The Temple with a Crocodile Guard

This mighty Vishnu temple is guarded by a crocodile day-in and day-out!

Ananthapura Lake Temple in Kasaragod is the only lake temple in Kerala which is known for the legend that a divine crocodile named 'Babia' guards the temple, and when one crocodile dies, another one appears in the lake mysteriously! 

The crocodile that guards the temple is believed to be living here in the pond for over 60 years. After worshipping the deity, the ‘prasad’ by the devotees is given to Babia who eats it only when offered by the temple’s management team. Babia is fed like an elephant by putting food in its mouth. This crocodile is believed to be vegetarian and does not harm anyone, not even other species in the pond.

It is said that in 1945, a British soldier had shot dead the crocodile. The soldier died within a few days by a snake-bite. People believe it to be a revenge by the serpent God Anantha. Soon, another crocodile appeared in the tank and even now, if one is fortunate, one can see it.

“We have a strong belief that this crocodile is a messenger of God and always alerts us when there is any unusual thing about to happen in and around the temple premises,” says Ramachandra Bhatt, a trustee of the temple

The presiding deity, Lord Ananthapadmanabha, is seated on the serpent God Adisesha. Local belief is that the Lord had settled down here originally.

About the temple

The temple is dedicated to Lord Ananthapadmanabha Swamy (Lord Vishnu) and is surrounded by a lake that is 2-acres large and gives a beautiful view of the landscape all around it.
The original idols are of a unique mixture of more than 70 medicinal materials called ‘Kadu-Sharkara-Yogam.’ These idols were replaced by Panchaloha metals in the year 1972. Efforts are now being made to replace them with idols made with ‘Kadu-Sharkara-Yogam.’

The temple’s walls are surrounded by paintings and there is a cave that opens to a water tank where water level remains constant regardless of climatic changes.