Ananthapura lake temple in Kerala
Ananthapura lake temple, situated in the centre of a lake had attracted many devotees across India and foreign countries. It is actually located in the village Ananthapura which is around six kilometers from Kumble. As per belief, this temple is believed to be as the original seat of Ananthapadmanabha swami temple. Hence it is known as the moolasthanam of Anandapadmanabha swami temple.
Ananthapura lake temple
Ananthapura lake temple, situated in the centre of a lake had attracted many devotees across India and foreign countries. It is actually located in the village Ananthapura which is around six kilometers from Kumble. As per belief, this temple is believed to be as the original seat of Ananthapadmanabha swami temple. Hence it is known as the moolasthanam of Anandapadmanabha swami temple. 
Sanctorum is built in a lake which mea sures about two acres. To the right corner of lake, you can see a small cave. As per belief, Anath a Padmanabha had chosen this particular cave to go to Thiruvananthapuram. Also, this place is considered to be as the spot where Divakara Muni Vilwamangalam, the great Tulu serge performed poojas.
Lord Narayana as a boy
Once upon a time, Lord Narayana appeared before sage as a child. Boy's face was shining with great radiance. When Vilwamangalam asked who he was, boy replied that he had none at home. Vilwamangalam felt pity and allowed him to stay there with a condition from body. Boy said that he will leave the place at once when Vilwamangalam feel humiliated.
Boy served the sage for some time. After some time, juvenile pranks of boy became intolerable for sage and he was reacted badly. Then body said that he is leaving the place because of his proposed condition. Also, boy said that if Vilwamangalam need to see him, he need to come to place called Ananthankat, which is the forest place of serpent god Anantha.
Soon Vilwamangalam realized that the boy was none but the Lord himself. The place where boy disappeared is now present with a cave. When Vilwamangalam searched for the boy in cave, he reached a woody area near the sea. Then he saw the child was soon disappeared into huge Indian butter tree or illippa tree. Tree fell down and was assumed the shape of Lord Vishnu lying on the serpent god Ananthan. Babia the crocodile
Story of guardian crocodile is another feature of this exotic temple. You can see here a crocodile serving as the guardian of temple. Till now this crocodile has not harmed any person in the temple. This crocodile is known to the world as Babia.
Only food consumed by Babia is a special food made of rice and molasses. Devotees can give their offerings to Babia at noon. Temple authorities claim that Babia had not even harmed the fishes in pond. As per belief, it is Babia who guards the entrance and the shrine of temple. Only one crocodile is there in the lake at a time. If one is dead, another crocodile appears in the lake. Thus devotees pay great respect to the crocodile here.
Lake where the Anantapura temple lies is gifted with a supply of pure spring water. Shrines of jala durga, namaskara mandapam and thitappali are located in the lake. The only passage to sreekovil is the connection between namaskara mandapam and eastern rock. Main deity of this temple is Lord Vishnu. Idol of this temple is made up of more than seventy medicinal materials called kadu sharkara yogam. These idols were then replaced by panchaloha metals in the year 1972.
Job oriented
This is an illuminating article on the Ananthapuri Lake Temple in the Kasargod Dst of Kerala. I too had written an article on this temple sometime back which can be seen at:
http://www.spiderkerala.net/resources/7625-Ananthapura-Lake-Temple-Kasargod-Kerala.aspx