Famed ‘vegetarian’ crocodile Babita. Who has been living in the temple pond. Which is around the Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swamy Temple. At Ananthapura in Kasaragod for over seven decades has died. Sources said the crocodile was suffering from age-related illness.
According to temple officials, Babiya found dead at 11 pm in the pond on Sunday night. A veterinary doctor came to the temple on Monday morning and examined the dead crocodile.
Temple authorities had been considering Babiya as a ‘divine crocodile. They claim that Babiya was vegetarian and lived mainly on the temple’s offerings.
The temple authorities added that. Babiya used to given ‘Naivedyam’ twice a day by the priest and thought. There are a lot of fish and turtles in the pond, but it didn’t consume them.
Hundreds of people, including people’s representatives, paid their tributes. When the dead crocodile kept on public display inside a freezer. Wreaths and floral tributes placed on the crocodile.
Lakshmana Hebbar P, manager of the temple. Said that the last rites of the crocodile were done as per Hindu customs and tantric rituals around 12 noon. Chanting of Sahasranama was held during the rituals.
The temple remained closed and routine poojas were suspended till 4 pm on account of the funeral. The crocodile given a ‘samadhi’ on temple land outside the temple walls. At least a thousand people came to pay their tributes,” Hebbar said.
The divine crocodile lived in the temple’s lake for over 70 years. By eating the rice & jaggery prasadam of Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swamy & guarded the temple. State BJP president K Surendran also paid tribute to Babiya in a Facebook post.
