El elefante sagrado de Sri Lanka

Nadungamuwa Vijaya Raja tenía 68 años. Murió esta semana y el Estado realizó un funeral en su honor. Fue declarado “tesoro nacional”.

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El animal era el encargado de llevar el ataúd que contenía la reliquia del diente sagrado de Buda durante la procesión anual de Esala, un importante desfile religioso.

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Nació en la ciudad india de Mysore en 1953 y era considerado el elefante domesticado más grande de Asia.

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Según el folclore, Raja fue uno de los dos elefantes que el rey de Mysore regaló a un monje médico de Sri Lanka por curar a un pariente.

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Con pocos años de vida, fue elegido para conformar el grupo de elefantes de élite que llevaban reliquias budistas sagradas durante un desfile anual en Sri Lanka.

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Cuando Raja viajaba tenía su propio destacamento de seguridad. Se desplegaba una unidad militar cuando realizaba su caminata anual de 90 kilómetros desde su residencia hasta Kandy.

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Según anunciaron las autoridades de ese país, su cuerpo será disecado y preservados para “ser venerado por generaciones futuras”.

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Cientos de ciudadanos viajaron para despedirlo en su residencia en las afueras de Colombo, que estaba cubierto con un sudario blanco y adornado con flores.

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