V.N. Vasudevan Namboodiri will be the Melsanthi at the Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala for the next one-year period beginning from November 17, the first day of the Malayalam month of Vrischikom. Mr. Vasudevan Namboodiri is from Palakkad and is presently Melsanthi (head priest) at the Sreejalahalli Ayyappa Temple in Bengaluru.
M.N. Narayanan Namboodiri of Mambatta Illom at Tiruvanvandoor near Chengannur, will be the next Melsanthi at Malikappuram Devi Temple.
The selection of both head priests was held through a draw of lots at the respective temple sopanam on October 18.
Rishikesh S.Varma and Durga Ramdas Varma, two children from the Pandalam Palace, drew the lots at the sopanam of the Ayyappa Temple and the Malikappuram Devi Temple respectively.
The lots were prepared by the TDB president, A. Padmakumar; K.P. Sankaradas, K. Raghavan, both board members, and N. Vasu, Devaswom Commissioner, in the presence of M. Manoj, Special Commissioner appointed by the Kerala High Court.
The TDB had introduced the ‘draw of lots’ system for selecting the new Melsanthi at Sabarimala every year from 1970 following large scale allegations of corruption and malpractice involved in the conventional selection process.
Both the newly selected head priests will assume charge for the next one year period at an installation ceremony to be held at the respective temple sopanam on November 16 evening when the Ayyappa Temple opens for the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season that begins the next day.
