Ananthapura Lake Temple in Kasargod in Kerala is the only
lake temple in Kerala and it is equally famous for a crocodile in the temple
pond. The temple is located in the middle of a pond and the sanctum sanctorum
of temple is reachable only by a bridge. The crocodile named ‘Babia’ lives in
the pond. Babiya, a revered presence at the temple for 75 years, passed away on
October 9, 2022. The cremation of Babiya was conducted with the
customary temple rituals. Now, after 13 months, a robust crocodile has
made its presence known (November 2023).
There is only a single crocodile in the lake. Elders in the region state that it is the third crocodile in the temple pond.
There is only a single crocodile in the lake. Elders in the region state that it is the third crocodile in the temple pond.
When one crocodile dies, another one appears magically in the
lake.
There is no river or pond nearby where there is a crocodile
population.
How the crocodile came to the pond? From where the new one appears,
remains a mystery.
The crocodile survives on the rice provided by the temple.
It is harmless to human beings.
Ananthapura Lake Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is the
moolasthanam (original abode) of Ananthapadmanabha, the deity of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram.
The pond is also home to several species of fishes and water
birds.
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