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A “divine” and “vegetarian” previous crocodile who lived in a lake close to a Hindu temple within the state of Kerala, in southern India, was given a spiritual funeral. Discovered lifeless on Monday, he was mourned by tons of of individuals earlier than being buried.

The venerable animal, named Babia, was discovered lifeless floating on the floor of the lake earlier Monday. The animal has been thought of the guardian of the Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swamy temple in Kasaragod for practically 80 years, temple secretary Ramachandran Bhat instructed AFP.

Lots of of worshipers attended Babia’s funeral.

The temple, devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu, is 3,000 years previous, Mr Bhat stated, saying a earlier “divine” crocodile had lived alone within the temple lake for a number of centuries.

“The final divine crocodile was shot by the British military in 1940 and after that Babia appeared within the lake,” Bhat continued, including that temple officers and devotees anticipated a one other crocodile seems at any time.

Fortunate attraction

“We do not know the place it got here from, however the lake is linked to underground caves,” Bhat stated.

Babia would by no means have attacked any animal or human being, not even bitten one of many youngsters who got here to the touch him to convey them luck.

Many consider him to be “vegetarian”, being fed “Prasadam”, an providing comprised of rice and palm sugar, blessed by temple monks. On this regard, Mr. Bhat stated he was skeptical understanding that “there are fish within the lake”.

Minister’s tribute

The physique of the sacred animal was adorned with flowers and blessed earlier than being carried on a litter of coconut leaves, among the many weeping crowd, after which buried throughout the temple grounds.

India’s Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shobha Karandlaje, paid tribute on Twitter to the “crocodile of God”.

“The divine crocodile lived within the lake of the temple for over 70 years consuming the rice and sugar from Prasadam of Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swamy and watched over the temple,” she clarified in her tweet.

This text has been printed robotically. Sources: ats / afp