Indi Raja

Indi Raja: The Trusted Tusker Who Bears the Sacred Casket

In Sinhalese culture, the elephant—a symbol of both majestic power and immense size—is one of the most talked-about creatures. Since the era of Sri Lankan kings, the sacred casket has been carried on the back of an elephant in every major procession. Leading these processions on an elephant is considered a great honor. Over time, a "domesticated elephant lineage" was established from elephants captured in the wild, received from orphanages, or offered as gifts to temples and *devales*, including the Sri Dalada Maligawa (the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic).

However, the number of tame elephants in the country has now dwindled to less than a hundred, with only eighteen tuskers among them. Of these, only three mature tuskers possess the ideal temperament, physical characteristics, and impeccable health required to carry the Sacred Casket: Wasana from the Kataragama Devala, and Indi Raja and Sinha Raja from the Dalada Maligawa's elephant stable.

It is our wish to present a series of articles titled "The Tame Elephant Herd," featuring detailed information about these three and all the other tame tuskers in Sri Lanka. This is the first story in that series.

Carrying the casket and sacred ornaments in the Kandy Esala Perahera and other processions is considered an act of great merit for an elephant, but it is also a profound responsibility. The tusker chosen for this sacred duty must be of excellent character. He must have a full-bodied form, a majestic appearance, and a beautifully matched pair of tusks that curve forward symmetrically like a plowshare. He should possess a calm mind, a gentle gait, sharp intelligence, and a compassionate nature, belonging to the "Mangala" caste and being in the prime of his life.

The largest "Elephant King" currently in the Dalada Maligawa's stable is **Indi Raja**, a noble Saddantha born from the Mangala caste for the very purpose of carrying the Sacred Casket. Indi Raja is the complete embodiment of all the required qualities. His neck is shaped in a way that makes it perfectly suited for securing the ceremonial costume.

A Gift from India

Indi Raja was born in 1980 as "Basheer" at the Theppakadu Elephant Orphanage near the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in South India. Even from a young age, he displayed calm and noble traits. His father was a wild elephant from Mudumalai, while his mother lived at the orphanage, one of India's oldest.

In 1988, following the Indo-Lanka Accord, a delegation of Sri Lankan Buddhist leaders traveled to India. During discussions about the safety of Sri Lankan pilgrims, they made a request to the then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, for a tusker for the Maligawa. They reminded him that his mother, Indira Gandhi, had previously donated an elephant named "Jaya Raja," and that since the passing of the Maligawa's main tusker in 1988, there was no suitable elephant to carry the casket.

In response, the Indian government agreed to donate an elephant. The then Diyawadana Nilame, Neranjan Dullewe Wijeyeratne, traveled to India and, after inspecting several elephants at the Mudumalai orphanage, selected Basheer. In February 1989, the six-year-old tusker was brought to Sri Lanka and formally presented to the Dalada Maligawa by the Indian High Commissioner. As a gesture of gratitude for this gift from India, Basheer was renamed **"Indi Raja"**—the Indian King.

The Guardian of the Perahera

Indi Raja grew up safely within the Maligawa's stable and carried the Sacred Casket for the first time in the 1994 Esala Perahera. Before that, he had participated in processions as a junior tusker. He also holds the distinction of being the youngest tusker ever to be granted the honor of carrying the Relic.

It's difficult to pinpoint the exact number of Peraheras Indi Raja has led, but since 2005, he has missed only one. In the 2009 Perahera, he carried the casket for all ten nights. While he can be fierce and impulsive in his daily life, during the Perahera, he becomes a devotee. He is now the most trusted tusker for this sacred task.

No matter how close the men holding the ceremonial canopy get, or if they bump into him, or even cause him some discomfort, Indi Raja never loses his composure. Carrying the heavy casket with the canopy is not an easy task, and the elephant can sometimes be distressed. Yet, Indi Raja never breaks his discipline. Even if another elephant attacks him, he does not retaliate. In 2013, while carrying the casket, he was attacked by a junior tusker named Burma Raja. Indi Raja endured the blow without causing any disturbance, calmly continuing to protect the Sacred Casket.

A Complex and Noble Character

His handlers know him as a complex being. His behavior in the morning can be different from his demeanor in the afternoon or evening. Understanding Indi Raja's nature requires a subtle intuition. He was cared for by a mahout named Siril for a long time, and after Siril's passing in 2012, his apprentice Susantha took over. Recently, mahout Nihal Sirisena has been looking after him.

Indi Raja is strong, energetic, and a skilled worker. Records from his time in India show he was used for heavy labor, and his superintendent there held a special fondness for him. Even after coming to Kandy, he was used for work until 2006, after which he was retired. He is now well-fed and cared for, but he longs not for a life in captivity, but for the freedom to roam villages. Recognizing this, the Maligawa periodically releases him for two or three months at a time near reservoirs and lakes, where he can live freely, eat well, and be content.

Indi Raja has a healthy appetite, with a particular fondness for kitul palm. He needs a substantial amount daily and currently weighs 3.2 tonnes. He stands at 10 feet and 2 inches and is 45 years old. His upkeep costs the Maligawa around Rs. 250,000 per month, a figure that rises with medical care.

Health and Vigilance

He has a greater tendency to fall ill than other elephants in the stable and has faced several serious health crises. In 2010, a wound near his eye from a mahout's attempt to calm him became severely infected. Thanks to dedicated veterinary care, his eyesight was saved. On another occasion, a parasitic worm was found causing significant internal damage. The Diyawadana Nilame at the time acted swiftly, importing medicine from India and curing him within five months. There is now a suspicion that this parasitic infection may have returned, causing his recent, abnormal weight loss.

"The elephants undergo a medical check-up every three months and a blood test every six months," explains the Maligawa's elephant stable manager, Pradeep Miwanpala. "We administer deworming medicine based on their weight. Due to his current condition, we are not involving Indi Raja in other processions. We have been advised to give him maximum freedom. He is an elephant who must lead the Kandy Perahera for another 20 or 30 years. Losing him would be a colossal loss for the festival. Therefore, we are committed to caring for him to the best of our ability."

A Living Treasure

It is no exaggeration to call Indi Raja one of the most meritorious animals alive. He has carried the Sacred Casket more times than any other tusker in recent history and is the undisputed leader of the Maligawa's elephant herd.

As we conclude this story, we join in the prayer for the health and long life of this magnificent tusker, that he may continue his sacred duty for many Esala Peraheras to come.