Gajaratnam Guruvayur Padmanabhan- The Guruvayur temple elephant dies

THRISSUR:

Guruvayur Padmanabhan

, an

elephant

owned by Guruvayoor devaswom which had the honorific title of Gajaratnam has died. He was declared dead at Punnathoorkota in Guruvayoor Sreekrishna temple at 2pm on Wednesday.

At 80 years, Padmanabhan had the distinction of carrying the thidambu of Lord Srikrishna for about 66 years.

. An expert veterinarian Dr

K Kunal Sharma

inspected the tusker following a special request from the Devaswom officials.

Guruvayoor Devaswam deputy administrator S Sasidaran told TOI that the health condition of the tusker was stable till 9 am on Wednesday. After 9am, the elephant showed worsening of condition and died at 2pm. All Devaswam doctors were monitoring his condition."

Last week, Padmanabhan’s health problems aggravated and he was undergoing treatment for

diarrhea

The forest department had imposed restrictions on two Guruvayoor tuskers- ‘Guruvayoor Padmanabhan’ and

Guruvayoor Valiyakesavan

on December 7 against parading them due to age and health related issues. Later, the forest department formed an expert committee to inspect the health condition of the tusker. Based on the expert committee report, the forest department lifted the ban on Padmanabhan on February 3. He participated in the rituals inside the Guruvayoor temple. But after a week, the tusker developed condition of diarrhea.

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