Dakshina Kannada – Award-winning actor Raveena Tandon and her daughter and actor Rasha Thadani, along with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India (PETA India), have donated a life-size mechanical elephant, Airavata, to Karnataka’s Thousand Pillars Jain Temple in recognition of the temple’s decision never to own or hire live elephants.
The temple is located at Swasthi Sri Bhattaraka Bhavana in Moodabidri.
On the auspicious occasion of Moodbidri Swamiji Pattabhisheka’s Silver Jubilee year on August 29, Airavata was welcomed to the temple through an inauguration ceremony, followed by a Mangala Vadhyam performance.
The Thousand Pillars Jain Temple becomes the first Jain temple in the world to have this technology. Airavata will be used to conduct ceremonies at the temple safely and cruelty-free, helping real elephants stay with their families in the jungle.
Actor Raveena Tandon said, “I feel truly blessed to be part of this sacred transformation. Elephants have always held a special place in my heart, and offering Airavata, a mechanical elephant, to the Jain temple is my humble way to honour timeless traditions while keeping elephant families together.”
Rasha Thadani stated, “It fills me with peace to know that we can uphold our culture without separating mother elephants from calves. I pray that Airavata inspires many to walk the path of kindness. After all, compassion is the purest form of religious observance.”
Celebrating the visionary initiative by PETA India to equip temples in Karnataka with mechanical elephants, the chief Swamiji of Thousand Pillars Jain Temple, Swasthi Sri Dr Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Pattacharya Panditacharyavarya Maha Swamiji of Sri Digambar Jainmath Moodbidri, says, “Welcoming Airavata into this sacred space fills my heart with immense happiness. We are reminded of Parasparopagraho Jivanam, the beautiful Jain principle that all life is interconnected and nourished through mutual care.”
The Swamiji added, “This offering brings together the soul of our tradition and the spirit of compassion. I hope Airavata touches every devotee’s heart, inspires a deeper journey towards kindness, humility, and spiritual awakening, and gently leads us all on that radiant path of ahimsa and harmony.”
Elephants are highly intelligent, social, and active animals. Yet, in captivity, they’re often subjected to cruel training methods involving beatings, weapons, and force. Those used for entertainment are frequently torn away from their families and natural environments, enduring harsh training and being controlled with ankuses—heavy batons with sharp steel points that inflict fear and pain.
Many captive elephants, especially those in temples, suffer from severe foot and leg injuries as they are shackled for long hours in concrete sheds with stone floors. They are often denied proper food, water, and veterinary care, and are unable to live a natural life.
Such horrific conditions can cause intense frustration in elephants, leading them to lash out and, in some cases, kill their handlers or other people and animals.
In 2025, at least twenty captive elephants in Kerala became agitated, killing six people on separate occasions and injuring several others.
Furthermore, in 2024, at least fourteen incidents were reported across India where captive elephants harmed or killed their handlers or other people. More recently, elephants also ran amok during the Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad.
In early 2023, PETA India initiated a campaign to replace live elephants in temples. This movement has since led to at least twenty mechanical elephants now being used in temples throughout South India.
To honour temples’ decisions to stop owning or hiring live elephants, PETA India has donated twelve such mechanical elephants.
Recently, another mechanical elephant was donated to a temple in Tamil Nadu by actor Trisha Krishnan and People for Cattle in India (PFCI). The mechanical elephants are now used to conduct ceremonies at their temples in a safe and cruelty-free manner, helping real elephants stay with their families in the jungle.
The mechanical elephants are 3 meters tall and weigh 800 kilograms. They are made with rubber, fibre, metal, mesh, foam, and steel and run on five motors. A mechanical elephant looks, feels, and can be used like a real elephant. It can shake its head, move its ears and eyes, swish its tail, lift its trunk, and even spray water.
They can be climbed upon, and a seat can be affixed on the back. They can be operated simply by plugging in and playing with electricity.
Mounted on a wheelbase, these mechanical elephants can be moved and pushed around for rituals and processions.
The Thousand Pillars Temple is the most prominent of the 18 jain temples in Moodabidri, Karnataka, often called the ‘Jain Kashi’ of South India.
Dedicated to Tirthankara Chandranatha, this 15th-century architectural marvel is famed for its thousand intricately carved pillars.
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Built in 1430 CE by local ruler Devaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire, and later renovated in 1962, the temple features three levels, seven mantapas, and a majestic 50-foot monolithic pillar (Mahasthambha).
The sanctum houses an 8-foot idol of Chandranatha Swamy, crafted from five sacred metals (panchaloha), making it a revered centre of Jain pilgrimage and heritage.
