Sankaran Namboothiri of Karakkatt Illam, Ayarkkunnam in Kottayam district was on Sunday selected as the Melshanti (head priest) of lord Ayyappa temple of Sabarimala, Kerala’s famous Hindu pilgrim centre, for the one year starting with the next pilgrimage season. He is presently Melshanti of Ayyappa temple at Jalahalli, Bangalore.

He was selected as the Melshanti of the Sabarimala temple through draw of lots held at Sannidhanam, the abode of lord Ayyappa, on Sunday morning. Earlier, Sankaran Namboothiri was head priest at the lord Subrahmania temple at Thiruvanchoor, Kottayam.

ES Unnikrishnan Namboothiri of Edakkanam Illam at Punnamparambu in Thrissur district was selected as the new Melshanti of the Malikappuram Devi temple adjoining the lord Ayyappa temple. The draw of lots for this was held at the Malikappuram temple. He is presently the head priest of the lord Shiva temple, Karumarakkad.

The newly selected Melshantis will head the sacred affairs including Poojas at their respective temples at Sabarimala for a period of one year from November 17, first day of the Vrischikam month of the Malayalam calendar and the day the 41-day Mandalam pilgrimage season begins at the hill shrine.

As per the tradition at the Sabarimala temple, the head priests are selected through draw of lots from among the shortlisted candidates on the morning of the first day of the month of Thulam of the Malayalam calendar. Sankaran Namboothiri was selected from a list of 14 candidates while there were five candidates in the list for the Malikappuram temple.

The ceremonial installation of the new Melshanthis will be held on November 16, the day the shrine opens for the 41-day Mandalam pilgrimage. The selection of the Melshanthis was held in the presence of the authorities of the Travancore Devaswom Board administering the temple, including board president MP Govindan Nair.