‘Vegetarian’ crocodile of Kerala temple dies

KOZHIKODE: Babiya, the famous ‘vegetarian’ crocodile that has been living in the temple pond around the Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swamy Temple at Ananthapura in Kasaragod, Kerala, for over seven decades, has died. Sources said that the crocodile was suffering from age-related illness.
As per temple officials, Babiya was found dead at 11pm in the pond on Sunday. A veterinary doctor came to the temple on Monday morning and examined it.
Temple authorities had been considering Babiya as a ‘divine crocodile’ and ‘Muthalakku Naivedyam’ (offering to the crocodile) made primarily of boiled rice is one of the main offerings of the temple. They claim that Babiya was fully vegetarian and lived mainly on the temple’s offerings. Authorities also said Babiya was given ‘Naivedyam’ twice a day by the priest and though there are a lot of fish and turtles in the pond, it didn’t consume them.
Hundreds of people, including people’s representatives, paid their tributes when the Babiya was kept on public display inside a freezer. Wreaths and floral tributes were placed on the crocodile.
Lakshmana Hebbar P, the temple manager, said 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 4pm. The crocodile was given a ‘samadhi’ on temple land outside the temple walls,” Hebbar said.
Temple authorities also said the crocodile has been buried in a spot that would enable the possible construction of a memorial in future.
Hebbar said the veterinary doctor who examined the dead crocodile said that it could have been around 80 years old. Though no one knows how Babiya made its way to the pond, temple officials say it has been around from the 1940s onwards.
Hebbar also said that the temple’s ‘Muthalakku Nivedyam’ offering will be discontinued following the death of Babiya.