ERODE: A Temple elephant, Vedanayaki, is being taken out on 4-km morning and evening walks to reduce its weight, sources said. The elephant belongs to the ancient Bhavani Sangameswarar temple, which is under the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department.
Vedanayaki, named after the main Goddess of the temple, was brought there as a calf nearly 41 years ago from Mudumalai in the Nilgiris. It was the devotees of Kumarapalayam who donated it to the temple.
It was sent to the elephant rejuvenation camps every year. The advice of the veterinarians at the camp is being followed in treating the elephant.
As Vedanayaki has crossed the age of 40, it is given 3 kg of rice in the morning and evening hours with 1 kg of pasipayiuru (green gram) and half kg of kollu (horse gram). Green fodder is given in the afternoon. To prevent intestine worms, it is not given bananas.
It is also on the advice of veterinarians that the constitutional has been arranged for the 3,500-kg Vedanayaki. To bring down its weight, the elephant is taken on a through the town by its mahout every morning and evening, temple officials said.