A crocodile strayed inside a Khodiyar Mata temple in Central Gujarat and the devotees who noticed the reptile started worshipping it believing the crocodile was sent by the Goddess Herself for the protection of the temple. As per reports, there was a theft in the temple a few days back.
Incidentally, the crocodile is also worshipped as a vehicle of Khodiyar Maa, the main deity of the temple where the crocodile had strayed. Many Hindu castes, especially the Leva Patels worship the Khodiyar Maa as the Kuldevi. The crocodile was then rescued by the Forest Department officials.
Gujarat: Forest Department officials yesterday rescued a crocodile that strayed into Khodiyar Mata temple in Mahisagar district; the rescue was allegedly delayed due to the villagers who gathered at the temple to offer prayers to the crocodile. pic.twitter.com/Y5ILxgKTe0
— ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2019
The local people believe this was a sort of divine intervention since the crocodile went up to the idol and stayed there without moving despite their attempts to move the crocodile. Initially, the people even opposed rescue operation for the crocodile but later on gave in after the forest department officials explained that the reptile needs to go where it belongs.
