Mysuru-born, most revered jumbo in Sri Lanka, ‘Raja’ dies at 69

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

A Mysuru-born jumbo which was gifted to a Sri Lanka-based ayurvedic doctor by Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, the last titular ruler of the erstwhile Mysuru kingdom, died at 69 last week.

The tusker, named Nadungamuwa Raja, had been the cynosure of Sri Lankan Buddhists all these years. It was used on special occasions by adherents of Buddhism. Raja was born in Mysuru in 1954 and the king gifted the jumbo to a Sri Lankan monk physician for treating an illness, according to Dr Harsha Dharmavijaya, an ayurvedic physician, whose family has been caring for Raja from 1978.

“ A 2021 feature published in the state-run Daily News said the monk, who received Raja as a gift could not maintain him, and sold him to a timber mill in Horana, south of the Lanka capital, Colombo. Troubled on seeing the magnificent elephant -- tall with striking tusks -- lifting and transporting logs, Dr. Dharmavijaya’s father purchased him”.

“ In addition to his routine diet of coconut palm and an assorted fruit platter every day, Raja loved a jaggery treat now and then, according to his mahout, Wilson Kodithuwakku. The jumbo would walk from north Colombo to the central Kandy district, covering some 90 km over seven days, stopping at Buddhist shrines along the way for a quick bath and food. Scores of Sri Lankans have paid tribute to Raja on social media, sharing images of the tusker. Animal rights activists posted messages such as “Finally free from chains” and “May you find freedom and peace”, reflecting the concerns over the treatment of elephants in captivity.

Raja was known widely as the towering tusker that carried the casket containing the ‘Sacred Tooth Relic’ at the ‘Perahera’ festival or annual pageant in Kandy district. Following his passing away last week, scores of people, including children and Buddhist priests, bid adieu to him offering prayers at the site where the elephant had died.

“ President Rajapaksa instructed officials to preserve Raja’s body “for future generations”, his office said in a statement. Raja was handed over to taxidermists for stuffing, following Buddhist funeral rites. He was also declared a ‘National Treasure”, according to a news agency.

Sri Lanka is mourning the death of a much-loved Indian elephant that made the island nation its home for nearly half a century.