenation camp was shifted to Thekkampatty in Mettupalayam on the banks of Bhavani.
As many as 43 elephants from Temples and Mutts and for the first time 55 elephants maintained by the Forest Department will participate in the camp to be held for 48 days.
Our Rukku |
Have a Wonder-filled Holiday sweet Rukku.
18 July 2012
Our Rukku
Right Click on all photographs for enlargement:
The below series of photographs of sweet Rukku, from Arunachaleswarar Temple, was taken last Sunday July 15, 2012 while Rukku was walking on the Girivalam Pathway on her way from the Arunachaleswarar Temple located Southeast of Tiruvannamalai on her way to Adiannamalai Temple, located at the Northwest side of the Hill.
They say elephants never forget -- well it seems that might be true, and
my visits to her at the Big Temple with snacks and treats of cabbages
and carrots were rewarded by a very nice series of poses. Specially like
the loving eye contact of this last photo.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)