Kerala Temple Sabarimala Ayyappa – Sri Dharma Sastha Temple festivals and rituals

 Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple

Sabarimala is the temple where maximum pilgrims (devotees)visit in Kerala on annual basis. In the entire South India this is the 2^ndbusiest temple after the Tirumala Thirupathi Srinivasa temple in Andhra Pradesh. Sabarimala is a hill shrine has to be reached by walk and climb of steep hills of the western Ghat ranges in the Pathanamthitta District of Kerala State in South India. The vehicle to the temple can go only up to the holy Pampa River. The Sabarimala Temple is dedicated to the Lord Ayyappa who is the incarnation of the Lord Sri Dharma Sastha. The temple is not open on all the 365 days of the year unlike other temples of Kerala. The Main period of worship is during the Mandala pooja times which starts around November middle and ends in the last week of December. After that the temple will be closed for few days and will open again during the 1^stweek of January. 

Sabarimala temple is a unique temple in India

This is a unique temple and may be the only one or one of the very few temples in India where any person irrespective of the religion,caste, community can go and offer worship. The only exception is that women between the age of 10 and 50 are not allowed to offer worship and are not allowed in the temple. The reason is that the period of menses may interfere and since strict observance of abstaining is required the presence of the women may create problem, for the other devotees. For the normal prescribed way of worship and pooja at this temple strict adherence of prescribe code of life is to be followed.Once the devotee wears the garland of beads known as ‘Mudra garland’ he/she is called by all as Ayyappa Swamy or Swamy or Ayyappa irrespective religion,caste, creed or community or age or sex by everybody. That person is identified with the Lord. There are 2 types of devotees or pilgrims who visit the temple. This is in tune with the Hindu philosophy of ‘Adwaith’ (non dual - that is god and self is one and the same). When one climbs the 18 steps to enter the temple complex the first thing on which the eye falls is a board at the entrance of the temple building with the word ‘Thathwamasi’ (meaning you are that – that means god) One group is the casual pilgrims who may be about 10 to 15 % only of the total devotees worshiping here, who go there and just worship and come. They have separate entrance to the premises of the shrine. The other group the main group comprising 85 to 90 % of the devotees go through the eighteen steps to be climbed to enter the shrine.  This entrance is allowed only to those devotees who observe the code of the temple prescribed for the devotees. 

The Mandala Vrath or code to be observed 

The code includes the color of the dress which can be black, saffron or yellow. These devotees have to observe certain minimum conditions.They include the abstinence from all sensual pleasures like sex, non vegetarian food, smoking and drinking liquors etc. They have to get up early in the morning before 5 am take bath, go to a temple nearby to pray and come home and do some pooja and Bhajans for some time. Then only they can have their coffee/tea or the lite refreshments. As far as possible they should avoid going out and spent time thinking about the almighty or good things only. If they go out they have to take bath on entering the house. They can have light lunch of simple food. Evenings they have o take bath and go to temples and pray and worship at home. This code was supposed to be observed for a ‘Mandala’ period.A Mandala period is 41 days. At the end of this period only the devotees are to climb the 18 steps to the temple. But now it is not strictly followed. It can be from to more than 41 days according to the intensity of the devotion of the pilgrim. When the code is to start the devotee has to wear a garland of beads mostly of dry Thulasi stems or Rudraksha beads. If the devotee is going for the first time, he has to take the vratha under an experienced guru (teacher) who is one have visited the Sabarimala temple for 18 times observing the codes. These are only the brief details and the actual observance is more elaborate and severe.

Irumudi Kettu

Iru mudi kettu (means 2 knotted bundles). As the name suggest the devotee has to carry a bundle of 2 knots. One knot contains the item for worship at the temple and on the way shrines. The other is the personal belongings. The filling up of this Irumudi kettu is known as the kettu Nirakkal (filling up of the bundle). This has to be done under the guidance of the Guruswamy. 

Mandala pooja at Sabarimala temple

The Mandala pooja is done during the period Mandala. Though Mandala means 41 days usually the period of Mandala is observed from the 1^stof Malayalam month named Vrischika (Scorpio zodiac) and continues up to 11 days of the next month of Dhanu (Sagittarius zodiac). This period normally falls from mid November to the end week of December.  On these days there will be daily poojas in the temple and devotees can go and worship. On the last day of the Mandala a special pooja called the Mandala pooja will be performed. After this the temple will be closed for few days. Again it will be opened from the 1^stweek of January to the 15^th of January for the Makara vilakku poojas. 

