Pathanamthitta (Keralam), Oct 18 Areekkara Subrahmanyan Sankaran Namboothiri was selected as the new ‘melsanthi’ (chief priest) of the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple on Sunday, weeks ahead of the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, officials said.
A Damodaran Namboothiri was selected as the new melsanthi of the Malikappuram Devi Temple, located around 100 metres from the Sabarimala shrine.
The draw of lots was held after the dawn pooja, with seven names in the fray for the Sabarimala post, officials said.
Sankaran Namboothiri, a native of Thiruvananthapuram, is currently the melsanthi of the Pazhavangadi Ganapathi Temple in the state capital.
Damodaran Namboothiri, hailing from Vadakara in Kozhikode district, is currently the melsanthi of the Lord Siva Temple in Keezhur, Payyoli.
Both will assume charge for one year on November 16, a day before the Sabarimala temple opens for the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season.
Speaking to reporters, Sankaran Namboothiri expressed immense joy over his selection and said he had been hopeful of getting the appointment.
Unlike in previous interviews, when his name appeared towards the end of the list, his name came up first this time, he said.
He credited his selection to Lord Ganapathi of the Pazhavangadi temple, where he has been serving as melsanthi for the past five years.
“I had applied for Sabarimala before 2020. From 2020 onwards, I have been the melsanthi of this Pazhavangadi Ganapathi Temple. After that, I haven’t applied because it is a temple managed by the Indian Army, it has its procedures and all. We need their permission. So, it is this time that I got the permission for it,” he said.
He also credited his gurus and ancestors for teaching him pooja rituals.
Although stricter conditions had made this year’s selection process more difficult, he said he was not worried about it.
“I have been a melsanthi continuously for 21 years. Therefore, it was not a big problem for me. So, there was definitely a big expectation. God’s grace, apart from that, what else to say,” he said.
Sankaran Namboothiri has served as melsanthi at the Nedumangad Bhagavathy Temple, the Kottayam temple, the R K Puram Ayyappa Temple in Delhi and the Thycaud Sastha Temple in Thiruvananthapuram before taking up his current position at the Pazhavangadi Ganapathi Temple.
“So, the blessings of all the deities I have worshipped will definitely be with me. That will be a great strength for me. Anyway, I am very happy. Getting the appointment to serve God for a year is considered by me as a great fortune,” he said.
He said he would most likely visit the Sabarimala temple on Monday to seek the blessings of Lord Ayyappa before assuming charge.
He also conveyed a message to Ayyappa devotees worldwide, promising to serve the deity sincerely during his one-year tenure.
“Never from my side will there be any kind of bad behaviour, or any desire for economic matters. God has given me enough to live. I consider this a very big opportunity, an opportunity to serve God. I am not thinking about other things at all,” he said.
Prasad E D from Thrissur is the outgoing melsanthi of the Sabarimala temple, while Manu Namboothiri M G of Kollam is the outgoing melsanthi of the Malikappuram shrine.
Damodaran Namboothiri told reporters that he had only limited expectations, as he had figured in the melsanthi selection list on four previous occasions but was not selected.
“It is the blessing of God and the prayers of my ancestors that such an opportunity has come now,” he said.
He added that he would serve sincerely in accordance with the directions of the temple authorities.
After the election, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president K Jayakumar contacted the elected melsanthis.
Speaking to reporters, Jayakumar expressed happiness that the procedure was completed smoothly.
“Previously, there used to be some dissenting voices or minor issues, but we stand here with satisfaction that there were none this time,” he said.
Jayakumar said that due to the Lord’s blessings, there is a greater rush for the Thulam month pooja than usual.
“There are already over 50,000 bookings through the virtual queue. Bookings are available for two days as well. On the 18th and 19th, more than 50,000 people made bookings,” he said.
The temple opened on Saturday evening as part of five days of Thulam month pooja.
(PTI News)
