Even from a small picture of the Ananthapura Lake Temple of Kasargod, will say so much about the uniqueness of this spiritual centre located at Kumbla village. The foremost thing that you note here would be of the surrounding green marshy waters on all its sides. Such a structure built in the 9th century is still the only of its kind in Kerala. Moreover, the idol worshipped in the ancient temple is a replica of the same sort like that of Anadhapadmanadha temple down the south in Thiruvanthapuram and so the name. The following characteristics of the Ananthapura Temple of Kasargod are what make it unique.
The only lake temple dedicated to Lord Anandhapadmanabha in Kerala
As the name implies, this ancient shrine located in the northernmost district of Kerala does worship deity Anadhapadmanabha who can be seen here in the sitting positing just above a serpent unlike the reclining pose as in the temple of Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. So when you are tour to these parts, you may try to give a visit to the spiritual centre if they are readily included in your packages.
Major sanctum of the temple is protected by a ‘Vegetarian crocodile’
Although this may sound scary, you have to admit that you are taking some risk by deliberately moving to the temple either for praying or sightseeing, as a crocodile named ‘Babia’ lives in the lake waters surrounding the temple. However, you do not have to get panicked of the crocodile that was spotted in urban spaces of Hyderabad soon after the deluges of 2019. It can be said so, as the reptile is so used to the things from staying here for quite some time and most surprisingly, it consumes only vegetarian food offered by the priests.
Bridges across the rectangle lake to reach the deity
As the unique shrine is surrounded by water on all its sides by a rectangular lake that never alters its water level, different spots of the temple have to be reached by small bridges inside the premises itself. Like, for example, say, you may have to cross them just above the deep green waters of the lake to reach the Sreekovil from Gopuram. By standing on the bridges, you may feed Babia with Jaggery and sweet rice.
The temple walls are beautifully adorned with mural paintings
When you are visiting this unique Ananthapura Lake Temple, you may adore the beauty of the Mural painting done on the external walls of the Sreekovil. Each of these magnificent works is done based on various Hindu epics. It becomes quite mandatory that the lustres of these intricate paintings would be affected over years of passing time. Therefore, the temple authorities had built a wall to conserve them for the posterity.
Idols of the temple were initially made with leaves were changed to metallic
It is believed that, in the ancient periods, it was set by some unique combination of herbal plants just before sculpting the idols of deities here. Even now, during the scheduled rituals, they are decorated with ornaments and sandalwood pastes. Apart from that, you may find the same Sri Krishna Temple that was once believed to have been revered by the popular Vilvamangalathu Swamy.
Numerous myths associated with the construction of the temple
There are quite many myths popular based on each of the idols, spots and the rituals followed in the temple. One among them is that the deity Anathapadmanabha, who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu was settled himself at this spot and was appeared in front of a devotee in the form of a boy. Later, the lad was believed to be run into the nearby cave, as he was shooed off by a meditating sage at this particular spot.
The rare material is chosen for making the present idol
In the textures and colour, although it may resemble an ordinary metal, in reality, they are not so. They are actually made of a rare material called ‘Kadu Sarkara Yogam,’ which is a combination of around 108 materials. It would be really astonishing to realize that they are not stone and metal as seen in usual idols of deities.
A cave with the perennial flow of sacred water
At one of the corners of this never drying up the lake, no matter what the climate is, you could find a cave. Moreover from this cave, you could sight a perennial flow of water that is consumed as a ’Theertham’ by the believers coming here. Besides, various myths are connected with the origin of such a source of pure water amid the lake waters of the temple.
Being situated in a scenic location
Even the path leading to the temple is rich in its own biodiversity, as the temple can be sighted after witnessing rows of high verdant hills. So your visit to the temple can also be considered as a tour of all the nearby beautiful locations. They could be as beautiful as the regions surrounding Arulmigu Maruthamalai Murugan Temple in Coimbatore. Once you arrive at the premises of the temple, you are going to avail that beautiful ambience of serene tranquillity.
Just like the ancient temple elaborated here, there are several other unique pilgrimage centres spread all across the state of Kerala. So if you are planning to visit these spiritual centres most profoundly, you may get in contact with Lelagoon Holidays who are one of the most popular tour companies of Kerala. They had curated varied tour packages that would fulfil the demands of any sorts of travellers who are on a group tour or solo trip or even whether they are honeymooners or family. You could make use of their best travel deals when you are planning of any sort holidaying in the happening state of Kerala. Above all that, their packages are set in such a way that they can be availed by wanderlust who are on a budget or wishing for a luxurious vacationing.
