Source

INDIA, March 27, 2004: Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) filed an police report against the Aiyappan Temple in Jalahalli and the two mahouts attached to the temple for “animal abuse.” According to Suparna Ganguly, vice-president, CUPA, the temple’s male elephant has been subjected to immense cruelty. There are three temple elephants in the city, all in similar condition. The one at the Gayatri temple, Yeshwantpur, is kept chained for 22 hours, says this article. According to elephant expert Dr. Jacob V., the pachyderm is a herd animal and should not be kept in isolation, as is the case in most temples. “When the elephant is tortured and subjugated, the moment it gets a chance it is bound to react violently.” Every year some 10 mahouts are killed by the elephant in their care.



A second article in the Times of India addresses this same issue:



“Should elephants, an endangered and protected species under the Wild Life Protection Act, be owned by temples, especially those that neither have the resources nor the inclination to care for the animals?” asks this article. Somayaji, dharmadhikari of Sringeri Sharada Peetam and founder director of Kalpatharu Research Academy, explains the origins of elephants in temples: “Aeons ago, elephants played an important role during wartime. They would ferry the king to the battleground and after winning the war, the king would make his victory procession on the animal. After which the elephants would be given to the temples to be taken care of until the next war. They were worshiped as symbols of strength and victory. The second way by which elephants came to be in our temples is when some people, in order to obtain a divine favor or to atone for their sins, would vow to serve at the temple full-time. Since it was impractical for people to leave everything and be attached to the temple 24 hours a day, they would gift an elephant to the temple in their name–a symbolic representation of the devotee. The elephant would then be used to perform various tasks in and around the temple. Thirdly, elephants were worshiped because of Lord Ganapati. The pachyderms were also used for gajapooja, a ritual performed before going to war and invoking victory.” One in favor of retaining the ancient tradition is marketing executive, Mayank Sharma. “It is traditional to have elephants in Hindu temples. It is considered auspicious to be blessed by one. I think we should retain the tradition. However, it is important that these animals are well looked after,” says Sharma. On the opposition side, Sudha Murty, chairperson of Infosys Foundation says, “We cannot blindly follow thousand-year-old traditions. Elephants are meant to live in the forests and not in concrete jungles. The animals have as much a right to their lives as we humans do… I think we shouldn’t have elephants in our temples, especially if they are not cared for properly.”

Post Views: 743