Makara vilakku festival

Makara vilakku festival is the most important festival of the Sabarimala temple. During this period the temple will have the maximum number of pilgrims visiting and the maximum congregation on any single day will be on the Makara vilakku day. The festival culminates in the Makara vilakku functions.Makara vilakku is a ritual of the temple of lighting of a huge quantity of at a distance of 4 km. The lighted  camphor can be seen at Sabarimala across the distance of 4 km. The light will appear like flickering due to the flame o the camphor. This was earlier mistaken as the Makara Jyoti for a long period till2008 when the temple authorities explained that it is a man made camphor fire at the time of the Makara Samkramam (transition of Sun from the zodiac Sagittariusto Capricorn). The transition time of Sun into the Makara month (Capricorn) is known as the Makara Samkramam. Makara Samkramam is a very important holy day for the entire Hindus. This is the day when the Utharayana (northern hemisphere– celestial) period. This period is till the Karkataka Samkramam which is also very important to the Hindus. From the Karkataka Samkramam to Makara Samkramam it is Dakshinayanam period. The lighting of the camphor at the Samkramam is the Makara vilakku. The camphor fire light will appear three times around 6.30 pm how it is done is to light the camphor and after a few seconds the flame will be extinguished by use of wet gunny bags throwing over the camphor fire. After a gape of some seconds the process will be repeated 2 more times so that the light appears thrice. There is coordination between the Sabarimala temple priest and the person responsible at the Ponnambala medu to synchronize the actions of both the places. The third time light will coincide with the opening of the Sanctum door at Sabarimala temple to do the deeparadhana (aarathi) to the lord in the presence of about a million devotees. At the time of the Samkramam a star will appear in the sky which is the Makara star. This is known as the Makara Jyoti. 

The next day after the usual connected functions like the Malikapurathamma procession and Guruthi pooja the temple will close. 

The temple does not open of all days of all the months.Apart from the above mentioned festival times of Mandala pooja and Makaravilakku festivals the temple will open only on the 1^st of every Malayalam calendar moths for 5 days when the devotees may go and offer the worship.

Kerala Temples - Ezhumangad Siva temple

Ezhumangad Siva temple - Ezhumangad, Arangotukara

In Ezhumangad village there is an old temple dedicated to Lord Siva. Ezhumangad is on the Shornur - Kunnamkulam route under the Thirumittakode Panchayath.  The idol is a Siva linga good height and circumference. The temple is facing East side.  In addition to the Linga mentioned, there is another Swayambhoo Lingam (natural lingam existing of its own). Sub deity is Lord Ayyappa. No other idols or shrine are there. But there is a place for Ganapathi without idol and for the goddess there is only Sankalpa (belief of having the goddess presence). There is no utsavam. Sivarathri is observed in this temple. 

The temple is on the Shornur - Kunnamkulam bus route. Get down at Ezhumangad stop. The temple is near to the stop.  

Kerala Temples - Vellamasseri Garudan temple for Sarpa dosha

Garudan temple, Vellamasseri

This  is a temple dedicated to Garud the golden eagle, the vehicle or carrier of Lord Vishnu. There may be many temples with Garuda as one of the sub deities. This is unique temple in the sense there may not be any other temple dedicated to Garud as the main idol anywhere in India. The belief is that persons who worship here will get relief from diseases and other effects arising out of Sarpa Dosha (snake curse). This temple is open for everybody. Near to this temple there is a temple dedicated to the 2^nd incarnation of Lord Vishnu – the Kurma Avatar (incarnation as tortoise or turtle). The vellamasseri Garudan temple is believed to be more than 1800 years old. This temple was completely damaged by Tippu Sultan of Mysore but the devotees from around the area and from far away places rebuilt the temple in the same spot where it was. The Garud idol of this temple is in the flying posture. 

