'Melshanti' of the Sabarimala temple for the next pilgrim season has been selected through a draw of lots: File photoSannidhanam: A.V. Unnikrishnan Nambudiri from Mangalathu Azhakathu Mana, Chalakkudy, has been selected as the chief priest of Sabarimala temple Tuesday.
Starting Sagittarius in the lunar calendar in December, when the temple will reopen for the pilgrim season, Unnikrishnan Nambudiri will assume charge as the chief priest or 'melshanthi' of the Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala.
Since 2011, following a Supreme Court order, the temple lots are being drawn by children selected by a committee set up under the Pandalam royal family. The committee had named eight-year-old Surya Varma and nine-year-old Hridya Varma for the process.
Surya Varma, drew the lot to select the Sabarimala priest after the 'ushapooja' at the shrine in the presence of devaswom minister Kadakampilly Surendran and devaswom board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan.
There were 14 probable names for the post at Sabarimala and 12 for Malikappuram temple.
Hridya Varma drew the lot that selected Aneesh Nambudiri from Mynagappally, Kollam, as the chief priest of the Malikappuram temple.
The Malikappuram temple is ritualistically connected to the Sabarimala shrine as the reigning deity, a Goddess, 'visits' the Sabarimala temple every year in a ritualistic procession.
Myth has it that the Goddess arrives decked up in the expectation that she will get wedded to the deity at Sabarimala, Lord Ayyappa, believed to be a 'brahmachari'.
Believers say that the God had promised the Goddess at Malikappuram temple that she will become his wife in the year when no new devotees arrive at the hill shrine for worship.
Read more at: Latest in Kerala | Amit Shah to join 'Janaraksha Yatra' in TVPM today
