Ananthapadmanabha swamy lake temple, Kumbla, Kasargod

Continuing our pilgrimage in Kasargod, today let us go to Ananthapadmanabha swamy temple, in Kumbla, which is in Kasargod. This beautiful temple that stands in the middle of a lake has many unique and interesting features and legends.

I doubt very much if there is public transport till the temple, because I did not spot any when I visited. Devotees will likely have to make their own arrangements. The temple is located in the midst of plenty of empty land. There are taps outside the compound where devotees can wash their hands and feet. 

The path to the main entrance

We enter the main gates and have a bit of a walk down the path. To the left is a small kiosk where you can buy tokens for offerings. To the right is the devaswam office. Slightly off right ahead is a shrine to Lord Ganesha. We pay our respects to him, and walk down a few steps to the small island-like temple. 

Before taking the steps down to the temple

It is believed that Lord Padmanabhaswamy in Trivandrum originally came from this very temple in Kumbla. Vilvamangalam Swamiyar, the saint devotee of Lord Krishna had the good fortune of seeing the Lord as a small boy. One day, the little Krishna disturbed Swamiyar during his prayers. Annoyed at this, Swamiyar pushed the child with the back of his hand, which is considered inauspicious. The child, hurt and angered by this, walked away in a huff. It is said that he took the small tunnel adjacent to the temple. Swamiyar realised his folly, and followed the child through the tunnel.

He eventually found the Lord in Ananthankadu, modern day Trivandrum, as a murthy reclining upon Sesha Naga, his serpent. Vilvamangalam Swamiyar consecrated the Lord and established the temple. The temple priest points out to us the tunnel, called Bhoomangala, through which the Lord made his journey to Trivandrum. 

The temple also boasts of a crocodile! While conventional temples have elephants and cows, the Ananthapadmanabha swamy temple in Kumbla has a resident crocodile, named Babiya, who is a pure vegetarian! The priest tells us that she is not domesticated, but she does not harm any of the devotees. She eats only the rice prasadam from the temple, and lives in the lake that surrounds the temple. They don’t know where the crocodile comes from, he says. When the croc passes away, another comes to take her place. All the crocodiles have been named Babiya.  

The temple has a small sanctum, with a bridge that leads devotees to the nada. The Lord is in a seated position, unlike in Trivandrum (where he is lying down). He is sitting on Sesha Naga, the serpent. The murthy is interestingly made not of wood or stone, but of grains, jaggery, sandalwood, ghee, musk, pepper and ayurvedic herbs. These ingredients are used to create the idols in a method that is called ‘kadu sharkara yogam’ (a Malayalam term), where first the skeleton is made, then the rest of the murthy is created, complete with nerves and veins. We pay our respects to the Lord, and walk back to land. 

A little further, behind the main sanctum, is a shrine to Goshala Krishnan. We pay our respects to the Lord, and excitedly make our way to visit Babiya. It is a short walk off the path, beyond the main path. On the way, we pay our respects to Mahishamardini (Durga Devi) and Vanashasthara, who are enshrined in a fenced open courtyard.  

Beyond lies a little mud pond called Vanashasthara pond. We spot a pair of croc eyes on a knobbly head peering at us. When we call out her name, the shy Babiya smoothly sinks underneath and stays there till we get tired of calling her. The priest tells us that sometimes she lies in the pond at the temple, and sometimes at her muddy pond. He says she walks the same path that we just took up and down, without a care for the people around! She is a harmless and pious creature, he tells us.

We walk back and circumambulate the long path outside, around the pond. It is a very peaceful and serene place, with very few people or houses around. The old style building next door appears to be the temple guest house or quarters. There are plenty of trees around. We walk out and sit under a tree outside the temple, enjoying the peace and quiet. Slowly, we get up and make our way back home.

I hope you enjoyed today’s trip to this lovely temple. Next Friday we will go to another temple. Till then, take care, and stay devout!