veD OF ANIMALS IN LIFE:.....THE USE AND REVERENCE OF THE ANIMALS BY HUMANS IN kli-yug IS BECOMING VERY SELFISH...AND COMMERCIAL TOO....
Posted by Vishva News Reporter on April 16, 2004

NEEDED IS
THE HARMONIOUS CO-EXISTENCE BETWEEN
 HUMANS AND ANIMALS
TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER'S
EVOLUTION AND SUSTENANCE
AS THE CREATOR DESIGNED & PLANNED....

The article in this posting submitted by SRii chmpklaal Daajibhaai misTRii of  Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with the preceding write-up.....is meant to be one of the many information and knowledge articles published from many submissions to PVAF AASHRAM NEWS..... to keep this page updated daily to empower YOU to have

 A BETTER DAY TOMORROW WITH
 MORE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT
 YOUR FIT INTO THIS CREATION AND LIFE
....

In ancient times in veDik lifestyle, may be there was a reason why temples kept elephants......As per history in texts of veD, an elephant was used to choose a king from among the citizens if an heir to an existing king was not available or if the king had to be replaced for any reasons as per the dictates of DHARm and shaasTR.....

But the tradition of keeping an elephant anywhere in present lifestyle seems more and more outdated.... and sometimes keeping any animal in an enclosed and controlled environment by humans often appears to be only a form of cruelty to animals as the present veDik lifestyle has so many limitations in the present time era called kli-yug........especially when in kli-yug almost 75 percent of the humanity does not want to live their daily life by the rules and regulations of DHARm or by shaasTR knowledge in veD.....

Please click on the next line to read an interesting phenomenon happening in bhaart (India) regarding the above subject matter and especially focused on the chaining of elephants in some bhaartiy temples......



Unchain these temple elephants
SUDHA PILLAI

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ THURSDAY, APRIL 01, 2004 07:30:56 AM ]

While KN Somayaji explains how elephants came to be in temples, Sudha Murty says it’s time we had a rethink on ancient traditions

SHOULD elephants, an endangered and protected species under the Wild Life Protection Act, be owned by temples, especially those that neither have the resources nor the inclination to care for the animals? Before we answer that question, we should understand how these animals entered the precincts of Hindu temples in the first place.

Somayaji, dharmadhikari of Sringeri Sharada Peetam and founder director of Kalpatharu Research Academy, explains the origins of elephants in our temples: “Aeons ago, elephants played an important role during wartime. They would ferry the king to the battleground and after winning the war, the king would make his victory procession on the animal. After which the elephants would be given to the temples to be taken care of until the next war. They were worshiped as symbols of strength and victory. The second way by which elephants came to be in our temples is when some people, in order to obtain a divine favour or to atone for their sins, would vow to serve at the temple full-time. Since it was impractical for people to leave everything and be attached to the temple 24 hours a day, they would gift an elephant to the temple in their name — a symbolic representation of the devotee. The elephant would then be used to perform various tasks in and around the temple. Thirdly, elephants were worshiped because of Lord Ganapati. The pachyderms were also used for gajapooja, a ritual performed before going to war and invoking victory.”

What is the significance of elephants in an Aiyappa or a Gayatri temple? “None,” says Somayaji. “There is no connection between these gods and the elephant. Honestly, a majority of the temples in the city use these animals as showpieces. Elephants are worshiped and taken care of only in three temples, Sringeri, Dharmasthala and Guruvayur. Here, in Bangalore, they are treated as attractive propositions to make money.”

Is it necessary to have elephants in our temples? Mayank Sharma, marketing executive, says, “It is traditional to have elephants in Hindu temples. It is considered auspicious to be blessed by one. I think we should retain the tradition. However, it is important that these animals are well looked after.” Sudha Murty, chairperson of Infosys Foundation says, “We cannot blindly follow thousand-year-old traditions. Elephants are meant to live in the forests and not in concrete jungles. These animals have as much a right to their lives as we humans do.. I think we shouldn’t have elephants in our temples, especially if they are not cared for properly.”

Manasi, advertising professional, visits temples often. She says, “What drives us to a temple is our faith and the desire to commune with self and God. Faith does not need accessories like elephants. You go to a temple to become a better person, yet you are unmoved by the sight of an elephant in chains and bleeding in the trunk. Then what is the point in going to a temple? How much value does a wounded elephant add to your prayers?”

Is it time for us to usher in new traditions that would protect our endangered species from the ills of old ones?



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