Thiruvananthapuram: P N Mahesh of Putillath Mana in Enanallur Muvattupuzha has been appointed as the new chief priest (melshanthi) of the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala for a one-year term. Currently, Mahesh serves as the melshanti of the famous Paramekavu temple in Thrissur.
P G Murali, a native of Anjoor Poongat Mana near Guruvayur, has been selected as the chief priest (melshanthi) of the adjacent Malikappuram Devi temple in Sabarimala. He previously served as the chief priest of Ayyappa Swamy temple in Somajiguda, Hyderabad for the past 25 years.
Both the chief priests were selected for their positions through a draw of lots from a panel of priests shortlisted following interviews conducted by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), the administrative body responsible for managing the Sabarimala temple. Vaideh Varma and Nirupama G Verma of the erstwhile Pandalam royal family conducted the draw of lots for Sabarimala and Malikappuram temples, respectively, in the presence of TDB officials.
The Sabarimala temple opened on Tuesday for Thulamasa puja. Chief priest K Jayaraman Namboothiri opened the sanctum sanctorum in the presence of Tantri Kantaru Mahesh Mohan. Additionally, the keys of the Malikappuram temple were handed over to the chief priest V Hariharan for the opening of the temple.
From today until the 22nd, there will be special pujas, including the daily Udayasthamaya Pooja, Padi Pooja, Kalabhabhishekam, and Pushpabhishekam. The mandala makaravilaku pilgrimage will begin on November 16, and the temple will open for Mandala mahotsavam on November 17.
