Unsolved Mystery Of Divine Vegetarian Crocodile - మాంసం ముట్టని మొసలి ఎక్కడుందో మీకు తెలుసా? - With Subtitles
Vegetarian Crocodile Who Guards A Temple...
Ananthapura Lake Temple, Kerala - A beautiful lake temple with a crocodile guardian
1. About 40 kms away from Mangalore and 15 kms away from Kasargod in a peaceful place called Kumbla, lies Anathapura, Kerala’s only lake temple. The temple nestles serenely amidst the abundant beauty of nature with a rectangular lake surrounding it on all sides.Built in the 9th century, the Ananthapura Temple is said to be the original abode of Anandapadmanabha, the deity of Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple, Thiruvananthapuram.
2. The Legend about the temple associates it with the great mystic and devotee of Lord Vishnu, Sree Vilvamangalathu Swami, who dominates the ancient spiritual lake of Kerala. In fact, his fame for extends the borders of Kerala. In Bengal he is popular as Bilvamgala. A legend associated with Vilvamangalathu Swami describes the temple as the Moolasthanam of Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple of Thiruvananthapuram.
3.While Sage Vilvamangalthu Swami was doing penance in the holy spot, Lord Krishna used to visit him disguised as a mischivous little boy. One day he did some pranks on him while the swamigal doing his pooja. Swamigal, at his wits end, admonished the child and pushed him with his back hand. The Lord, transformed into a ball of divine aura hastened through the cave. A divne voice echoed “Now if you want to see me, come to Ananthankadu”. Then only Vilvamangalathu Swami realised that the boy was none other than his own lord.
4. It is said that the sage also ran into the cave and going through the passage that formed there he reached the Seashore and from there travelled southwords in search of Ananthankadu, At last the sage reached a place which is the present location of Thiruvanathapuram, the capital of Kerala, where he had the splendrons vision of Lord Vishnu. It was at this holy spot Eventually Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple of Thiruvanathapuram came up.
5. On the north-East corner of the lake there is still a big cave with a small pit with a parennial presence of water in it, Which is considered as a sacred Theertham. It is beleivered to be the cave where boy Krishna disappeared.
6. The seven original idols found in the temple are made of neither metal nor stone, but of a combination of about 108 materials collected from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and are called Kadusharkara yogam.The walls of the temple are adorned with spectacular murals and one of its unique features is a 16th century epigraph with engravings in the Tulu script. A very old fort named Sarpakattu, which means even a serpent cannot climb it, surrounds the temple. Tourists and worshippers frequent this place and usually choose to stay in the Devaragudde Palace nearby.
7.Babia - The Guardian Crocodile
What is perhaps most unique about this temple is the presence of Babia, a pure vegetarian human-friendly male crocodile who lives in the cave and lake waters. In fact it is believed to have existed there for many years and is revered as the guardian and messenger of the temple. The legend goes that there is only one crocodile in the lake at a time. When one crocodile dies, another one appears in the lake.
In actual fact, the temple authorities told that there were two crocodiles living here. One crocodile was killed by the British when this temple was attacked. At present there is only one crocodile, Babia, and Babia is believed to be 76 years old.
The temple officials feed it a gruel made of rice and jaggery, which is actually the prasadam offered by the devotees. Babia religiously sticks to his lunch timings and is there at exactly 1:30 in the afternoon to have his lunch. He does not seem to mind that he is not offered any dinner. Strangely, he seems to be completely satisfied with his vegetarian diet and does not harm anyone not even the fish in the lake.
No comments: