Gajarajan Guruvayur Kesavan

Gajarajan Guruvayur Kesavan is perhaps the most famous and celebrated captive elephant in Kerala, southern India.

Kesavan was donated to the Guruvayur Hindu temple by the royal family of Nilambur on 4th of January in 1922 .

Standing over 3.2 meters tall, Kesavan was known for his devout behavior.

Kesavan died on December 2, 1976 aged 72, which happened to be Guruvayur Ekadasi, considered a very auspicious day.

He fasted for the entire day and dropped down facing the direction of the temple with his trunk raised as a mark of prostration.

The anniversary of his death is still celebrated in Guruvauyur.

Many elephants line up before the statue and the chief elephant garlands it.