Melsanthi N. Damodaran Namboodiri, accompanied by tantri Kandararu Maheswararu, opening the sanctum sanctorum of the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala on Wednesday afternoon.

Pathanamthitta, October 17, 2013: Sabarimala witnessed heavy rush with the opening of the Ayyappa temple on Wednesday afternoon for the five-day monthly rituals in the Malayalam month of Thulam that begins on Thursday.

A large number of devotees undertook the pilgrimage to the temple, braving heavy rains in the forests in the afternoon. Head priest N. Damodaran Potti, accompanied by chief priest (tantri) Kandararu Maheswararu, opened the sanctum sanctorum at 5.30 p.m.

The tantri, assisted by the Melsanthi and other priests, prepared the Brahmakalasom in a silver vessel and kalasom (holy water) in 1,000 small copper urns at the northern ‘mandapam’ of the temple for the ‘Sahasrakalasabhishekom’ ritual to be held prior to the Utchapuja on Thursday.

The temple rituals will begin only with the tantri performing the ‘Ashtadravya Ganapati homom’ on Thursday morning.

The selection of the new head priests for the Ayyappa temple as well as the Malikappuram Devi temple will be held through a draw of lots at the respective temples on Thursday morning.

M.P. Govindan Nair, Travancore Devaswom Board president; Subhash Vasu, and P.K. Kumaran, board members, will prepare the lots after the ‘ushapuja.’

Child nominees

Vyas J. Varma and Gauthami S. Varma, two child nominees of the Pandalam palace, will draw the lots for selecting two new Melsanthis for the two temples at Sabarimala for the next one year beginning from November 16.

N. Babu, Special Commissioner appointed by the Kerala High Court, will monitor the proceedings.

Besides the ‘Sahasrakalasabhishekom’ and ‘Kalabhabhishekom,’ ‘Padipuja,’ ‘Udayasthamanapuja,’ ‘Ashtabhishekom,’ and ‘Pushpabhishekom’ will be the other important rituals to be performed at the Ayyappa Temple on the five days.

The temple will be closed after the Athazhapuja on October 21 evening.

Source: The Hindu, October 17, 2013