A temple in Thrissur, Kerala, has received a robot elephant from PETA after pledging to not keep or hire animals for rituals.

The animatronic named Irinyadapilly Raman is 10 feet tall and weighs 800kg. Temple authorities are able to operate the robot's trunk.

In a statement, PETA India said: "Following Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple’s compassionate pledge to never keep or hire live elephants or any other animals for rituals, festivities, or any other purpose, PETA India gifted an astonishing lifelike mechanical or 'robotic' elephant, lovingly named Irinjadappilly Raman, who will now help conduct ceremonies at the temple in a safe and cruelty-free manner.

"Most elephants in captivity in the country, including in Kerala, are being held illegally or have been transported to a different state without permission.

"Because elephants are wild animals who would not willingly obey human commands, when used for rides, ceremonies, tricks, and other purposes, they are trained and controlled through severe punishments, beatings, and the use of weapons with a metal-tipped hook.

"Many have extremely painful foot ailments and leg wounds from being chained to concrete for hours on end, and most do not get adequate food, water, or veterinary care, let alone any semblance of a natural life."

No more fear of elephant herding.
There is no need to think about soiling it with puup and urine. One such elephant has been made by the sculptors of 'For H Arts' in Chalakudy Pota. The iconic robotic elephant, named Irinyadapilly Raman, was donated by a group of devotees. Its height is ten and a half feet. Eight hundred kg weight. Four people can be taken out. The construction cost is Rs.5 lakh. The elephant's head, eyes, mouth, ears and tail all work on electricity. Elephants are made in such a way that they are always moving.

The elephant is made of rubber outside the iron frame. The robotic elephant is powered by five motors. Everything except the trunk is powered by a motor. Only the trunk is designed to be controlled by 'Pappan'. The specialty of this robotic elephant is that it can spray water from its trunk when it is switched on. The temple authorities are of the opinion that there is nothing wrong in using such a cost-effective and risk-free method of staking and so on.

This 'Gajaveeran' is also made by sculptors Prashant, Jinesh, Robin and Santo from Chalakudy Pota's 'For H Arts' who had earlier created robotic 'Gajaveeran' for the Dubai festival. This is the first time that a robotic elephant has been installed in temples. Those who came to the Raman festival were curious and surprised as they shook their head, ears and tail along with the mela.
At first glance, it gives the impression that a festival is being held by stopping a live elephant. Women and children competed to touch the battery-powered elephant.

The robotic elephant was presented to the Sri Krishna Temple under the Thrissur Kalletumkara Irinchadappilli Mana by an organization called 'PETA India'. After the Kalabhabhishekam and the installation of the elephant, there was an Acharya Sangam followed by Ezhunnallipu. Around 50 artists participated in the fair led by Peruvanam Satheesan Marar.
The dedication ceremony was inaugurated by Satheesan Namboothiripad of Thiruvananthapuram Padmanabhaswamy Temple Tantri Nedumpilly Tharananellur.