Ananthapura Lake Temple is the only lake temple in Kerala, residing in the midst of 300 feet of a waterbed with majestic views and architectural marvel. Upon entering the temple compound, one can experience the calm and spiritual ambience of this holy abode of Lord Vishnu, known by the name “Ananthapadmanaban”. He is believed to have manifested himself in this lake temple in Kasargod district and later moved to the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram through a cave, visible on the right-hand side of the temple.
The glorious temple standing with pride in serene waters comprises a Sreekovil, Namaskara Mandapam, Thittapalli, Jala Durga shrines and the entrance of the caves. The architecture of the temple is such a delightful vision with wooden carvings that depict various mythological stories relating to the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, Desavatharam. The temple porch has carved stories of the nine planets, Nava-grahas. Some of the paintings within the sanctum sanctorum are painted with dazzling colours.
There are lots of legends associated with the temple. It is believed that once the Brahmin sage, Vilwamangalam, preferred this location for worship and poojas to his loved deity. Lord Narayana in the form of a child appeared before the sage and revealed that he had no parents. Vilwamangam took pity on the child and kept him, but the child put a condition of leaving the place if he ever got humiliated. Once the sage enraged in the child’s pranks and mischievous scolded him and the child proclaimed that he would leave him. If the sage ever wishes to see him again, he could find him in Ananthakat, the forest of the Serpent God, Anantha.
Sage understood that the boy was an avatar of God and followed him through the caves and reached an area near the sea that had illapa trees, where the boy disappeared into a huge illapa tree that fell on ground and took the shape of Lord Vishnu resting on thousands of serpents. Another myth also states almost the same things about an avatar of Lord Krishna, who came to the sage and disturbed his rituals. The sage got annoyed and pushed the boy aside, who in turn disappeared into a cave.
Another distinguishing feature of the temple lake is that it has an 80 years old crocodile, Babiya, who is known as the protector of the temple and the cave to which God disappeared. Once in 1945, a British person shot the crocodile dead and he himself died of a snake bite days after the incident. Everyone believes it was the revenge of the Gods to avenge the death of Babiya. After a few days, a new crocodile appeared in the lake and still lives in it. It is said to be a vegetarian crocodile that only eats the offerings made by the devotees. It has never harmed any of the fishes or the humans who take baths in the holy waters of Ananthapura lake.
The earlier idol of the presiding deity was made from a combination of 70 medicinal herbs called “kadu-sharkara-yogam”. Yet the idol was replaced by a panchaloha metal in 1972, donated by Jayendra Saraswathy Thiruvatikal, Kaanchi Kaamakoti Mathaadhipathi. The temple is open to all visitors regardless of their caste or creed. A visit to this ancient glorious temple is a divine and spiritual experience for the serenity and peacefulness it offers.
Contact Details
Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swamy Lake Temple
P.O. KANNUR, Ananthapura, Via, Kumbla (Kumble), Kerala 671321