 

  Uniqueness of the Garud temple

Near to the Garud's temple there is a temple dedicated to his master Lord Vishnu facing to East. Normally the temple of the master will be the main temple and on that basis the Lord Vishnu temple should have been the prominent one. But here the Garuda's temple is the one visited more by devotees than his mater's temple. Garud idol faces west. This temple has pooja daily 2 times – morning and evening. There is no festival in this temple. People with Sarpa Dosha come hereto get relief from the effect of the Dosha, People brings eggs as offering but the same are not allowed inside. It is kept outside the temple and the same is auctioned and the money is put in the hundi (offer box to deposit money by devotees) of the temple. The temple was private owned but now taken over by the Government t and is under the Devaswom Board. People suffering from skin diseases come here to worship and offer cucumber in baskets. All Sundays are observed as important days in this temple. The Mandala period of 41 days starting around15^th November (1^st day Vrishcikam month of Malayalam calendar).

There are sub deities. They are Karthaveeryarjun, Sankaranaryan, Siva, Ganapathi,Vettaikkorumakan and Ayyappa.

Legends about Vellamasseri temple

The legend about the temple is that one saint wanted to know the means of getting rid of or reduces the pains, sufferings and sins of the human souls. He went into a deep penance (rigorous continuous meditation) on Lord Vishnu;who appeared to the saint and explained the ways. While this was happening, the Lord’s vehicle Garuda was sitting on the bank of a pond and listening to the suggestions of his Lord. A temple was built at the spot where Garud sat and the pond near by is the holy theertha (sacred water) pond of the temple.  The spot where Lord Vishnu gave darsan (ability to see him) to the devotee also became a holy spot. 

Another legend is that the then famous Perunthachchan (mason– carpenter) made the idol f Garud. It was so beautiful and life like that he felt that the same to be given to the king of the area. Accordingly he took the idol to the king. King was so much impressed with the idol he said that it looks like a live one. If it can fly it would have been fantastic. To this Perunthachchan said that it can fly if a chaste lady touches it. The king felt slighted by this remark. He said if the remark proved wrong he will order to kill Perunthachchan and if he proved correct he will build a temple for the idol.Perunthachchan made his wife to touch the idol and immediately the idol started flying. The raja sent his sentries to follow the idol and mark the place where the idol gets down. Accordingly a temple was built by the Raja on the spot where the sentries identified the idol coming down. 

Special offerings at Garuda temple

People suffering from skin diseases like lukoderma (white patches on skin),bronchitis, asthma and troubles from snakes or birds etc come here and offer special poojas for relief. Those who are affected by snakes catch the live snakes in earthen pots with mouth of the pots covered are brought to the temple and are dropped down from the Gopuram (tower) of the temple. The pots break and the snake rise aggressively. The priest of the temple sprinkles some theertha (holy water) on the snakes. Then the snakes will go to the Southern direction and after that nobody sees them anywhere around. The belief of the devotees is that these snakes become the food of Garuda. There is no incident of any snake bite incident around this place, though the people bring poisonous snakes and release them here.

The main offering is turmeric porridge (manjal - Haldi payasam). The payasam is made by cooking rice, turmeric, jaggery with water.Those who are affected by skin diseases, if take this prasadam the disease will be relieved. 

Place and how to reach to Vellamasseri Garudan temple

The temple is in Vellamasseri village, under Thriprangode Panchayath near Thirur in Malappuram District (District with predominant population of Muslims) of Kerala State in India. Thirur is the nearest Railway Station. Buses are available on the Thirur – Chamravattom route and get down at the Poozhikkunnu bus stop. On to the west of the stop the main temple of Lord Vishnu is there and opposite to that is the Garud temple.

Kerala temples - Pambadi Pambumkav - Pambadi Snake Temple

The Pambadi Pambumkav - Pambadi Snake Temple is one of the important snakes worshiping temple of Kerala. People who are having difficulties due to the sarpa kopam (snake curse) come to this temple to offer appropriate worship toremove the curse. It is the belief that by proper offerings they can get relieffor the difficulties arising out of Sarpa kopa. In the normal circumstancesalso the belief in South India and especially in Kerala is that by pleasing thesnake gods the life will be happy, without much illness and with prosperity.

