Sabarimala tantri Kandararu MaheshwararuAlappuzha: Kandararu Maheshwararu, the chief priest of the famed Sabarimala Temple, died on Monday. He was 91.
He was unwell for quite a while due to age-related issues. He was the senior member of the Thazhamon family of temple priests. The family traces its origin to Andhra Pradesh and is believed to have reached Kerala during the time of the legendary sage Lord Parasurama.
Maheshwararu commenced priestly duties at the Sabarimala Temple at the age of 17. He had arrived at Sabarimala in the company of Kandararu Shankar, who was the brother of his father Kandararu Paramesvararu.
Kandararu Shankararu had re-installed the idol of Lord Ayappa at the Sabarimala Temple in the traditional Malayalam year 1126 after a fire gutted the holy shrine. Maheshwararu had assisted his uncle during this ceremony. As chief priest Kandararu Maheshwararu had installed the deity at the Durga Temple at Malikapuram, a shrine adjacent to the Sabarimala Temple.
Kandararu Maheshwararu was the senior member of the Thazhamon family of temple priestsMaheshwararu was born on July 28, 1927, which corresponds to the Punartham astrological star in the month of Karkidakam in the traditional calendar. He was initiated into temple rituals by his father, who had died when he was a child. Traditional scholars taught him Sanskrit at home. He conducted his maiden worship (puja) at the Mahadevar Temple at Chengannur at the age of 12 as per a long-standing family custom.
Maheshwararu had held deity installation ceremonies abroad also.
Devaki Antharjanam is his wife. His children are Kandararu Mohanararu, Mallika and Devika. His sons-in-law are M S Ravi Namboodiri and late Iswaran Namboodiri. His daughter-in-law is Asha Devi.
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