https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Arjuna_%28elephant%29Arjuna (elephant) - Revision history2026-08-20T09:11:54ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arjuna_(elephant)&diff=183997&oldid=prev>Khaliwarriors at 03:40, 26 October 20202020-10-26T03:40:53Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}<br />
{{Infobox animal<br />
|name = Arjuna<br />
|image = Arjuna Entering The Balle Forest For Morning Walk!.jpg<br />
|caption = Arjuna - The Mysore Dasara Golden Howdah Elephant!<br />
|species = [[Asian elephant]]<br />
|gender = Male<br />
|birth_date = c. {{Birth year and age|1960}}<br />
|death_date = <br />
|death_place = <br />
|nationality = [[India]]<br />
|occupation = [[Golden Howdah]] carrier<br />
|predecessor = [[Balarama (elephant)|Balarama]]<br />
| successor = [[Abhimanyu (elephant)|Abhimanyu]]<br />
|employer = <br />
|years_active = 2012–2019<br />
|weight = 6,040 kgs<br />
|height = {{height|m=2.95|precision=0}}<br />
|namedafter = [[Arjuna]]<br />
}}<br />
'''Arjuna''' (born c. 1960) is an Asian [[elephant]] who, from 2012 to 2019 has been the [[Dasara elephants|lead elephant]] and the carrier of the [[Golden Howdah]] at the [[Mysore Dasara]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bennur|first1=Shankar|title=Arjuna to carry golden howdah this year|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/arjuna-to-carry-golden-howdah-this-year/article4013863.ece|accessdate=22 October 2015|work=The Hindu|date=20 October 2012}}</ref> He was named after [[Arjuna]], the third of the Pandava brothers from the Hindu epic [[Mahabharatha]].<br />
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==Mysore Dasara==<br />
Arjuna was captured in 1968 in the [[Khedda]] operations from the forests of [[Kakanakote]] in the [[Western Ghats]] of [[Karnataka]]. After he was tamed, he was made a regular at the camps that featured processions during the festival of [[Mysore Dasara|Dasara]] in [[Mysore]], in the 1990s. After [[Drona (elephant)|Drona]], the then carrier, fell ill prior to the Dasara festivities, Arjuna was made the carrier of the 750-kg Howdah that houses an idol of a Hindu deity Chamundeshwari, for a year, when the former was made the ''Nishan''. That year, before the festivities began, he wavered and charged at the crowd, as the helicopter hovering above raining flower petals on the howdah came low. Eventually, he calmed down to complete the task. The following years, he was made the ''Nishan'' to follow Drona.<ref name="toi1">{{cite news|title=After 16 yrs, redemption at last for Arjuna|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/After-16-yrs-redemption-at-last-for-Arjuna/articleshow/16913418.cms|accessdate=22 October 2015|work=The Times of India|date=20 October 2012}}</ref><br />
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In 1996, when Arjuna and Bahadur, another Dasara elephant, were taken to [[Karanji Lake]] for bathing, Bahadur's [[mahout]] Annaiah fell and was trampled upon. It was reported as an accident, but Arjun was blamed upon, for already having been known for his bad temper. He was immediately taken "off-duty" and was confined to the village Balle, at the [[Nagarhole National Park]], before being brought back to the Dasara camp and made the ''Nishan'' in 2001 to [[Balarama (elephant)|Balarama]], which he remained till 2011.<ref name="toi1"/> On course of selection of the carrier for festivities in 2012, Arjuna became the leading contender after he beat Balarama in the rehearsals of carrying the howdah, for five kilometers between [[Mysore Palace]] and Bannimantap, by 45 minutes, despite going through periods of [[musth]] at the time.<ref>{{cite news|title=Arjuna inches closer to be howdah elephant|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/Arjuna-inches-closer-to-be-howdah-elephant/articleshow/16854188.cms|accessdate=22 October 2015|work=The Times of India|date=17 October 2012}}</ref> His choice as the carrier was confirmed by the organizers in October 2012.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kumar|first1=R. Krishna|title=Know your Dasara elephants|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/know-your-dasara-elephants/article6320447.ece|accessdate=22 October 2015|work=The Hindu|date=15 August 2014}}</ref><br />
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Arjuna was carrying the [[Golden Howdah]] from 2012 to 2019 (7years). Now his name was dropped over the government order on retiring elephants above 60 years of age and services of such jumbos could be used in any rigorous activities. Arjuna has rested from the duty of carrying the [[Golden Howdah]] and has been succeeded by [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/54-year-old-abhimanyu-to-carry-golden-howdah-this-dasara/article32585510.ece Abhimanyu.]<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kudpaje|first=Prasthik|date=5 September 2019|title=Retirement of Arjuna|work=Deccan Herald|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/state/60-may-be-retirement-age-for-arjuna-too-759367.html|url-status=live|access-date=20 October 2020}}</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[List of individual elephants]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Arjuna (Elephant)}}<br />
[[Category:Individual elephants]]<br />
[[Category:Culture of Mysore]]<br />
[[Category:Elephants in Indian culture]]</div>>Khaliwarriors