To be a Mel Santhi of Sabarimala Temple is a unique once in a life time honour bestowed on selected individuals.
Sannidhanam, in early 1940s, 50s and 60s , was just wild jungle which few pilgrims visited. It is understood that a VR Gopala Menon of Alapuzha used to stay on at Sannidhanam even when the temple was closed. He built a shack and stayed there even when no human being was anywhere near there during those days when the temple was closed. It was said that the wild animals never troubled him and that he used to feed the wildest of animals. Some years later, when Devasom Board was formed, I understand, he was asked to move out. He died as an orphan of the world at Vandiperiyar. He was the only companion to Thirumeni Eashwaran Nampoothiri (mentioned below) in those wild old days of solitude and dedication. Revered Menon used to recite `Harivarasanam' with all devotion. When Thirumeni Eashwaran Nampoothiri heard about the demise of Revered Menon, at the end of the monthly poojas when he was about to close the doors of the Sanctum Sanctorum, he remembered Revered Menon and recited "Harivarasanam' starting a nostalgic tradition that remains unbroken to this day.
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An illustrious Mel Santhi was Eshwaran Nampoothiri.
(Photograph as shown in Year 2000 edition of `Thiruvabharanam' of Malayala Manorama)
He was the Mel Santhi during the first part of 1950s. He was the one who re-installed the idol on (Nakshatram Atham) 4th of Edava Masam , 1126 Malayalam Calendar (after it was desecrated in 1950s by anti-hindu elements). He was also the initiator who started traditions like:-
Reciting `Harivarasanam` at the moment of closure of the Sanctum Sanctorum.
Commencement of `Uthrada' Sadya on 12th September 1951
Nine priests were in the run for the most scared post, after the preliminary
test conducted at the Devaswom Board headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram.
The procedure goes as follows for the main temple and the Malikapuram temple.
The names of the short listed candidates are written down on small pieces of paper, crumpled and placed in a silver urn.
A second silver urn is also made available. It also has nine slips of paper. Eight are blank. One has the inscription `Melsanthi'.
A randomly selected child from amongst the pilgrims present is chosen to draw a slip of paper from the first urn. The name is read out aloud. Another randomly picked child draws a piece of paper from the second urn. That slip will either be a blank slip or will have the inscription` Melsanthi' written on it. If it is a blank slip, the name called out will drop put of the race. The sequence is repeated with the first urn and the second urn, till the slip with the inscription of `Melsanthi' is picked up from the second urn.
Similar process if followed at the `Malikapuram' temple to choose the `Malikapuram' Melsanthi.
The year 2007 procedure for the draw of lots began with Travancore Devaswom Board president C.K. Gupthan along with members P. Narayanan and Sumathykutty Amma preparing the lots at the temple Sopanam at 9.45 am. The lots , for the position of Melsanthi of Sabarimala temple was were drawn by a six-year-old girl Maalu from Neyyattinkara, who was selected from among the devotes present at the sopanam. A nine-year-old girl, Madhumitha of Villupuram in Tamil Nadu, drew the lots for the post of the Melsanthi of Mailkapuram.
T.K. Krishnan Namboodiri, 46, of Thekkiniyedathu Koothully Mana at
Kumaranalloor in Palakkad district was selected Melsanthi of Sabarimala Lord
Ayyappa Temple in a draw of lots held at the temple on Thursday forenoon. He
will be holding this position of reverence for a one year period commencing 16
November 2007 (Malayalam calendar 1st Vrichikam 1183).
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TR Krishnan Nambudhri |
M.N. Krishnan Namboodiri, 47, of Mangattu Illom at Onamthuruthu in Kottayam
was selected Melsanthi of Malikappuram Devi Temple in another draw of lots
held at Malikappuram.
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Shri MN Krishnan Nambudhri |
On 16th November 2007 evening, the outgoing Melsanthi E Eswaran Nampoothiri
opened the sanctum sanctorum in the presence of Tantri Kantararu Maheswaru and
lighted the ceremonial lamps. At the same time, the 'Malikappuram Devi temple'
was also opened by Melsanthi S Madhusoodanan Potti simultaneously.
After this the Sabrimala Melsanthi went down the Eighteen Sacred steps and
kindled the 'Azhi.'
The next event was the anointing of the new Melsanthis, T K Krishnan
Nampoothiri of Sabarimala temple. This was initiated by Tantri Kantararu
Maheswaru. The Tantri who performed 'Kalasapooja' poured holy water on the
Melsanthi at the Sanctum sanctorum and whispered the 'Moola Mantra' of Ayyappa
into his ears. Subsequently, the new Melsanthi of Mailkapuram temple was also
anointed at the Malikapuram temple.
Thereafter,after closing the temple whilst singing the customary 'Harivarasanam',
the erstwhile Melsanthi descended the holy eighteen steps and bid adieu to the
temple after a year long stay.
Regular poojas will commence from that data with a Ganapathi Homam.' The 'Neyyabhishekam'
would begin from 0430 hrs on 17th November 2007.
Siddiq Musaliyar Haji, a descendant of Lord Ayyappa's Muslim disciple Vavar, died of cardiac arrest at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam on 29th November 2007. Seventynine-year-old Musaliyar Haji, while seated at Vavaru Nada in meditation, felt uneasy and was rushed to Sannidhanam Government hospital where he was pronounced 'brought dead' at 1015 hrs. He is survived by wife, six sons and a daughter.
He
served as the custodian of Vavar at Vavarunada adjacent to Ayyappa temple for
the last 50 years during the Mandalam Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.Mr
Musaliar was the senior most member of the Vavar family who was allowed to be
present at the hill shrine premises all through the two-month-long pilgrimage
season to bless the pilgrims.
AKhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham volunteers carried his body to Pampa where
the family members took over the body. His body was taken to the ancestral house
at Padimannu near Mallappally around noon. The funeral was held in the family
Khabarsthan at the Vaipur Muslim Old Mosque on 30th November 2007. tomorrow.
On hearing the news of the death, the ongoing ''Neyyabhishekam'' ritual was stopped. The sacred 18-steps were also closed to the devotees for an hour. After conducting the purificatory rites like ''Pancha Punyaham'' and ''Sudhikalasam'' at the temple under the guidance of Tantri Kantaru Maheswararu, the ''Neyyabhishekam'' was resumed at 1115 hrs.
Shri Abdul Karim Musaliar (72 yrs) has been elected as the custodian of Vavarunada at Sannidhanam. He belongs to Vettiplackal family who are considered as the descendant of Vavar Swamy. Because of his advanced age, he does not intend going to Vavaunada straight away. He will go there only when there is a need.
However, six of his representatives will take care of all the affairs of Vavarunadanada at Sannidhanam.
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