How did kesavan perform his duties as the temple - elephant?
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One of the most famous elephant serving Lord Guruvayurwas Keshavan, also know as Gajaräja, or "king of the elephants."
In January 1922, Valiya Raja (King) of Nilambur offered one of his 12 elephants to Lord Guruvayurappa, as a fulfillment of his vow when he got back his entire property intact at the time of the Malabar Mutiny. Aged 10 years, Elephant was named Keshavan. He was noble and kindly, yet mischievous and stupid. To remove his lunacy, he was given butter to eat which was first sanctified (made holy) by the Melshanti (Head Priest) – believed to be an effective treatment for stupidity, and then made to perform bhajan by attending all the 3 siveli (temple functions). All this transformed him into an idealDeity elephant
In January 1922, Valiya Raja (King) of Nilambur offered one of his 12 elephants to Lord Guruvayurappa, as a fulfillment of his vow when he got back his entire property intact at the time of the Malabar Mutiny. Aged 10 years, Elephant was named Keshavan. He was noble and kindly, yet mischievous and stupid. To remove his lunacy, he was given butter to eat which was first sanctified (made holy) by the Melshanti (Head Priest) – believed to be an effective treatment for stupidity, and then made to perform bhajan by attending all the 3 siveli (temple functions). All this transformed him into an idealDeity elephant
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Kesavan would walk to the temple gopuram with its mahout after getting ready. He would then patiently wait for the priests to arrive. He would eat the bananas and coconut offered to him and bless the pilgrims by touching their heads lightly with its trunk.
When the priests arrived, it would kneel on the ground to help them to place the God's idol on the mount. It would then rise up and follow the temple musicians around the temple compound. It was followed by the jostling crowd of the pilgrims.
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