Guruvayur temple elephant Nandini dies at 65

THRISSUR: Nandini, a senior elephant of the Guruvayur Devaswom, has died at the age of 65. She had been under treatment for several months due to a worsening foot disease. She breathed her last today at 2:45 PM.

Nandini was offered to Lord Guruvayurappan on May 9, 1964, by Palliyalil Narayanan Nair of Nilambur. She was one of the 22 elephants that were present when the Guruvayur elephant sanctuary (Anathavalam) was first established.

Since her youth, Nandini played a key role in major festivals at the Guruvayur temple, including the Pallivetta and Aarattu. She was also actively involved in temple processions at nearby Ardhanaarishwara temples. Nandini had not left the elephant sanctuary for the past three years after her foot condition worsened.

To prevent her condition from deteriorating, a rubber mat was laid for her at Kottumthara four years ago. Nandini collapsed on March 19, during the Aarattu day of the Guruvayur temple festival. Since then, she had been under treatment by expert veterinarians. She had not been eating food for the last few weeks.

Upon hearing the news of her demise, many devotees gathered at the sanctuary to pay their respects. Guruvayur Devaswom Chairman Dr. V. K. Vijayan and Administrator K. P. Vinayan placed floral wreaths over Nandini, who was draped in the ceremonial yellow cloth offered to Lord Guruvayurappan. The body was then transported by lorry to Kodanad. After a post-mortem conducted under the supervision of Forest Department officials, Nandini will be cremated in the Kodanad forest tomorrow morning at 7 AM.