Passion for elephants and modern popular culture:exploring the ritual world of central Kerala

Abstract

Microscopic ants to magnificent elephants, non-humans played significant role in the formation and evolution of History. There is difference in the perspectives for elephants between countries having elephant population and those were foreign to elephants. In India Elephants of ancient and medieval days considered as royal status symbol and military strength. In Kerala placing elephants from Natural place to Cultural space has gone through various stages. Role played by elephants since early to present days as part of militia, royal proud, status symbol, religious icon and as cultural magnates were substantial. From displacing elephants from its original natural place to ritual space bought about all kind of restrictions along with increasing care and consideration for the giant. Emergence of Temple centered society mark the beginning of elephants in temple space. Initially elephants were tamed, captured, incorporated to human geography may be as the part of reducing human elephant struggle and later used as assistance for clearing forest, moving timber, etc. As per information from temple Granthavari, temples, rulers and socio economic elites maintained elephants as their wealth. Rulers were maintained and added elephants for their important functions like Ariyittuvazhcha during the coronation ceremony. Rulers and elites donated Elephant to temples as offering and as an object of penalty for their offence. This practice of nadayiruthal of elephants along with capturing elephant from temple owned forest land increased elephant wealth in temples. Temples of Kerala which remain as nerve centres of society by medieval times has been maintained elephants for constructive purposes in the initial stage and later incorporated them to cultural arena. Rituals of the temples were evolved and added by the temple elites like Brahmins. Deities of temples is considered as protector or ruler of a region and hence attribute all privilege of rulers to deity including procession on elephant top. As per the suggestions of Thantrasamuchaya of fifteenth century, elephants were added by affordable temples to the daily rituals like seeveli, chuttuvilakku, etc. Along with daily rituals annual ritualslike festivals in which deity is coming ou t of the sreekovil to the public space were arrived on elephant top. Elephants as the magnificent animal with huge size could keep the status and purity of the deity inthe public space. As temples were very much keen in keeping the status of the deity high, they initiated annual festivals and holy bath to increase the power of the deity through the collective efforts and support of the people in which elephant became an inseparable element in central Kerala. Inclusion of Elephants in festival developed as an indigenous institution was included in to the main stream of culture is an intentional process initiated by religious elites with royal patronage. Peruvanam, Arattupuzha festival which is considered as mother of all festivals was initiated and controlled by Brahmin priest.Elite temples, initiated rituals and festivals with elephants, and continued this practice for many years. Compared to other regions, central Kerala is celebrating large number of festivals incorporating maximum number of elephants which can be categorised in to padahadi and dwajadi festivals which give importance to celebrations and popularity than anguradi which give priority for ritualistic elements. People of Central Kerala, from their childhood days are very much familiar with elephants through various means along with rituals and festivals. Culturally conditioned atmosphere was favourable to elephants and collective mentality of peoplehelped to increase elements of passion towards the magnificent celebrity and create a stardom in cultural space. The role played by intermediaries between elephant owners and temple authorities was an important development of 1980s. Apart from this Elephant Fans Association also helped for increasing the fame of elephants. Advertisements plays an important role in accumulating passion for elephants. Temple elephants in festivals shows that, cultural additions were done by the socio political elites while its maintenance could be done with the support of the masses. When some elements were added in the mainstream of culture and it became a part of popular culture, it will last for long run and alterations are possible with the functioning of multiple internal and external factors. By tracing the causes of passion for elephants, rituals and festivals played a major role.Beyond the religious boundaries it evolved as a collective mentality favourable for inclusion of elephants in religious and secular space,and became part ofpopular culture with an increasing level in Central Kerala.