Sabarimala witnessed heavy rush of devotees on Monday afternoon when the Ayyappa shrine was opened for the five-day monthly rituals in the Malayalam month of Thulam that begins on Tuesday. Hundreds of pilgrims trekked the steep Neelimala and Appachimedu hills to reach the Sabarimala Sannidhanam, braving the heavy downpour.
Many pilgrims are camping at the Sannidhanam for the ‘nirmalya darshan’ of the deity on Thulam 1 and to witness the draw of lots to select the next Melsanthi (head priest) at the Ayyappa temple as well as the adjoining Malikappuram Devi temple on Tuesday morning.
Sabarimala Melsanthi T.M. Unnikrishnan Namboodiri, accompanied by Tantri Kandararu Maheswararu Mohanararu, opened the sanctum sanctorum. Devaswom executive officer Chandrashekharan told The Hindu that a Kalabhabhishekom would be performed at the Ayyappa shrine prior to Utchapuja on Tuesday.
The auspicious Sahasrakalasabhishekom and Kalabhabhishekom will be performed at the Ayyappa temple prior to Utchapuja on all days from October 18 to 21. Padipuja, Pushpabhishekom, Ashtabhishekom and Udayasthamanapuja are the other important rituals to be performed at the temple on the five days. The temple will be closed after the Athazhapuja on October 21.
Priests shortlisted
D. Sureshkumar of Palamel Mangalasery Illom near Nooranadu (Alappuzha district), D. Narayanan Namboodiri of Melsanthi Madhom in Vaikom, T.K. Sreedharan Namboodiri of Thekke-Thottasserry Illom in Thiruvalla, T. Damodaran Namboodiri of Kadavalloor Thamattoro Mana in Thrissur, Varikkasserry Vasudevan Namboodiri of Sree Jalahalli Ayyappa Temple in Bengaluru, N. Pramod of Iringol Mangalathu Mana in Ernakulam, S. Eeswaran Namboodiri of Kottarkavu Gouri Vihar in Alappuzha, P.N. Mahesh of Puthillathu Mana in Muvattupuzha, A.V. Unikrishnan Namboodiri of Kodakara Mangalathu Azhakathu Mana in Thrissur, T.P. Hari Namboodiri of Kizhoor Thalpanassery Mana near Tripunithura, A.K. Sudheer Namboodiri of Tirunavaya ‘Nandanam’ in Malappuram, A.S. Sankaran Namboodiri of Neeramankara Arikkara Illom in Thiruvananthapuram, P.M. Pradeepkumar of Mundayottu Illom in Bengaluru, and N. Unnikrishnan Namboodiri of Kuriyidathu Krishna Vilasom near Chennithala are the priests shortlisted for the post of Sabarimala Melsanthi.
The draw of lots will be held immediately after Ushapuja at the respective temples. Two children from the Pandalam Palace, Hrudya Varma and Anoop Varma, will be drawing the lots.
