The lord Ayyappa shrine of Sabarimala, Kerala’s famous mountainous Hindu pilgrim centre, was opened on Monday evening for the 65-day annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage. The 41-day Mandalam pilgrimage season would start on the morning of Tuesday, the first day of the Vrischikam month of the Malayalam calendar.
The sanctum sanctorum of the lord Ayyappa temple was opened by the outgoing Melshanti (head priest), EN Krishnadas Namboothiri, overseen by traditional chief priest of the shrine, Tantri Mahesh Mohanaru, on Monday evening in the presence of thousands of pilgrims. The adjoining shrine of Malikappuram Devi also was opened on Monday evening.
The outgoing Melshanti first opened the sanctum sanctorum, lighted the holy lamp inside, conducted the usual Pooja and came down the holy 18 steps leading to the temple courtyard where he lighted the fire column, Aazhi, as the Mantra of “Saranam Ayyappa” rose from the lips of thousands of devotees.
Sankaran Namboothiri and Unnikrishnan Namboothiri were installed as the Melshantis for the next one year for the lord Ayyappa shrine and the Malikappuram Devi temple respectively. The new Melshanti will open the sanctum sanctorum of lord Ayyappa shrine on Tuesday morning for regular pujas.