Elephants in Kerala Culture - Caring For Elephants

Caring For Elephants

Each elephant has three mahouts, called pappan in the Malayalam language. The most important duty of the mahouts is to bathe and massage the elephant with small rocks, and the husk of coconuts. In the monsoon season, the elephants undergo Ayurvedic rejuvenation treatments which include decoctions with herbs, etc. It is called Sukha Chikitsa in the Malayalam language. Mahouts may be classified into three types, called in the Sanskrit language:

  • Reghawan: Those who use love to control their elephants.
  • Yukthiman: Those who use ingenuity to outsmart them.
  • Balwan: Those who control elephants with cruelty.

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