In the heartland of Travancore, there exists a tale of antiquity. It unfolds in a land known as Pandalam, situated in the midlands of Kerala, where the sacred temple of Mahadeva stands.
This is a story of two Arabs who arrived there with four majestic elephants during the waning light of a day long past.
These two Arabs had ventured to the temple of Mahadeva with their quartet of elephants. However, as dusk descended upon the land, they resolved to return after their brief sojourn. Among these elephants were two robust adults and two tender calves.
The temple had long desired an elephant, and the villagers of Pandalam seized this opportunity to acquire one.
Yet, funds were scarce, and they could only afford the weakest of the calves, one born with an ailment in its foot. This ailing calf was bestowed upon the Mahadeva temple, and it was christened Neelakandan, an epithet of Mahadeva himself.
With tender care and nurturing from the temple workers, Neelakandan's health flourished. Under the expert tutelage of Unnithan, the head of the Urayamkars; a dedicated group intricately tied to the temple, Neelakandan received rigorous training. Upon completion, he was offered the temple's divine offerings, including Trimadhuram and Payasam. His meals consisted of dried rice and stew, specially prepared for him.
In due course, two men named Madhavan and Govindan assumed the role of Neelakandan's trainers. During this time, Neelakandan had also shouldered the responsibilities of the Mahadeva Temple, undertaking tasks like idol lifting (ezhunnellippu) and shiveli with remarkable precision.