Ananthpura Lake Temple and its unique protector
Think Kerala and images of lush greenery, fresh from soaking in a drizzle of rain come to the mind. Think ‘temple’ and ‘Kerala’ and your thoughts wander to women in crisp white saris, hands clasping a basket of offerings to the Lord, temple drums and bells, smell of incense, the temple elephant. One could go on. However, experiencing a lake temple that is packed with stories that take you back in time, like the ones you heard from your granny as she took you around your village temple is something that a visit to the Ananthpura Lake Temple, in Kerala’s northernmost district, Kasargod is sure to do.
The journey begins even before reaching the temple. The scenic drive to the temple from Kasargod or Kumbla stations or the Mangalore airport is sure to instill feelings of calm and peace.
Soon, Vilwamangalam realized that the child was none other than the almighty Maha Vishnu. He travelled through the cave where he saw the child disappear and reached the sea in his quest for the Ananthankat forest. Travelling further south he saw the woods and the child, who soon faded into a Mahua tree. The tree fell to reveal Lord Maha Vishnu resting on a thousand hooded divine serpent. This is believed to be the spot where the Thiruvanathapuram temple is built.
Such are the legend of Kerala’s Ananthpura Lake Temple. We belong to a land that enthralls in tales and legends from ancient times. But episodes and incidents as such never fail to surprise the most knowledgeable of us.
Image credits – wikimedia commons