Kasaragod : A star attraction at Ananthapadmanabhan temple in Kumbla, the temple lake crocodile over 70 years died 10 pm Sunday night. The shrine is Kerala’s only lake temple where, Babiya grew up feeding on only vegetarian food, major of which came in form of ‘nivedium’ or. food consecrated to the deity. Babiya was accorded a ritualistic cremation, the rites of which was performed by the temple’s head priest.
Ananthapuram temple is believed to be core centre(moolasthanum) of Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple. Folklore has it that, a British soldier shot dead the sole crocodile residing in the temple’s lake in 1945 and that Babia appeared in the pond within days in its place. Thousands visit the temple each year, just to be able to catch a glimpse of sacred Babiya.
