Ananthapura
Ananthapura Lake Temple Anantha Padmanabha Swamy is a Vishnu mandir, at Northern Kerala, linked with Trivandrum Padmanabha Kshetram. A great shrine on a lake with scenic views of Western Ghats. The temple has a vegetarian crocodile. Ananthapura has history, architecture, religion & beliefs. The site is at a lake, close to Kumbla, Kasargod of Kerala.
Ananthapura Lake Temple is for Maha Vishnu. He is equivalent to Sri Padmanabha Temple of Trivandrum. The lord is seen rested on his serpent bed in sleeping position. Hanuman, Garuda along with Vijaya and Jaya are seen in the central shine. Also, Ganapathy, Krishna, Ullakulu & Mahisha Mardhini are worshipped here. This is a great place for the Vishnav sect of Hinduism. But other sects of Hindus too worship here. A cave is there with perennial sacred water. The daily rituals are performed here from early morning 05:30 AM to 07:30 PM.
The temple feeds a crocodile. Priests prepare Babiya Naivedya – offering of a vegetarian meal daily at 7:30 AM & 12:00 PM in the afternoon. Babiya has not harmed any one so far and never eats the fishes found in the lake. This temple has restriction like men’s can not wear dark colored dhoti and must come to this temple with bare chest, either without shirt and T shirts.
Ananthapura Lake Temple has connection to Sri Padmanabha kshetram of Trivandrum through a cave . It is said that the god came in a child’s form and went in to this cave with a brightness surrounded by him. This was seen by a priest and followed this cave and reached the Ananthapura. Since then this lake temple is believed to be the Moola Sthana of Lord Maha Vishnu.