PALAKKAD: He was busy with the Usha Pooja at the Ayyappan temple in Cherpulassery in Palakkad. Just as the devotees chanted ‘saranam Ayyappa’, T M Unnikrishnan Namboodiri learnt that he has been chosen as the melshanthi – head priest – of the biggest of them all – the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.
Speaking to New Indian Express, Unnikrishnan Namboodiri was understandably ecstatic to be chosen through the lot system – he was shortlisted six times so far, besides figuring the shortlist for the post of melshanthi in the Malikapuram Devi temple three times including this year.
“This is a great moment,” he told New Indian Express.
Namboodiri has been the head priest of the Guruvayur temple from April to September 2010.
From the historic Thekkumparambath mana in Karalmanna, Namboodiri moved to Cherpulassery six years ago, where he lives with his mother, Arya Antharjanam, wife Nija, a school teacher, and two schoolgoing sons.
M A Manukumar from Changancherry was selected as the next head priest of the Malikapuram Devi temple. The priests of these temples are chosen by a draw lots.
Namboodiri and Manukumar will assume charge on November 16, the beginning of the Malayalam month of Vrischikam, the beginning of the annual pilgrimage season.