Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Sep 30: Subhadra, the elephant that used to serve Lord Shri Krishna at the Shri Krishna Math in the city for the past 20 years, is shifted to some other place. The elephant is taken to a math at Honnali on the early morning of Monday, September 30.

Subhadra was made to board a truck from the half built building near Kanaka Mall on the outskirts of the Math. However, in spite of four skilled Mahouts, the elephant did not step onto the truck at all. Later, the tyres of the truck got stuck in the mud. After the tyres were made alright, with great effort and convincing, the elephant boarded the truck at 3.30 am in the morning.

There was no veterinary doctor or forest department personnel available while transporting the elephant. It is said that the transfer of Subhadra did not go well with the entrepreneur from Mumbai, who had donated the elephant to the Math.

Devotees are also saying that the elephant was not transported properly. Moreover, this operation, which took place on the wee hours of Monday, has given room to rumours. However, the math sources are saying that Subhadra, the female elephant is being taken to Honnali Math as it is unwell and also in order to make it mate with the male elephant in that math for procreation.

According to the Mahout, who tends Subhadra, she is perfectly fine in health and this is not the time for the female elephant to mate with male elephant at Honnali, so there is no need for transferring her to Honnali.

The whole issue and suspicion behind the shifting of Subhadra, the Math elephant, is clarified by now by Prahlad Joshi, administrative officer of Shri Krishna Math.

Speaking to Daijiworld Media, Prahlad said, "We have handed over Subhadra to Honnali Math as per the orders of the forest department of the government of Karnataka. The ownership of the elephant is with Krishna Math only. Subhadra is shifted considering her wellbeing.

"Subhadra is a female elephant, who was all alone in the Math. A female elephant has to conceive at least twice in 26 years’ time. However, Subhadra has not conceived even once after arriving to the Math 23 years ago. After spot inspection by the Deputy Commissioner of Davanagere it was decided that Honnali is the right place for Subhadra to get pregnant. Accordingly she is shifted to Hirekal Math after obtaining necessary permission from the Aranya Bhavana of Bengaluru. Subhadra will be with us for all the programmes of the Math."