Raju has unique resemblance to Maligawa Raja

By Manjula Fernando

The chubby little ball of black born on February 3, 2006 was named Raju, the King.

Perhaps the authorities at Pinnawala Eth Athuru Sevana - the elephant transit camp, where Raju's parents, Neelagiri and Punchi were resident pachyderms, had some sort of inkling of what the future held for the baby elephant, for its not customary to think of a royal name for any newborns there.

During his relatively short time at Eth Athuru Sevana, Raju became the cynosure among all baby elephants, earning the affection of the staff and the attention of local and foreign tourists who come in their hundreds to the elephant transit camp every day. The baby elephant was a hairy prankster.

It was during this time, the caretakers of the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of Tooth in Kandy) discussed the issue of grooming a second generation of tuskers to take part in the annual Kandy Esala Perahera and more importantly bear the most sacred casket carrying Buddha's tooth relic at the final Randoli Perahera.

Following a request to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, permission was granted to seek two baby tuskers from the Pinnawala transit camp.

Destiny

Diyawadana Nilame Nilanga Dela Bandara was entrusted with the task of selecting them. He had to look for nobleness and seven physical signs that raise them to the class of a Magul Etha. The tusker that will one day bear the casket carrying the Sacred Tooth Relic adorning the most important religious procession of the country, renowned world over for its grace and grandeur.

Marking the end of Kandy Esela Festival 2013, President Mahinda Rajapaksa flanked by Diyawadana Nilame Nilanga Dela and Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa feed the chief tusker.

Mahout Ekanayke hardly take time off to visit his family.

Raju's destiny was already engraved.

The three-year-old baby tusker fulfilled every single characteristic of a Magul Etha (Saddantha kulaya) and moreover had a unique resemblance to the late 'Maligawa Raja'. His trunk, the four feet, tail and the male organ reached the ground when the little tusker stood upright. The trunk in the shape of a traditional winnow and its back straight. Only the height which must reach at least 12 feet when fully grown, has to be met.

Maligawa Raja was the sacred casket bearer at the final Randoli Perahera for 37 years. He took part in the Kandy Perahera for 50 years, before it died at the age of 75 in 1988.

Legend

"No tusker todate has been able to fill the void created by Raja's passsing away," the official caretaker of Maligawa elephants, Pradeep Niyanapalawa said.

It was one of most celebrated tuskers in Asia during its lifetime and was declared a national treasure by the then President J.R. Jayawardene in 1986. His legend still lives on.

Raju's playmate at the Pinnawala camp, Sindu was also chosen and gifted to Asgiri chapter of the temple. They were transferred in 2009 and raised at Maligawa by the able mahouts of the Temple. Although it must have been a tearful departure, the parents would have blessed little Raju for they knew he was being groomed for a noble cause.

Raju and Sindu wereinitially trained by mahout Aluthge Gunasiri (Sekera). But now they are looked after and trained by mahout Ekanayake.

"Within three months of training they took part in the Kataragama perahera at Aluth Nuwara temple in Balangoda," Sekera said.

"They have been taking part in the Kandy Esala Perahera for the past several years and our hope is to fulfill the rituals after the Perahera and groom them for the sacred casket duty," he said.

The rituals include seeking the blessings of Gods and tying a wooden structure called 'wata putuwa' on the elephants back on a previously set auspicious time. The idea is to get them accustomed to carry the wooden structure that the golden casket is laid during perahera.

Raju and Sindu have to train for 7-8 years, before the noble duty is entrusted upon them.

Chosen one

Sindu has just one tusk, hence Raju would be the chosen one for the special duty at the Esela Perahera. However, carrying the sacred casket for many days during the Kandy Esala festival is something of an elephantine task and way too much for a single tusker. It is a major responsibility and a tiring one at that. While the same tusker will perform the duty of bearing the sacred casket at the final Randoli Perahera every year, one or two will alternatively be summoned to bear it during the processions in the run up to the grand final perahera.

Niyanapalawa, whose fathers and forefathers for generation after generation had served the Temple of the Tooth said, "The issue of shortage of tuskers for Perahera duty is something officials must look into without delay."

All the elephants exclusively trained for perahera duty, numbering about 20 in the entire country, are now middle-aged or very old. Each year, two or more such elephants pass away due to old age. This is a sad situation.

"We don't have young tuskers even at the Maligawa, the only tuskers we have are the youngsters, Raju and Sindu."

Mahout Sekera said they need at least ten years to train an elephant for such a task. They need to learn to be calm, graceful, patient and composed in the midst of dozens of distractions. Of the two elephants presently performing Randoli duty, Indi Raja is about 40 years old and Nedungamuwe Etha is nearly 70 years old. None of them are owned by the Maligawa.He said they were hopeful President Mahinda Rajapaksa would intervene to find some solution to this issue adding that Indian elephants too fulfill the needs of the perahera well.

Except for being noble and handsome Raju is good at one other thing, to claim undivided attention from its trainer, Ekanayake. The mahout has dedicated his entire life for this 'little charmer', until he grows up to fit into the boots of the legendary Maligawa Raja.