Religious Myths may be Dangerous

The myth of religious belief can put your life at risk in the face of dangerous animals

A tragic incident recently occurred at the Thakur Dighi adjacent to the shrine of Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali (R.) in Bagerhat. A crocodile in the pond dragged away a child, and the child’s body was later recovered. Just a few days earlier, there had been nationwide outrage over an incident in which a crippled dog was intentionally thrown in front of the crocodile.

Do religious myths provide protection to people in front of aggressive animals? Is our “spiritual trust” in domesticated dangerous animals within religious settings rational? Can belief override an animal’s natural instincts?

It is often said that the two old crocodiles, named Dhola Pahar and Kala Pahar, used to come ashore when called by the caretakers of the shrine and never attacked humans. This story may even be true — some animals raised in close human proximity over long periods can display relatively less aggressive behavior. However, this is an exception, not a rule. Treating this exception as proof of spiritual power and expecting the same behavior from new animals — this is the root of the danger.

During my first visit to India, I had a peculiar experience while visiting the Hanuman Temple in Shimla, the former summer capital of the British government. I was sitting on a bench on a high mountain edge, with a deep gorge behind me — no human could approach from there. Suddenly startled, I realized someone was removing my sunglasses from behind with both hands. Jumping up, I found a monkey had taken them and run away. It could have caused an accident or eye injury — fortunately, it did not that time!

Losses Caused by Dangerous Animals in Religious Settings

Ancient Egypt: Crocodiles of Sobek and Blood in the Nile

Thousands of years ago, ancient Egyptians worshipped crocodiles as gods. In the temples of the crocodile god “Sobek,” live crocodiles were kept. Pharaohs believed that worshipping crocodiles would protect the Nile, ensure good harvests, and cure diseases. Priests regularly fed them meat, bread, and wine.

But reality was different. The Egyptians gave crocodiles divine status because they were genuinely dangerous to their lives — not in any symbolic sense. Historical records show numerous incidents of people being killed by crocodile attacks in the Nile. Egyptians believed that worship would prevent attacks — but the crocodiles did not comply.

Even today, around 200 people die annually in crocodile attacks in Egypt. Ancient religious belief could not alter crocodiles’ instincts — it only created a false sense of security among people.

Kerala Temple: The “Vegetarian” Crocodile Babiya

In Kerala, India, at the nearly 3,000-year-old Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swamy Temple in Kasaragod district, a crocodile named “Babiya” lived in the temple pond from the 1940s until 2022. Devotees believed it was a “divine crocodile” and completely vegetarian — surviving only on rice and jaggery offered by priests. Children would even touch it for blessings.

Experts say that in reality, the pond had plenty of fish, and the crocodile survived by eating them. It was not calm due to “divine power,” but because of age, environmental familiarity, and regular food supply. Although it never attacked anyone, the case set a dangerous example — people began to consider it normal to bring children close to reptiles due to religious belief.

Bali’s Uluwatu Temple: Attacks by “Sacred” Monkeys

At Uluwatu Temple in Bali, Indonesia, about 600 macaque monkeys live. In Balinese Hindu tradition, they are considered guardians of the temple. Due to their sacred status, they are not driven away.

However, the reality is different. Incidents ranging from snatching tourists’ sunglasses, mobile phones, and bags to physical injuries occur regularly. Research has recorded 420 “aggressive interactions” between tourists and monkeys in just two months. Among these, 78% involved physical aggression, and in 48 cases, bites broke the skin.

More concerning is that a 2002 survey found that 50% of temple staff had been bitten or scratched by monkeys. Monkeys can carry infectious diseases such as rabies and Herpes B in their blood.

Snake Worship and Deaths in India

In India, cobra snakes are worshipped as ornaments of Shiva, Ganesha, and Vishnu. In many villages, snake burrows are considered abodes of deities. Due to religious beliefs, many people do not remove even highly venomous snakes like cobras from their homes.

However, India is among the countries with the highest number of snakebite deaths in the world. Each year, 45,000 to 50,000 people die from snakebites, a significant portion of which occurs because people delay medical treatment or refrain from removing snakes, considering them “sacred.”

What Science Says: Animal Instincts and Spirituality

From a zoological perspective, the matter is clear:

In the case of crocodiles: Crocodiles are an “unchanged” species — their predatory instincts have remained the same for millions of years. They attack when hungry, frightened, or when they sense intrusion into their territory. No human relationship or religious sentiment can suppress this reaction.

If a crocodile does not attack for a long time, possible reasons include:

• Sufficient food availability
• Reduced mobility due to age
• Familiarity with the environment
• Habituation to specific human voices and scent

But none of these are guarantees. A crocodile introduced into a new environment, encountering an unfamiliar face, or seeing the small body of a child — its instinct can activate at any moment. No religious belief, myth, or spirituality works in such situations.

A Global Pattern

The same pattern is observed worldwide:

• Mauritania and West Africa: West African crocodiles are considered sacred in local traditions. It is believed that without them, water bodies would dry up. People and crocodiles share the same water sources — yet despite being relatively less aggressive, there are recorded cases of fatal attacks on humans.
• Zimbabwe: In 2005, crocodiles were found to be the leading cause of human deaths among wildlife — 13 deaths in just 10 months.
• Sub-Saharan Africa: Every year, hundreds, possibly thousands, of people die from Nile crocodile attacks.

Our Perspective on Keeping Dangerous Animals in Shrines and Temples

Religious traditions and spiritual beliefs are deeply rooted in human life. The tradition of crocodiles at Khan Jahan Ali’s shrine is centuries old and holds undeniable cultural value. However, a balance must be maintained between tradition and safety.

We must acknowledge some important realities:

1. Animal behavior is individual, not hereditary. Just because previous crocodiles were calm does not mean new ones will be. Each animal carries its own instincts.

2. Religious belief and animal management are separate matters. Crocodiles may be kept as part of tradition, but proper safety barriers, monitoring, and management are essential.

3. Taking children near dangerous animals is never safe. Regardless of spiritual beliefs.

4. Feeding one animal to another is cruel and illegal. Such acts encourage crocodiles to hunt larger prey in human-dense environments, making them more dangerous for people.

Let Science Be the Priority

Humans naturally seek meaning. When a crocodile does not attack for ten years, we assume there must be some divine force behind it. When it suddenly attacks, we say, “It must be due to some sin.” This mindset does not solve the problem — it only creates room to repeat the same mistake.

Ancient Egyptians worshipped crocodiles out of fear and reverence — yet crocodiles still killed people. Monkeys in Bali’s temples are considered sacred guardians — yet they bite humans. Kerala’s “vegetarian crocodile” actually ate fish. In Bagerhat, a new crocodile has taken a child’s life.

Therefore, one message must be repeated: the natural instincts of dangerous animals do not change. Belief does not suspend the laws of nature.

Respect religious or cultural traditions as long as they do not harm humans or nature. But do not put yourself, your children, or other animals in unnecessary danger. Caution does not contradict faith — rather, protecting life is itself a profound social, religious, and moral responsibility.