Mumbai’s New Symbol of Compassion, Hema Malini and PETA India Gift 800-kg Mechanical Elephant ‘Gajendra’ to ISKCON Kharghar

In a rare blend of tradition, innovation, and compassion, Navi Mumbai witnessed a unique spiritual milestone this weekend. Actor and Member of Parliament Hema Malini, in collaboration with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, gifted a three-metre-tall mechanical elephant named ‘Gajendra’ to the ISKCON Kharghar temple, symbolizing a humane shift in how rituals can honour faith without harming animals.

The gift recognizes the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)’s commitment to ahimsa, or non-violence, by pledging never to use live elephants in religious ceremonies. Weighing nearly 800 kilograms and crafted with mechanical precision, Gajendra represents not just a marvel of technology, but a statement of evolving spirituality, one where devotion meets empathy, and worship coexists with welfare.
 

Celebrating Ahimsa and Devotion

The unveiling of Gajendra was held at the Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohanji Mandir in Kharghar, attended by dignitaries, devotees, and community leaders. ISKCON Kharghar President Sura Das and Hema Malini jointly inaugurated the mechanical elephant amidst chants, music, and traditional kirtan, celebrating the union of technology and faith.

Sura Das remarked, “In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna teaches us to see all living beings with equal vision. Protecting animals dear to Lord Krishna and Lord Ganesha is our dharma. A mechanical elephant allows us to honour tradition while upholding ahimsa. By embracing this innovation, we align with Krishna’s teachings of love, devotion, and compassion for all creatures.”

This sentiment captures a profound truth of modern worship, that the spirit of a ritual lies not in the act itself, but in its intention. ISKCON’s example demonstrates how India’s temples can preserve sanctity while reimagining customs for a more ethical age.
 

Hema Malini’s Message of Compassionate Tradition

Hema Malini, a long-time devotee of Lord Krishna and an ISKCON life member, spoke passionately about her motivation. “As an animal lover, I am honoured to join PETA India in gifting ISKCON Kharghar a mechanical elephant. This modern approach allows us to continue age-old traditions while ensuring real elephants remain in the jungles with their families, as God intended.”

Her words echoed a broader spiritual awakening, one that recognizes that true devotion cannot be separated from compassion. Malini’s initiative builds on her years of advocacy for ethical practices in arts, culture, and public life. It also aligns with PETA India’s mission to end animal cruelty by offering sustainable, non-violent alternatives that respect both faith and life.

Leaders Applaud the Initiative

The event drew widespread appreciation from political and community leaders alike. Panvel MLA Prashant Thakur called it “a proud moment for Navi Mumbai,” adding that “Asia’s second-largest ISKCON temple is setting a global example by combining tradition with modernity and compassion. This reflects Maharashtra’s progressive spirit and India’s timeless values of empathy.”

Belapur MLA Manda Vijay Mhatre also lauded the gesture, emphasizing that it showcases how spiritual institutions can preserve sacred rituals while demonstrating kindness toward all beings. Such endorsements indicate a shift in how leadership views cultural responsibility, not as a static inheritance, but as a living philosophy that evolves with time.

Gajendra’s Design, A Blend of Art and Engineering

The newly gifted mechanical elephant, Gajendra, was unveiled during a devotional ceremony featuring music, prayer, and dance. Built from rubber, fiber, mesh, foam, steel, and electric motors, Gajendra can mimic the movements of a real elephant, shaking its head, flapping ears, blinking eyes, moving its trunk, and even spraying water. Mounted on wheels and powered by electricity, it can participate in temple processions and ceremonial activities without causing harm or distress to living creatures.

According to PETA India, these life-sized mechanical elephants are designed not only for symbolic beauty but also for practical use in temple festivals, offering a cruelty-free way to uphold visual and cultural traditions.
 

PETA India’s Continued Efforts for Elephant Welfare
 

Sachin Bangera, PETA India’s Vice President of Celebrity and Public Relations and an ISKCON life patron, underscored the spiritual significance of the move. “Hinduism teaches us compassion for animals. Mechanical elephant Gajendra is an expression of our values of ahimsa and reverence for all life,” he said.

Since 2023, PETA India has been at the forefront of encouraging temples across India to replace live elephants with mechanical or symbolic replicas. Today, at least 20 temples across the country have adopted such models, with 14 of them directly supported by PETA. These institutions have pledged to reject the ownership or hiring of captive elephants, marking a powerful step toward ending animal exploitation in the name of devotion.

Addressing Cruelty to Captive Elephants

Behind this compassionate innovation lies a pressing humanitarian concern. According to PETA India, elephants used in temple processions are often captured from the wild, separated from their herds, and subjected to prolonged confinement. Over the years, many have shown signs of psychological trauma and aggression due to the cruelty of captivity.

Reports indicate that in 2024 alone, 14 incidents occurred across India where captive elephants harmed or killed their handlers. In the early months of 2025, six people were killed and several others injured in Kerala alone. Figures from the Heritage Animal Task Force reveal that captive elephants killed 526 people in Kerala over 15 years.

Such statistics reveal not only the ethical cost of captivity but also the safety risks it poses to humans. Elephants, being intelligent and emotionally complex creatures, suffer deeply when chained, beaten, or isolated, a suffering that sometimes erupts in violence. The use of mechanical alternatives, therefore, protects both human and animal life.

Compassion as the Future of Faith

The gifting of Gajendra is more than a symbolic act; it’s a blueprint for the future of religious expression in India. It demonstrates that reverence for life and reverence for tradition can walk together. ISKCON Kharghar’s decision embodies the true essence of dharma, where ethics and devotion complement each other rather than compete.

In embracing innovation guided by compassion, the temple has transformed an age-old ritual into a message of global relevance, that modern spirituality is not about rejecting tradition but refining it.

As Gajendra now takes his place in processions, flapping his mechanical ears and moving gracefully through the temple courtyard, he carries more than the spirit of ceremony. He carries the hope that faith, when infused with empathy, can light the path toward a more conscious and compassionate world.