A vegetarian crocodile, Babiya, that live for over 70 years in the Anantapura temple in Kerala's Kasargod died. The reptile is known as a vegetarian crocodile as it ate only prasadam at Ananthapadmanabha Swamy temple.
Babiya, 75 years was the main attraction of the devotees, who went to the temple to catch a glimpse of the crocodile. According to the temple priests, the 'divine' crocodile spent most of her time inside the cave and comes out in the afternoon. As per the belief, she guards the cave into which the Lord disappeared. As per the temple, she lives only on the temple offerings served to her twice a day.
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After Babiya's death, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje tweeted, "Babiya, the god's own crocodile of Sri Anantapura Lake temple has reached Vishnu Padam. The divine crocodile lived in the temple's lake for over 70years by eating the rice & jaggery prasadam of Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swamy & guarded the temple. May she attain Sadgati, Om Shanti!"
The reptile was never known to have turned violent or harmed any of the devotees, who reached the temple to offer prayers, said an Indian Express report. It was reported that two years ago the crocodile entered the temple's sanctum sanctorum.
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