According to a legend when Parasurama (maharishi incarnation of Lord Vishnu) created the land of Kerala out of the sea and donated the same to Brahmins, it was full of snakes and human being were harassed by the snakes. The people went to Parasurama and complained. Parasurama did penance to appease Lord Siva. Lord Siva appeared and asked Parasurama what he wanted. When Parasurama explained the problem of the people of the new land, Lord Siva advised Parasurama to please Vasuki the king of snakes for solution. Accordingly Parasurama did penance to please Vasuki. Vasuki appeared in front of Parasurama.Parasurama explained the problem and suggested that the people of the area will observe special poojas and offerings to the snakes. The snakes in return should co-exist without troubling other living things including the humans. The snake god Vasuki and the snakes agreed for this. In this place there was the presence of the Lord Siva. Parasurama appointed a person to perform the daily poojas and rituals to appease the snake god and advised the people to visit the temple regularly and give their offerings to get relief from the Sarpa kopam. The practice is continued till today.

http://www.spiderkerala.net/resources/7566-Pambadi-Pambumkav-Pambadi-Snake-Temple.aspx

Kerala temples - Viruttanam Bhagavathi temple

Viruttanathamma temple

Viruttanam temple is a Devi temple dedicated to Kurumba Bhagavathi, Mahakali (Bhadrakali), a form of Durga. the idol of the Bhagavathi is made of a very old jack fruit tree trunk. The deity is about 4 feet in height and faces the east. Viruttanathamma as she is popularly called by devotees is a very powerful goddess who grant the request of the devotees. The temple is famous around this area. Devotees from around 15 km radius come here on regular basis to worship and get their desires fulfilled and get relief from their problems and obstacles in their life situations. Upa devathas (sub deities) are Veerabhadra and Kshetrapalkan (temple guard deity). There 3 times (morning, noon and evening) pooja daily in this temple

Annual festival of Viruttanam temple

The temple has an annual festival called 'Vela' for 10 days. The utsavam starts with the hoisting of the temple flag on the Rohini star day of the Malayalam calendar Kurumbha month (falls around the 2nd half of February of English calender). On the 10th day on (Makam star day) the festival concludes with the aaraattu (sacred bathing of the Devi) in procession. From 1st to 10th days the festival give chance to perform folk arts of various kinds. The important days of festivals are the 6th and 7th days on the Ayilyam  (Aslesha) and Makam star days. Theyyam, pootham, naayaadi dance and panan kali etc go around many villages around as far as 10 km distance covering most of the houses in these areas. On the 6th day caparisoned elephants of minimum of 10 come to this temple from various temples from neighboring villages in procession with thayampaka, panchavadyam etc and assemble in the temple court yard and perform during the night. Various folk arts like naayaadi, Kuthiravela, pootham, Kaalavela,  theyyam,  etc are presented by the artists in the temple compound.   

Various art forms like  Poraattukali (folk dance) and Kumbhamthullal (pot dance) are presented on the eighth day. As part of the cultural fare, temple art forms like Chakyarkoothu, Kathakali, Ottanthullal, etc., are also performed from recent times.

Kodungalloor connection of Viruttanam temple 

As per legend this deity is supposed to be same as the one in the famous Kodungallur Bhagavathi temple or its sister. The priests of both the temples are from same family branches. The poojarees of both the temples are known as the Adigal. There was a belief that Brahmin priests do not perform poojas to goddess Kali. But in this temple the Brahmin family did the pooja so they were demoted to the status of Adikal. The wear sacred thread (poonol) and do gayathri japam. The priests' families do not use or eat non veg or drink liquors. The preists from Viruttanam go as priests to Kodungalloor when that temple require additional priests and so also in case of Viruttanam where the Kodungalloor priest come when needed. 

Viruttanam village

Viruttanam village is near to Pattambi which is about 10 km from here. From Shornur or Wadakkancheri it is 15 km. The place is connected to the bus route Shornur to Kunnanmkulam (not the regular Shornur Kunnamkulam route via Arangotukara, Thirumittakode). In this route the persons have to get down at the Chellippadi bus stop and walk. Otherwise there is another route from Thrissur, Wadakkancheri to Pattambi - Kunnamkulam via Pilakkad, Thali.  Passengers should get down at Thali and cross the paddy fields for about 0.75 km. Viruttanam is a predominantly Agricultural village. 

Address:

Viruttanam Temple,

Viruttanam village, Peringannur P O,

Via Peringode, Thirumittakode Panchayath, 

Palakkad Dst, Kerala State - PIN: 679 535

Kerala temples - Thrikkovil Narasimha swamy Temple

Thrikkovil Temple, Arangotukara

This is a temple of Arangotukara on the north side portion of the village is the Thrikkolambalam (Thiru kovil). The principal deity is Lord Narasimha (Lord with lion head and human body) the 4th incarnation of Lord Mahavishnu. The legend is that the Astavakra (person with 8 bends) Muni (maharishi) had done pooja here.  The main festival is Narasimha Jayanthi. The temple and tank are not in good condition due to poor maintenance.This is small temple. Arangotukara Desamangalam Panchayath Thalapilli Taluk Thrissur District Kerala State It is on the Shornur Koottanad and Thrissur Arangotukara bus routes.  

