Nelly the holy elephant, Madurai Temple

Photographer: Kim Buckley and Richard Baxter
From: A hardening of the heart in the land of the economic miracle.

Nelly the holy elephant, Madurai Temple

Stationed at the East entrance to Sundaresvarar's shrine, she will bless you by forming a skull-cap on your head with the end of her trunk, but only if you cross her keeper's palm with silver.