Krishnadas is Sabarimala head priest Sunday, 19 October 2014 | PNS | Kochi | in Sunday Pioneer 12345 0 EN Krishnadas Namboothiri of Ezhikode Mana, Panjal in Thrissur district was on Saturday selected as the Melshanthi (head priest) of the Lord Ayyappa temple of Sabarimala, Kerala’s famous Hindu pilgrim centre. He is presently the Melshanthi of the Sree Mahadeva temple at Pavakkulam in Kochi. S Kesavan Namboothiri, a member of the Cheruthala Madhom in Mavelikkara, Alappuzha district was selected as the Melshanthi of the Malikappuram Devi temple adjoining the Lord Ayyappa shrine at the mountain pilgrim centre. Both the head priests were selected through draw of lots at the respective temples. The new Melshanthis will head the sacred affairs including Poojas at their respective temples for a period of one year fromNovember 17, first day of the Vrischikam month of the Malayalam calendar and the day the 41-day Mandalam pilgrimage season begins at the hill shrine. As per the tradition at the Sabarimala temple, the head priest is selected through draw of lots from among the shortlisted candidates on the morning of the first day of the month of Thulam of the Malayalam calendar. The ceremonial installation of the new Melshanthis will be held on November 16, the day the shrine opens for the Mandalam pilgrimage. There were nine candidates shortlisted for the position of Melshanthi at the Lord Ayyappa shrine this year while the list for the Malikappuram temples post contained five names. The lots were drawn at the respective temples by junior members of the Valiya Koyikkal Palace in Pandalam. The selection of the Melshanthis was held in the presence of the authorities of the Travancore Devaswom Board administering the temple and the special commissioner appointed by the Kerala High Court. The sanctum sanctorum of the Lord Ayyappa shrine, which had opened for the monthly pilgrimage on Friday evening, will close after the Thulam Poojas on October 23. I consider my selection as the Sabarimala Melshanthi as the biggest fortune of my life, Krishnadas Namboothiri told newsmen who met him at the Pavakkulam temple. I want to reach Sabarimala as early as possible, he added.
Posted on: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 04:20:36 +0000
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