In a small temple town there lived a big grey elephant named Gajju. Gajju belonged to the ancient riverside temple and was loved by everyone. Every morning, he would help the priest carry flowers, gently ringing the bell with his trunk as the sun rose.

But Gajju had one special weakness—Ladoo, whether they were made of besan, rava, or coconut, he could smell them from far away.
When the sweet scent drifted from the kitchen lanes, Gajju’s ears would flap like banana leaves.

One evening, the temple cooks, Radha, prepared a big plate of golden ladoo for the festival. She left them to cool near the window while she went to fetch ghee. Gajju, standing nearby, caught the aroma. His eyes sparkled.

He tiptoed well, as much as an elephant can tiptoe towards the kitchen. With the tip of his trunk, he gently lifted one ladoo… then another… and another. By the time Radha returned, half the plate was empty!

The next morning, the priest noticed Gajju looking a little guilty, his trunk swaying low.
“Gajju,” he said softly, “did you eat the ladoos meant for the festival?”

Gajju trumpeted a small, sheepish sound. The priest chuckled. “You love ladoos, don’t you? But these sweets are for everyone. If you ask, we will happily give you some.”

That evening, during the festival, Radha made an extra batch. When the prayers ended, she held out a large, warm ladoo just for Gajju. The elephant lifted it carefully and raised his trunk in a happy salute.

From that day on, it became a custom: At every festival, after offering sweets to the deity, the first ladoo was given to Gajju. The children of Sringeri loved to watch him curl his trunk around the golden treat and close his eyes in delight.

Moral:
Good things taste even sweeter when they are shared, and asking politely is always better than taking in