23/10/2020
A temple in Kerala has a 'vegetarian' crocodile who eats the same food served to the deity.
A 'vegetarian' crocodile named Babiya guards a temple in Kerala. He is said to be friendly enough to share the pond with the priests who sometimes take a dip there.
Can a crocodile survive without meat? Do such crocodiles exit? Yes, this may sound bizarre, but there's one crocodile, that doesn't consume meat at all. It is incredible but true. And if you are lucky enough, you may even get a chance to see her. A sacred pond within the premises of a temple complex in a village called Ananthapura in the Kasargod district of Kerala is home to Babiya, the crocodile. This temple is of great significance because it is believed to be the principal seat of the Ananthapadmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram.
So, what does Babiya eat if not meat? According to the locals and the priests, Babiya consumes the food offered to the deity. Interestingly, the locals believe that Babiya doesn't even eat fish from the pond. She follows a vegetarian diet consisting of cooked rice and jaggery and has been living there for over 70 years. Babiya resides in a cave adjacent to the pond and on hearing her name, she would swim across to have her meal at noon.
Interestingly, Babiya guards the temple and is unlike ordinary crocodiles. The reptile is friendly enough to share the pond with the priests who sometimes take a dip in its holy water. So, it establishes the fact that people don't fear the presence of a crocodile that's usually considered deadly. Babiya often visits another pond near the temple complex and returns after spending some time there.
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