CHOTTANIKKARA: New priests for the Chottanikkara Devi Temple have been selected in the presence of Cochin Devaswom Board members and Chottanikkara Devaswom Assistant Commissioner V G Vidyasagar.
The selection procedure was based on the lot taken by four kids. E P Damodaran Namboothiri and T P Krishnan Namboothiri were selected as the priests of Melkaavu Bhagavathy Temple. Damodaran Namboothiri is currently the priest of Aaraattu Puzha Sastha Temple and Krishnan Namboothiri at the Kochi Pazhayannoor Temple. The duo will serve as the Melshanthi during alternate months from Vrischikam 1 (November 17) onwards. The lot at Melkaavu Bhagavathy temple was taken by Devi Priya. P S Madhusoodhanan Namboothiri will be the new priest for Keezhkaavu Bhagavathy temple. T S Manojkumar Embranthiri will be priest of Sastha Temple and B V Ganeshan Embranthiri at Siva Temple. Before taking the lots, temple thanthri Puliyannoor Aniyan Narayanan Namboothiripad took the silver pot containing the names of the nominees to perform special poojas in the sanctum sanctorum.
The appointment of these priests will depend on the outcome of the case pending in the High Court regarding the seniority of priests working at the Cochin Devaswom Board
