The customary draw of lots to select the new head priests (Melsanthi) at the Lord Ayyappa Temple as well as the Malikappuram Devi Temple at Sabarimala Sannidhanam will be held at the respective temples on the first day in the Malayalam month of Thulaam on October 18.
The Ayyappa temple will be opened on October 17 afternoon for the five-day monthly rituals in the Malayalam month of Thulaam that begins the next day. The Melsanthi, Ezhikode Sasi Namboodiri, will open the sanctum sanctorum at 5.30 pm on Monday and the rituals will begin with the hereditary chief priest (Tantri), Kandararu Maheswararu, performing the Ashtadravya Ganapati homom on October 18 morning.
Priests shortlisted
Travancore Devaswom Board will conduct the customary draw of lots to select the new head priests for the Ayyappa shrine and the Malikappuram Devi Temple on Tuesday morning as the one-year term of the incumbent priests at these temples ends on November 17.
TDB has shortlisted 10 priests from among a total of 47 eligible applicants for the Sabarimala Melsanthi post and 13 priests for the post of Malikappuram Melsanthi for the draw of lots on the basis of a personal interview held in Thiruvananthapuram a few days ago.
According to TDB sources, the 10 priests, who have been shortlisted for the draw of lots to select the Sabarimala Melsanthi are: N. Balamurali of Edamana Illom at Sreekanteswarom in Thiruvananthapuram, M.P. Krishnan Namboodiri of Marangattu Illom at Karamana in Thiruvananthapuram, T.K. Eeswaran Namboodiri of Korangalam at Manakkad in Thiruvananthapuram, M.S. Parameswaran Namboodiri of Madavana Mana at Angamaly, S. Krishnan Namboodiri of ‘Sreevallabhom’ at Mathilbhagom near Thiruvalla, M.N. Krishnan Namboodiri of Marangattu Illom at Onanthuruthu in Kottayam, K.N. Narayanan Bhattathiri of Karunattu Illom in Pala, M.N. Narayanan Namboodiri of Muringoor Mana at Attukal, T.M. Muraleedharana of Theeyannoor Mana at Shoranur in Palakkad and Ezhikode Krishnan Namboodiri of Ezhikode Mana near Cheruthuruthy.
The 13 priests shortlisted for the draw of lots to select the Malikappuram Melsanthi are: V. Harikumar Namboodiri of Bhagavathi Padinjare Illom at Kadakad near Pandalam, T.M. Unnikrishnan Namboodiri of Thekkumparambathu Mana at Karalmanna in Palakkad, M.N. Narayanan Namboodiri of Muringoor Mana at Attukal in Thiruvananthapuram, R. Madhavan Namboodiri of Mambuzha Madhom at Budhanur near Chengannur, S. Krishnan Namboodiri of ‘Sreevallabhom’ at Mathilbhagom near Thiruvalla, T.K. Eeswaran Namboodiri of Koramangalam at Attukal in Thiruvananthapuram, K.G. Pradeepkumar of Ponalloor Illom at Vallichira in Pala, P.M. Narayanan Namboodiri of Vattakkulam Mekkattu Mana at Edappal in Malappuram, M.P. Rajeev of Muttamala Mana at Irumbliyam in Malappuram, Shambhu Namboodiri of Kuruvakkode Illom at Kannancherry in Kozhikode, N. Madhava Sarma of Vellimana Illom at Pazhaveedu in Alappuzha, S.E. Sankaran Namboodiri of Shobha Niwas at Peringol near Thiruvalla and U.M. Narayanan Namboodiri of Kalady at Karamana in Thiruvananthapuram.
The TDB authorities will prepare the lots at the respective temple sopanam itself in the presence of devotees. The special commissioner appointed by Kerala High Court will pick a child devotee from among the pilgrims present at the temple premises to draw the lots.
As it being the custom, the new head priests will assume charge on the first day in the Malayalam month of Vrischikom on November 17, when the annual pilgrimage to Sabarimala begins.
