Kochi: Kerala's 'Vegetarian' crocodile Babia passed away on Monday (October 10) at Sri Anandapadmanabha Swamy Temple in Kasaragod. This crocodile was the main attraction for the devotees visiting the temple for 75 years. According to the temple priests, the 'divine' crocodile spent most of its time inside the cave and came out in the afternoon. 

According to a religious belief, the crocodile Babia used to protect the cave in which the god had disappeared. The temple management has told that Babia used to eat only the Prasad of the temple served twice a day. That's why it used to be called a vegetarian crocodile. Actually, it is believed that centuries ago a Mahatma used to do penance in this Sri Anandapadmanabha Swamy temple. During this, Lord Krishna came in the form of a child and started troubling the Mahatma with his mischief. Angered by this, the ascetic pushed him into the pond located in the temple premises. But when the sage realized the mistake, he looked for that child in the pond, but no one was there in the water and a cave-like crack was seen. It is believed that God had disappeared from the same cave. After some time a crocodile started coming out of the same cave.  

The crocodile did not eat fish and other aquatic creatures even after living in the Babia pond. Twice a day he used to go out to see the Lord and eat 'prasad' of rice and jaggery to be distributed among the devotees. Babia never did any harm to any human being or any other animal and he used to eat fruits etc. given by the devotees coming to the temple in peace. Then as soon as the priest indicated, he used to go and sit in the cave-like crevices located in the pond. 

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