It is said that the Ashtavakra  muni for the convenience of taking bath and for doing pooja wanted a source of water. With this intention he pressed his palm with force on the earth near the temple. The depression caused by the pressing of the palm became the temple pond (tank) which is about 2 acres in area. 

Kerala temples - Karthyayani Devi Temple

Karthyayani Devi Temple Arangotukara

The main temple (the deity of the village) of Arangotukara (Arangode) is in the South part of the Village.  The presiding deity is Goddess Karthyayani.  There is no idol for the goddess. The seniors informed that as per their knowledge there was a clay idol in the temple like that found in Tamilnadu Villages as village gods. The same was broken and after that there is no idol installed. The temple is facing West. In the sanctum of the main temple, there is a square shallow pit which will have water during most of the year. There is tree known as "Madhavi Tree' one of 3 such trees in Kerala. The plant flowers, white in color,  in bunches, once a year during the rainy season.   After the flowers fall down strange type of fruits, green when raw and wood color when matured, are formed.  The fruits are very lite, feather lite, with 3 petals one in the middle with two wing like extension petals. The same can fly for short distances in wind. Pooja is done to the Madhavi tree. But till now there is no other Madhavi tree is found anywhere around.  A chandrakkala (metal crescent moon - like that found in Siva temples) of bronze is placed below the tree. This was donated as an offering by one of the devotees. The temple is small in a compound of about 1 acre.

Temple Festivals

The temple is having 2 festivals every year.  The main one is during the dussera (Navarathri).  There will be 3 time poojas each day with Prasadams for all on all three times.  It used to be for nine days by one family each on each of the nine days and the 10th day the finale.  Now a days it seems there are more than 9 days celebrations as the number of families who wants to do pooja are more than 9 running up to 17 days.  On some of the days the family who does the pooja, also give free food to all.

The second festival of the temple is Karthika Vilakku. Karthika oottu (free feast to all who come to partake the food) is one offering. Occasionally someone sponsors entirely. On other occasions the villagers contribute and conduct the function. Average about 1000 people take food.

This temple does not have any oracle (Velichapaadu) as it is believed that the deity does not want it, unlike in other Durga temples in Kerala. Similarly, elephants are not allowed inside the Gopuram (entry). It is said that if elephants are brought in, they just run away as if frightened. 

On normal days the poojas will be two times in the mornings and evenings. Festival days there will pooja during the forenoon also. Santhi is by Namboodiri.\

There is a well for water for the poojas and tank of the temple is there at 2 minutes walk on the east side of the temple. Now a well is dug inside the compound with the donations of devotees.

Upa Devathas

Siva in the form of a small lingam and Vishnu in the form of a small Salagramam are upa devathas of the temple at the south east corner. There is a small shrine for Ganapathi and Sastha (Ayyappan)

Administration

This was under the Desamangalam Koodallur Mana. Later it was taken over by Cochin Devaswom Board with the manager's office at Nelluvai. Since the board was net getting income, suggested the villagers to form a committee so that the administration can be handed over to them. Accordingly a committee is formed.

Kerala temples - Mullakkal Devi Temple. Ezhumangad

Mullakkal Devi Temple is a Durga Devi temple in the Arangotukara - Ezhumangad twin village. This temple is in Ezhumangad side, though it is known as Arangotukara Mullakkal Temple. This temple is private temple owned by Kannathu Nair. The present owner is C P Sathyaseelan (Kuttan), a retired employee of Air India. The temple is small. It is on the left side to the village road - Puthan Patha while going from the main road to Kadukasseri Village, just about 50 yards from the main road.

