Kochi: New Sabarimala Melshanti designate S E Sankaran Namboothiri had his name included in final list of 'Melshanti' selection for the past 12 years and he believes the luck favouring him this time was not just coincidental.
For, the 48-year-old became Head Priest of Jalahalli Ayyappa Temple, Bangalore, known as the "Second Sabarimala", just a month before he was selected as the Sabarimala Melshanti.
"I was having a good time as the Head Priest of Ayyappa Temple, Valsad, Gujarat, till October 2014 but was forced to come back in connection with my son's treatment at Amrita Hospital. Then I worked for nearly nine months at another Ayyappa Temple at Ranni before getting appointed as the Head Priest of Jalahalli Ayyappa Temple just a month before I was selected as the Sabarimala Melshanti," Sankaran Nampoothiri, a close relative of noted poet Vishnu Narayanan Nampoothiri, told DC.
The similarities between Jalahalli Ayyappa Temple and that of Lord Ayyappa Temple, Sabarimala, don't end with the poojas and rituals followed. "The Jalahalli Temple too has members of the Thazhamon family as the traditional tantris like that of Sabarimala. Also the strict rules which ban having food from outside and not being allowed to go outside is similar to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple," Sankaran Namboothiri said.
On taking charge as Melsanthi from November 16, he would be doing poojas as 'Purappedasanthi' at the sanctorum for a year. Meanwhile, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has started Special services from Jalahalli to Pampa from Sunday.
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