The most stunning, historically significant, and opulent temples in not only India but the entire world can be found in Kerala. Whether the Sabarimala Sastha Temple, Sree Padmanabhaswamy, or any other—be it the temples of Thrissur district or Alappuzha district all of them are a sight to behold.
Indeed, Kerala is what they call “The Land of Gods,” Due to its abundance of temples, many of which date back more than 2000 years, Kerala is a fantastic religious tourist destination in India.
Families enjoy the serene beauty of the state, the exclusive architecture, and the rich cultural abundance to the fullest. Most of us know the elephant’s importance in a South Indian temple, they are called the anchor between god and humans.
But how amused will you be when you come across a piece of news saying – artificial intelligence (AI) will now be the new mode of connection between god and humans?
I was surprised and impressed both at the same time when I came across the news and therefore, here it is for all of us.
A temple in the Thrissur district of Kerala will now use a mechanical elephant to pay the offering to the gods above. Now, this is what we call “everything bends in front of the Almighty, like technology too”.
Which Temple Of The Thrissur District Now Have A Mechanical Elephant?
The Irinjadappilly Sri Krishna Temple in Kerala’s Thrissur district made history by conducting rituals using a mechanical, lifelike elephant. PETA India, with the assistance of the actor Parvathy Thiruvothu, donated the mechanical elephant to the temple.
This newly introduced mechanical elephant is called “Irinjadapilly Raman.” It has a lifelike appearance and weighs 800 kg. Its height is ten and a half feet, and four people can ride on it. The elephant’s head, ears, mouth, and tail, are all functional electric organs.
Bend The Bow For a Good Cause
PETA India developed the robotic elephant in response to the request of Thrissur district’s management to not use elephants or any other animal exploitation for rituals, celebrations, or any other purpose. On Sunday, at the “Nadayiruthal” pooja, Irinjadappilly Raman made the sacrifices to the gods that till now real elephants use to make.
A statement from PETA India reads, “Elephants develop abnormal behaviour due to their frustration with being in captivity.” Elephants that are in a bad situation frequently show agitation and attempt to escape, causing harm to people, other animals, and property in the process.
In fact, 526 people have been killed by captive elephants in Kerala in the last 15 years, according to data gathered by the Heritage Animal Task Force.
As per the reports, in the chikkattukavu Ramachandran festival, one of Kerala’s most famous festivals, angry elephants have killed around 13 people, including four women, three men and six mahouts”.
PETA demands a switch to lifelike mechanical elephants or other substitutes at all venues and events that currently employ elephants.
For Kerala’s temple celebrations, elephants are frequently seen as essential. However, the administrators of the Irinjadappilly Sri Krishna Temple do hope that other temples will eventually stop using live elephants in their rituals.
More than 526 people have died as a result of man-elephant conflict in Kerala over the past 15 years. This is what PETA India hopes to lessen with the robotic elephant.
Feature Image – PETAIndia
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