Elephant's Love for Jambukeswarar at Ko Chenganan's Mada Koil
Four decades long devotional attachment to two elephants at the Akilandeswari temple
It is the flag hoisting event ahead of the Thai Theppotsavam at the Jambukeswarar Akilandeswari temple in Thiruvanaikaval on Wednesday evening. 45 year old Mahut Arjun has been at the Thai Utsavam for over four decades from the early 1980s and he was there in front of the Dwajasthamban with Elephant Akila, who is all excited to see the flag going up to the beating of the drums. For the next ten days, she will go around the four sacred streets every evening, leading the Pancha Moorthy during the procession, something that she loves.
Mahut Arjun has spent almost all his life with elephants at the Thiruvanaikaval temple built by Ko Chengan Chozhan as his first Mada Koil, paradoxically one where the elephant cannot enter the sanctum (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/03/thiruvanaikaval-ko-chenganan-maasi.html).
அம்பரமும் பெருநிலனும் திசைகள் எட்டும்
அலைக்கடலும் குலவரையும் உண்டகண்டன்
கொம்பமரும் வடமரத்தின் இலைமேல் பள்ளி கூடினான்
திருவடியே கூடாகிற்பீர்
வம்பவிழும் செண்பகத்தின் வாசம் உண்டு
மணி வண்டு வகுலத்தின் மலர் மேல் வைகு
செம்பியன் கோச் செங்கணன் சேர்ந்த கோயில்
திருநறையூர் மணிமாடம் சேர்மின்களே -Thiru Mangai Azhvaar
The Jambukeswarar temple in Thiruvanaikaval is one of the Pancha Bhootha Sthalams, where Lord Shiva manifests himself as ‘Water’ (among the five elements). Hence this is referred to as a ‘Neer’ sthalam (‘Appu’ in Sanskrit). Thiruvanaikaval is home to Nava Theertham and the belief is that those who bathe in the Nava Theertham on Chitra Pournami and invoke the blessings of Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari are said to attain Mukthi.
The temple dates back to the 5th century AD to the rule of Kochenganan Chozhan who ruled from Uraiyur and is an architectural marvel with high roofs, five huge prakaras south of the Coloroon, towering Gopurams in the East and the West and Nava Theerthams.
Shivaji Ganesan gifts Elephant Shanthi
Even while at school, he spent all his free time with Shanthi, an elephant presented by legendary actor Shivaji Ganesan to this temple in 1962. Mahut Arjun recounts as to how his appa Bhasakara Nair came along with the great actor’s gift to the temple “My appa hailed from Kerala and when Shivaji Ganesan picked up elephant Shanthi during an event there, he was taken along as the Mahut to the actor’s house in Chennai. And then later, when Shivaji Ganesan who had taken a liking to Jambukeswarar temple wanted to gift the elephant to the temple, he laid a pre-condition that it will have to be my appa who has to be the lifetime Mahut to take care of Shanthi. And that’s how our family came to Thiruvanaikaval in the early 1960s.”
With Elephant Shanthi from his school days
Mahut Arjun developed a close relationship with elephant Shanthi and treated her with great affection and like a close family member. He was destined to be with the Thiruvanaikaval elephant all his life for he was born in the elephant shed!!! As a young school boy, he would walk behind her to wedding events only to be found out by his appa. “Shanthi was invited to weddings in those days and would go on a long walk from the temple to the wedding hall. I spent all my time with her and I too would walk behind here without my appa noticing. Most of the time, he would catch me red handed but seeing the affection Shanthi and I had for each other, he would lift me and have me seated atop Shanthi. It would be a grand procession for me talking to her through that long walk" recalls Mahut Arjun.
Having developed a close relationship with elephant Shanthi, Arjun did not focus on academics and was seen all the time with the temple elephant. He quit academics early when he was still in his early teens and began full time association with the elephant at the temple.
10+kgs on his shoulder to feed Shanthi
As a teenager, Arjun would carry heavy weight on his shoulder bringing the food for Shanthi each day of the year such was his passion. Her food in large quantities comprised of Kondai Kadalai, Paasi Payiru, Grass, Raw Rice and Karupatti Vellam, among others!!! Right from his school days, he would go on all street processions alongside Shanthi Elephant. He recalls enjoying those years when the temple environs was quiet and it was a peaceful atmosphere within the temple complex and outside.
Following the death of his appa, Arjun’s elder brother Jambunathan began taking care of Shanthi. Arjun says that his anna has been his mentor guiding him during his teenage phase on the ways of taking care of the elephant. He also learned the daily as well as the utsavam processes through practical experience also watching his elder brother handle Shanthi during the 1990s.
One of his saddest days of his life was when Shanthi passed away in 2010 for he had been engaging with for almost 30 years at that time and he had cherished his long and close relationship with her. And then over the last 15 years or so, he has had Elephant Akila for company. The two have become best friends during this period and Arjun is constantly seen talking to her directing her on her next actions.
A close bonding with Akila
He says that like Shanthi, Akila too has been a very loveable elephant and was very quick to grasp the specifics relating to utsavams and her responsibilities during the events. Following the two hour long street processions, she sleeps well and long to be in good shape and fresh ahead of the next event.
Mahut Arjun has known very little in life outside of his love for Elephants Shanthi and now Akila. Through the day and night, he is always thinking of her and showering his love on her. And Shanthi, earlier, and Akila, now, too have been reciprocating their love and one can see the happiness on Akila’s face when he is next to her.
கடல்வண்ணன் நான்முகன் காண்பரியார்
தடவரை யரக்கனைத் தலைநெரித்தார்
விடமது வுண்டவெம் மயேந்திரரும்
அடல்விடை யாரூராதி யானைக்காவே-Appar
And on this Wednesday evening, there was a twinkle in her eyes when Othuvar Ramani Srinivasan sang verses of praise on the greatness of Thiruvanaikaval and as the flag went up to signal the commencement of the ten day Thai Utsavam. And so too in Mahut Arjun’s face. The moment he sees her happy, there is a smile in his face as well!!!
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