KOCHI, March 19 -- Next time when devotees throng the Thrikkayil Mahadeva Temple at Kochi, they will be blessed by Mahadevan, an elephant resplendent in his golden Nettippattam and other paraphernalia like Aalavattam, Venchamaram and of course the coloured umbrella. As the devotees chant the panchakshara sloka "Nama Shivaya" and "Shivashtakam", Mahadevan, standing three meters tall and weighing 800 kg would clap his ears and wag his tail. He will also bless the devotees by placing his trunk on their heads. The pilgrims can rest assured that Mahadevan would not do anything to upset them.

So what makes Mahadevan different from elephants in other temples? He is a mechanical elephant and a peace loving one. "There will not be any threat to t...