On Monday, desolate devotees flocked Ananthapura Anantha Padmanabha Swami temple at Kumbla, in Kasaragod to pay their last respects to their dearest Babiya, a mugger crocodile which ate only vegetarian food.
Babiya was found dead around 2200 hrs on Sunday in the lake in front of 'Arikkottil', the place where the 'nivedyam' is prepared.
For many decades, the presence of the crocodile, which eats only vegetarian food given by the devotees and temple officials, in the lake near the temple had attracted devotees from other parts of Kerala and Karnataka. Babiya could also be seen in the small pond on the northern side of the temple at times.
The legend is that a British soldier killed a crocodile in the temple pond in 1945. The night the crocodile was shot dead, Babiya appeared in the pond. Its mysterious appearance made the devotees believe Babiya had divine presence.
Normally, Babiya would eat only the 'nivedyam' from the temple. The temple is surrounded by a lake and Babiya was seen in this lake. It is said that whenever the chief priest closed the temple in the night, Babiya would come out of the lake and rest in front of the temple. When the chief priest came in the morning, it would go back to the water again. At times, it would also go to the pond near the temple.
Tailpiece.
Got up at a half past 6, the chores and was ready by 10.
Lekha had gone across to the ration stand to fetch the monthly dues and returned after about half an hour.
Our maid reported rather late that she has had a fall and would not be able to report for work. Washing machinex was resorted to, consequently.
A quiet evening, thereafter.
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