India is all about amazing stories! Apart from historical monuments which makes a place interesting, there are many other miraculous stories which makes India a truly incredible country. Once such story is of Babiya, a crocodile who guards the famous Ananthapura Lake Temple in Kerala.

Image Credit: realbharat.org

Legend has it that, Babiya is a local guardian of the temple. Babiya only eats the temple prasad which is made of rice and jaggery and does not harm anyone, including the fish in the lake. The crocodile is believed to be vegetarian and is guarding the temple for more than 60 years! A trustee of the temple has said that Babiya is a total vegetarian and is fed daily after the noon worship conducted at the temple, it is given the prasads offered by the devotees and they feed her like an elephant by putting the prasad in its mouth.

Youtube Title : Ananthapura temple guarded by vegetarian crocodile

Another legend narrates a different story about Babiya’s existence. Once Sree Vilvamangalathu Swami, devotee of Lord Vishnu, was doing penance for his favourite lord. While he was in his prayers, Lord Krishna in the form of a little boy appeared and started irritating him. Being annoyed by the behaviour of the child, the saint pushed Krishna aside. The boy immediately disappeared into a nearby cave and then the truth was dawned on the saint. The crevice into which Krishna is said to have disappeared still exists in the temple. The crocodile quietly guards the entrance and the shrine.

Youtube Title : Babiya/Babia - The Veg Crocodile

Another story suggests that in 1945, a British soldier shot dead the crocodile. Later, the soldier died within few days with snakebite. People believed that it was a curse of serpent god Anantha. However, later another crocodile appeared in the lake. It is said that, if one crocodile dies, then another one appears in the lake.

It is also said that if you’re fortunate, only then you can spot Babiya swimming in the lake water! Indeed an intriguing temple, right?