Guruvayur Padmanabhan

Padmanabhan was brought to Guruvayur by Cherukunnath Namboodiri as his devout offering, and was offered to Lord Guruvayurappan after performing the proper function of "Nadayiruthal”.
The legend goes that this Namboodiri had no children and he was spending his tearful days lamenting over his sad plight. Then Kunjhikkavu Namboodiri, an ardent devotee of Lord Guruvayurappan, who was famous for his "Purana Parayanam”, advised Cherukunnath Namboodiri that Lord Guruvayurappan would bless him with children if offered Him with an elephant. Accordingly Cherukunnath Namboodiri came to Guruvayur, performed "Bhajan” and prayed to offer Him an elephant, if he was blessed with a child. Lord Guruvayurappan showered His blessings on Cherukunnath Namboodiri who offered Him elephant and called him Padmanabhan.
When Padmanabhan was brought to Guruvayur, there were only one or two elephants here. As Cherukunnath illam was swelled with more and more children with His blessings, the number of elephants in Guruvayur temple also increased one by one with the coming of Padmanabhan.
Padmanabhan grew, through years, to be the most important of all elephants in Kerala, and wherever he was taken for Utsava, he was to be given the most prominent place in the procession. In all utsavam, if he was present, it was his privilege to carry on his head the "Thidambu”. He never tolerated any other elephant enjoying this right. As soon as the "Thidambu” was placed on his head, he would stretch the whole of his body forward, and raise his head to the maximum, so that he would appear to be the highest in the whole array of elephants. This posture would continue till the "Thidampu” was taken down after the procession, and thus he was able to maintain his kingly posture everywhere. He had never caused any injury to anybody throughout his life-time. Impressed by him, the Maharaja of Ambalapuzha awarded him with the precious prize, "Veerashringala".

Gajarani Lakshmi

Lakshmikutty was the most honoured and the tallest she-elephant of Kerala. Physically she was no match to the other two illustrious elephants, Kesavan & Padmanabhan, but she had few equals in nobility and devotion. The sensual advances made by her to the majestic Kesavan and their hidden love were well known. Lakshmi had the privilege many times to carry the Thidambu on her head. On the 4th March 1983, Lakshmi was presented the title of "GAJARANI" at an impressive function.

Gajarajan Guruvayoor Kesavan

Gajarajan Guruvayoor Kesavan: (1904 - December 2, 1976) is perhaps the most famous and celebrated Elephant of Kerala, South India. Kesavan was donated to the Guruvayoor Hindu temple by the royal family of Nilambur in 1916 when he was about 10 years old. It is a common custom in Kerala to donate elephants to the deity of the temple as an offering
Standing over 3.2 meters tall, Kesavan was known for his devout behavior. Kesavan died on "Guruvayur Ekadasi," considered a very auspicious day. He fasted for the entire day and dropped down facing the direction of the temple with his trunk raised as a mark of prostration. The anniversary of his death is still celebrated in Guruvauyur. Hundreds of elephants line up before the statue and the chief elephant garlands it. Kesavan was conferred the unique title "Gajarajan" (Elephant King), by the Guruvayoor Devaswom.
The Guruvayoor Devaswom erected a life-size statue of Keshavan in its precincts as tribute to the services he rendered to the presiding deity of the temple. His tusks, along with a majestic portrait of the elephant, can be still seen adorning the entrance to the main temple enclosure. His life is the subject of an Malayalam feature film which bears his name.