THRISSUR: A V Unnikrishnan Nampoothiri expressed happiness and thanked God for getting a chance to serve Lord Ayyappa. It’s a great blessing and an opportunity, he said. Unnikrishnan Nampoothiri, 57, had served for 17 years at Elamakkara Perandoor Bhagavathy temple in Ernakulam. He started as an assistant priest in the temples under Cochin Devaswom Board. He had also served at the Ayyappa temple at R K Puram in Delhi. He has two children Vishnu Namboothiri and Dr Vasudevan.