Pathanamthitta: P N Mahesh from Putillath Mana in Enanallur, Muvattupuzha, was on Wednesday appointed the new 'melsanthi' (chief priest) of the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala for one year. At present, Mahesh is the head priest of Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple in Thrissur.
P G Murali Namboothiri from Anjoor Poongat Mana, near Guruvayur, was selected the chief priest of the adjoining Malikappuram Devi temple. He has been serving as the chief priest of the Ayyappa Swamy Temple in Somajiguda, Hyderabad for the past 25 years.
Both of them were selected to the auspicious position through a draw of lots held in front of the 'sreekovil' (sanctum sanctorum) of the hillock temple, located in Pathanamthitta district.
They were selected from a panel of priests shortlisted after interviews by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), the apex temple body that manages the hill shrine.
Two children from the Pandalam royal family - Vaideh Varma (Sabarimala) and Nirupama G Verma (Malikappuram) - took the lots in the presence of the TDB officials.
The Sabarimala temple was opened on Tuesday for pujas for Thulam month. Chief priest K Jayaraman Namboothiri opened the anctum sanctorum in the presence of Tantri Kantararu Mahesh Mohanaru.
He handed over the key to chief priest V Hariharan for opening the Malikappuram temple. Devotees performed darshan at the temple following this.
Special pujas will be held at the temple till October 22. Udayastamaya puja, Padipuja, Kalabhabhishekam and Pushpabhishekam are the different pujas that will be performed.