Main Festival of Mullakkal Temple

Thaalapoli is the main festival of the temple. Which is on the completion of 41 days' Chuttu Vilakku (light lamps around the temple) starting from the 1st of Vrischikam month of Malayalam Calendar. During the chittu vilakku period the velichappadu will go around the houses in the village and around for 'parayeduppu', where people offer paddy and money as contributions to the festival. Usually this will be during the end of December. The pooram/thalappoli is a procession of ladies traditionally dressed carry a plate with a lighted lamp and other items. There will be 2 rows of the ladies carrying thalapoli. The procession of the ladies follows caparisoned elephants with one of them in the center carries the idol of the deity. The procession starts from the the main temple of the village, the Karthyayani Devi Temple of the village. The procession will start with a Thayampka( a long drum played to produce rhythmic sound)  and Panchavadyam (an orchestra producing rhythmic sound). It will end at the Mullakkal temple. There also there will be chenda vadyam with an oracle (Velichapaadu - a male with long hair dressed with auspicious red color dress carrying a sword in right hand and chilambu - a brass hollow oval shaped ring with small balls inside which makes sounds when the balls move) beleived as the representative of the goddess, who perform dance jumps to the rythem of the chenda. For the pooram there will be about 15 to 30 elephants participating in the procession.After the procession reaches the Mullakkal temple The velichappadu dances and after that the ladies will keep the thaalams (plate with lamps) in front of the goddess. After that the pooram will have other performances by pootham, theyyam and other fold arts.

Kerala temples - Ananthapura Lake Temple of Temple

Ananthapura Lake Temple:

Ananthapura Lake Temple is a temple the only Lake Temple in the God's Own Country, the Kerala State. The temple is dedicated to the Ananthapadmanabha Swamy, lord Vishnu. This is located at the near end of the northern portion of Kerala. The Temple is in the Kasargod District the northern most district of Kerala State bordering Karnataka State.

Ananthapura Lake Temple:

Sree Ananthapadmanabha Swamy Temple. Kerala has 2 temples dedicated to Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy a form of Lord Vishnu, one of the three main gods of the Hindus known as the thrimurthis (3 gods). The thrimurthis are the lord Brahma – the creator, Lord Vishnu - the sustainer, protector or the benevolent and Lord Siva - the god of Death and destruction. Of the two temples dedicated to Thiru Anantha Padmanabha Swamy, Ananthapura Lake Temple is one at the North end and the Thiru Anantha Padmanabha Swamy temple of Thiruvananthapuram is at the Southern end of Kerala State.

The Ananthapura lake temple is located as the name indicates, in the middle of a lake known as the Ananthapura Lake. The deity is of course Anantha Padmanabha swamy – the lord resting on the Anantha the Serpent king with 7 hoods as a cushion/bed. While the lord in Ananthapura Lake is in a sitting posture, the lord of Thiruvananthapuram is in a reclining (lying in deep meditation – yoga nidra) posture.

Ananthapura Lake Temple Location:

The temple is located in the Kasargod District of Kerala State. It is 5 km from Kumbla, a small town in the district and 13 km north of Kasargod town along the National Highway. The temple is in a beautiful lake, situate on a calm, tranquil and beautiful rocky hill. From the top of the hill the places around can be seen as a beautiful green natural scenery. The temple houses a beautiful of the deity of Sree Anantha Padmanabha swamy seated on the Adi Sesha. This shrine is an ancient one with a known status from 6th century onwards. The shrine is having a prakaram (Chuttambalam) all around with walls like an enclosed veranda. The walls decorated with murals. There is a cave which ends in a pond. It is believed that the level of water in the pond will be at the same level at all seasons without increasing or decreasing. Near to the temple there is a rivulet known as papnasini. It is believed that the papnasini has the divine powers and will cleanse the souls by removing the sins. This temple has one of the best Koothambalams in Kerala. The shrine is supported by 30 granites and the floor is made by square granite blocks.

The unique attraction and feature of Ananthapura lake temple: It is believed that the temple is also has crocodile. This is the main attraction and uniqueness of Kerala's only lake temple. The local call it as Babia and believe that the crocodile is there to guard the temple. It is also believed that there will only one crocodile at any time. If one dies another mysteriously comes from somewhere. According to the local people and one of the trustees Sri Ramachandra Bhatt, the present crocodile is about 60 years old, though some people believe it to be 150 years old. This crocodile is supposed to be purely vegetarian. It eats the offerings of the temple given to it after the noon offerings. The main item is the nei payasam (rice porridge with jaggery and ghee). The locals and the temple authorities say that there are fishes the lake but the crocodile does not eat them nor does it hurt anybody. They also feel that the crocodile gives indications if any impending unhappiness is going to take place in the area.