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.

She was a beautiful soul, and I pray the last Elephant ever to be called upon to serve at the Arunachala Temple.



Lovely Rukku

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.

Mouse with jewel cluster

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.
 

Sweet Rukku now with the Golden Lord




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.