DARSINI THE QUEEN ELEPHANT

Darsini (45) the elephant of Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple, in her stable in the premises of Bhajanapura Palace seems to be reveling in happiness. She was twisting, pulling, reaching, and caressing with her trunk. Then she put it in her mouth curled and tucked. Soon she took trunk full of water and gave its body repeated douches. She will be conferred the title “Gajarani”-the first of its kind in Kerala for a cow elephant. :D
“Darsini has been serving Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple since 32 years. Training of the Temple practices took three months. It demanded greater patience. We feed, talk, and bring water, bathe, and stroke Darsini. She is so affectionate that if any one talks to us in a louder tone she gets annoyed,” informed Gopalakrishnan, its mahout.

When Indira Gandhi came to power in 1966, three cow elephants were trapped in a pit. (Since then catching wild elephants was banned.) The captive elephants were named Indira, Priya and Darsini. Maharaja Chithira Tirunal bought Darsini from its owner based at Kottayam.
“My grandfather Kesavan was its first mahout. Then my father Vasudevan took its charge in 1979. I was his second mahout for some time. When he retired in 2000, I became the first mahout and now Sureshkumar is my second mahout.”
What are the qualities that prompted Darsini to be bestowed the title Gajarani?
“No cow elephant is as smart as this. Her gracefulness and pleasant nature fetched her title. The “edaneelam” (the horizontal length) of Darsini is more. She will be given one more title at Pattathanam next month,” said Gopalakrishnan.
Darsini has astonishing memory. She new the location of the feeding house called chottupura. She knew where drinking water is available in the Temple. After Seeveli when the Maharaja retreats, she gracefully takes a u-turn near the Bhadradeepa pura and waits until the Maharaja vanishes from its sight! On the first of every Malayalam Month, His Highness offers her fruits and eddalis. The fruits that devotees use to weigh against them (thulabharam) forms Darsini’s share. “There are houses in the Fort area which feeds Darsini on special occasions on the lunar calendar days like New Moon day. Darsini is familiar with all those houses and the family members” reminisces Gopalkrishnan and added, “No cow elephant allow tying the saddle and drums on its back but Darsini enjoys the Seeveli procession. She is well adapted to the routine of the Sree Padmanabhasmi temple.”
At the stable, she double twisted her soft trunk. She shook her head as Gopalakrishnan bought fresh coconut fronds. She swished them against her forefoot to free it from dust.

Today 14 more elephants participate in the crowning ceremony, at the west entrance of the Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple. There will be a parade of these elephants around the temple.