Palakkad: The tusks of the famed ‘Guruvayur Kesavan’ elephant idol at the eastern entrance of the Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple have been successfully refitted and strengthened after 50 years.
Following a fire incident in 1970, the temple complex underwent several restoration works. As part of those efforts, an idol commemorating Guruvayur Kesavan—an enduring figure in the temple’s spiritual history—was installed at the eastern gateway.
Known as ‘Gajarajan’, the elephant stood 10 feet 9 inches tall and served the temple for 54 years. It died at the age of 64 on an Ekadasi day in 1976. To highlight its significance, the idol was installed while the elephant was still alive.
The tusks were originally carved and fitted with fine detail by the late master wood sculptor Ilavalli Narayanan Achari. Now, after decades of loosening over time, the restoration responsibility was entrusted to his son, noted sculptor Ilavalli Nandan.
With the tusks restored to their original grandeur, one of Guruvayur’s most important symbols has been renewed, temple-linked sources said.
