Nadungamuwa Raja

Nadungamuwa Raja (Sinhala:නැදුන්ගමුව රාජා) is an Indian tusker born c. 1953 in Mysore and he is the current main casket bearer of the procession of Esala held in Kandy Sri Lanka. Nadungamuwe Raja is one of the tallest tuskers in Asia. Raja is one of the two elephant calves gifted by a Mysore Maharaja to the veteran native physician monk resided in Nilammahara Temple Piliyandala in appreciation of curing his relative's long lasted illness, other elephant being late Nawam Raja of Gangaramaya. In 1978 Nadungamuwa Raja was acquired from his second owner (Herbert Wickramasinghe (former MP - Bandaragama) by Dharmavijaya Veda Ralahamy of Nadungamuwa area, an eminent Ayurvedic physician of that time (father of the present owner Mr Harsha Dharmavijaya). Since then the elephant has been named after his residing village Nadungamuwa.

Nagungamua Raja saying good bye to his second owner. This picture was taken in 1978 at Herbert Wickramasingha's residence in Wawlugala Estate Horana
Nadungamuwa Raja
SpeciesIndian Elephant
SexMale
Bornc. 1953
Mysore State, India
Notable roleMain casket bearer of the procession of Esala
Years active2005-present
OwnerHarsha Dharmavijaya
Height10.3Feet

References
    • Miru (19 August 2012). "Nadungamuwa Raja,A Symbol of Majesty". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
    • Madurapperuma, Ajith (15 July 2012). "අටවැනි වරටත් දළදා කරඬුව වැඩම කරවන නැදුන්ගමුවේ රාජා". Lankadeepa (in Sinhala). Retrieved 12 February 2014.
    • Wenasa. "Nadungamuwa Raja (Dev Pura Athun)" (in Sinhala). ITN. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
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