Authorities Order State Funeral For Sri Lanka’s 68-Year-Old Most Sacred Elephant

The Sri Lankan government orchestrated a formal burial following the death of the country's foremost revered elephant on Monday. It was also said that the elephant's bones would also be packed and kept all throughout generations.

The Death Of Sri Lanka's Most Sacred Elephant

(Photo : Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)
Elephants rest at a public park on the first day of the city's biggest two-day annual Buddhist Navam procession, also known as the Perahera festival, in Colombo on February 15, 2022.

Nadungamuwa Raja, who passed away at the age of 68 in Colombo, was the tallest domesticated elephant in Asia continent and stood 10.5 feet in height. It has been one of the greatest commemorated elephants before and during his entire lifespan and featured an absolutely vital type of character in Buddhist religious activities.

According to The Guardian, on Monday, a large crowd of townspeople led by children in schools, church leaders in saffron robes, and an older woman in a wheelchair obliged to pay their respect and appreciation to Raja, worshiping as well as tapping its great and powerful horns in awe and adoration.

The elephant has always been conceived in India in the year of 1953 and is said to be one of two infants given to a Sri Lankan Buddhist by the Maharaja of Mysore.

Following the year 2015 adverse event in which a motorcycle nearly hit it whilst on a trip to a shrines ritual, the elephant was escorted by a military security officer of special troops.

Among both year 1953 and year 1986, one amongst Raja's forebears, also called as Raja, bore the solid gold box containing 34 artifacts for precisely 34 years.

When the elder Raja pass away in 1988, at the maturity level of 72, there was an international outcry, and the current regime officially deemed a national day of remembrance.

The earlier Raja was also conserved and possesses its very dedicated national gallery amid Kandy's Monastery of the Tooth compound, which houses a supposed Buddha molar.

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Elephant Raja Died At The Age of 68

The elephant transported the primary coffin containing Lord Buddha's sacred tooth piece of history in the yearly basis Esala Perahera spectacle, a historic religious ceremony that was a significant prominent commercial destination in Kandy, as per news published by CBC News.

The beast paraded through the procession, flanked by flame dancers as well as musicians, and reportedly received its very own secret service force. As per the Press Trust of India, Raja has taken part in the awards ceremony for 11 years.

In a testimonial speech on Twitter, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa remarked that the King of Elephants, who has been well-regarded by the general public of the country as well as in a foreign countries all throughout the years that passed, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa desire that Raja may have also conquer the great Nirvana of a forthcoming soul by the encouragement of the honorable endeavor passed in righteousness of the Sacred Ark at the Temple of the Tooth.

Mr Rajapaksa's administrative center also stated that the president have already drilled that the body of the tusker be well-looked-after for yet to come ages and give it the honorable title of "a national treasure".

Raja's remnants would be given above to taxidermists for packing subsequently after Buddhist memorial rites are accomplished, according to AFP.

Rules dictate that only elephants with specified physicochemical properties may be chosen for this duty. These elephants should have a straight spine, specifically shaped horns, as well as all seven extremities of the elephant - four legs, trunk, genitalia, and tail - should always contact the floor when standing.