"Gajarajan" Guruvayoor Kesavan (1904-1976)

"Gajarajan" Guruvayoor Kesavan (1904-1976) was perhaps the most famous and celebrated elephant in Kerala, south India. Kesavan was donated to the Guruvayoor temple by the royal family of Nilambur in 1916 when he was about 10 years old. He was 3.2 metres tall. Kesavan was conferred the title "Gajarajan" (King of elephants), a title bestowed by Guruvayoor Devaswom for the first time on elephants.



The tusks of Guruvayoor Kesavan are displayed in front of the Guruvayoor Temple.

Statue of Guruvayoor Kesavan in front of the guest house of the Guruvayoor Temple. He is the only elephant in the world to have a life size statue in his honor. This memorial is worshiped each year during the Ekadasi Festival

Homage being paid to Guruvayoor Kesavan on the anniversary of his death, Dec. 2, 1976. All Temple Elephants in Kerala are brought together on that day to the temple.