Ensure maintenance of jumbo tusks at temple, demand devotees

Ramanathaswamy Temple is one the important temples of Lord Shiva in the country and thousands of devotees from various parts of the country visit the temple regularly.

During the era of Sethupathi kings, one male elephant and four female elephants were gifted to the temple. After a few years, the male elephant died and in its remembrance, the pair of tusks was placed in front of Amman Sanndadhi, according to the temple’s priests.

However, the tusks are now in a bad condition as they have not been maintained properly. They have allegedly turned blackish and look dirty.

Speaking to DT Next, Manikandasamy (63), a trader from Rameswaram, cited the example of Kerala, where temple officials ensure proper maintenance of such tusks. He said that he has been seeing the tusks since he was a child and that their condition has worsened only in recent times.

Ramamoorthy, Ramanathapuram District Secretary, Hindu Munnani, said that according to the known tradition, the tusks are at least 500 years old, although the exact history of the tusks is not known. This is also the only temple in the state to have tusks inside as the custom of keeping tusks in temples is prevalent only in Kerala.

The presence of tusks is seen as a symbol of protection and it should be maintained well. However, the officials never cared about the tusks and there is a doubt whether they are aware of the presence of the tusks in the temple, he said.