LORD SIVA OF ETTAMANUR

It is on this occasion alone the Ezhra Ponnanai - the seven and a half gold elephant darsan is made available. The golden elephants numbering seven and a half weighing exactly 210 lbs each were donated to the Anzham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, ruler of Tranvancore as an act of atonement for destroying the temple property during his military campaign. 

Each of the seven is two feet high and the last is one foot only. Hence the name Ezhara Ponnanai, and they are acting as the guardians at the eight points. The oddity of making seven and a half became expedient on account of the tradition followed in the temple. 

If eight full elephants were to be made, they would go to Ettonnesseri Illom - the groups of priests. So only seven and a half an elephant was made to endow them to the temple. The temple when compared with many others is very rich in owning many costly jewels, worth some crores.

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