ALAPPUZHA: Tuesday's draw of lots for Malikappuram and Sabarimala melsanthis has dashed the dream of non-Brahmin Vishnu Narayanan to enter the abode of Lord Ayyappa this season. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) had kept his application in abeyance even after its vigilance endorsed his qualifications except for caste. His name was not included in the lot, pending a decision by the High Court on a petition he had filed. The TDB had argued that the posts were not permanent and only Malayali Brahmins fit the job.
He, however, contended that the selection, whether it is for a permanent or temporary post, should not be based on caste. The state recently appointed 39 non-Brahmins, including six from SC/ST, at TDB temples as priests. On October 5, the TDB, however, shortlisted 26 Brahmins for chief priests at the twin hill shrines. Mr Narayanan, a post-graduate in English literature, has almost 19 years of experience as a priest and is now the melsanthi of Pallam Subrahmanya Swamy Temple.
