Story about an Elephant named Kandankoran

Story about an Elephant named Kandankoran

Adapted from the epic Malayalam book "AITHIHYAMALA by Kottarathil Sankunni

( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aithihyamala)

If you examine history of Kerala, you will come across with innumerable number of stories, of its great kings, warriors and their valor, great astrologers, great thinkers, great literary luminaries, magicians’ par excellent, famous temples and their origin, and added to this list is the stories of elephants.

The history of any temple is incomplete, if the story of the elephants attached to the temple is not narrated. Thus, one can observe the history replete with so many stories, some stories true, some stories myths attached with the ruling family, and many ones concoction made by the coteries of the ruling families. Here, I propose to narrate the story of an elephant named "Kandankoran" of Kidangoor, a village in Ettumanoor taluk of Kottayam district.

The story is happening some 200 years back. As all of you know that elephants are one of the intelligent animals, sometimes surpassing that of a normal human being. Kandankoran was also such an intelligent animal, and many stories were going around about him in those times, which were passed to generation to generation by the old timers lived thereon, and subsequently by their descendants.

Kidangoor got its name, for the narrow lines stretched over at different parts of the places looked like trenches and the houses were situated at 20 to 30 ft height from the ground level. By all standard it is a hilly place, situated about 200 to 300 from mean sea level surrounded by lush green paddy fields and rubber plantations. Through the narrow lines hardly three persons could walk together, and if some person comes from the opposite direction, one has to move aside for other one to go through. If an elephant walks through these lines, there is no other alternative but to take a different route or find some safe places on the courtyard of some houses.

There is a famous temple at Kidangoor. The temple is dedicated to Lord Subramaniam. The deity is considered to be Bala Murugan. The temple is considered to be one of the oldest temples in former Travancore state. Even this day, the temple is under the private management, controlled by a few Namboothiri families. The temple is on the bank of river named Meenachil. During the monsoon, the river used to flood severely submerging the entire village under knee deep water. Therefore, every house in the village will have 2 to three small boats to travel from one place to another during the flooding time.

Now let us come to the story of Kandankoran elephant. The local people say there was no elephant living at that time in the entire state of Kerala comparable to Kandankoran for its elegant and massive look, it’s long perfectly shaped tusks, long trunk loosely dangling from it’s head touching the ground, it’s sparkling eyes, well spread broad ears always moving to and fro and in all respects giving a spectra of grand look. Because of his cool and calm composure, he was never chained.

To manage him there were three mahouts. Even during the “musth”, (periodic condition in bull elephant causing unbearable pain to the elephant, resulting in it becoming very violent, attacking anybody approaching even causing death to the person), he exhibited a calm composure and never attacked. Usually, when the sign of musth is observed, the animal is chained and sheltered in a safe place. During the period it is administered with ayurvedic treatment and the animal is given sufficient water and rest. The medicines are given along with balls of cooked rice. Usually, the musth remains for about a month or so, and once it is cured, the animal becomes to its normal state.

Every day, Kandankoran used to be taken for a bath to the river in morning and evening. Nearly he used to be in the water for about 2 hours. While taking for bath, the mahouts always walks a distance behind him, since they know that he will not do any harm to anybody. Kandankoran liked children very much and playfully he splashed water on them while taking bath. On the bank of the riverside, there were many sugar cane and banana plantations. Usually some of the buffaloes, cows and other small animals from the nearby houses used to enter these fields breaking the fences, and feed on sugar cane and banana plants. When the owners of the place came to drive away these animals, Kandankoran will drive away those men and allow the animals to feed on the sugar cane and banana. At the same time, he will never enter those private fields and eat sugar cane and bananas. In those days many stories were going around among the public regarding the intelligence of Kandankoran. I shall narrate two or three such stories that I have come across while reading such fables .

One day, after an hour-long bath Kandankoran was returning to his resting place walking through a narrow lane. Suddenly, an old lady going to the temple appeared in front of the elephant. Seeing the elephant, the lady screamed and fell unconscious. The mahouts were far behind the animal. Seeing the lady, the animal did not panic, instead gently lifted the old woman with his trunk. And placed her on the compound wall of a nearby house. There is another similar story about his gentle behavior. One day while the elephant was going to the river for his routine bath, a small child of 5 years old suddenly appeared in front of the elephant, though child ‘s parents were walking behind, the child ran ahead. Seeing the elephant, the child screamed of bewilderment. Seeing the child, the elephant suddenly stopped and did not move forward, till the mahouts came and took the child and restored to its parents.

During the annual festival at Kidangoor temple, about 7 to 9 elephants used to take part the ritualistic perambulation conducted morning and evening accompanied by many percussionists and other artists, playing the instruments rhythmically arousing the interest of the huge crowd of devotees gathered to witness the occasion. It used to take around 2 hrs to complete the special procession. While the caparisoned elephants are made to stand in a row Kandankoran was very particular that he should alone be given the prestigious central position to carry the deity on it’s top. If that is denied, out of intransigence he will not move from the line whatever pressure and persuasion is exerted on him. Moreover, he knew when to move when the procession is to move to the next spot where the artists continue their performances.

Another typical character of him was he will bend his front leg only to the chief priest who carries the deity to climb to the top. All other persons including his mahouts have to climb only through his hind legs. During the off season when there were no temple festivals, he used to be engaged at timber yards to haul heavy logs. Before engaging for this work, he has to be fed with a number of banana bunches, jaggery, coconuts etc. failing which he will refuse to obey the instructions of the mahouts. There were many such stories relating to Kandankoran going around at that time, and these stories were passed on to from generation to generation.

The above stories are being retold by me for the present generation especially the children. Our country is replete with such fables and stories which not only entertaining but also at times covey morals to our budding children. The above story is narrated from a Malayalam book called AITHIHYA MALA, a great epic story written by Kottarathil Sankunni.