Date:19/10/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/10/19/stories/2003101903161000.htm

National

New Melsanthi for Sabarimala temple

By Our Staff Reporter

SABARIMALA Oct. 18. The new Melsanthi (head-priest) for the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple for the next one-year term has been selected. A draw of lots was held at the temple Sopanam today.

Gosala Vishnu Vasudevan (39), a priest at the Padmanabha Swami temple in Thiruvananthapuram, was selected for the post.

He will assume charge on the first day of the Malayalam month of Vrischikom, November 17.

The draw was held under the supervision of the Special Commissioner appointed by the Kerala High Court, D. Sreevallabhan. Mr. Vasudevan has also been ranked first in the personal interviews conducted to short-list nine from among the 79 eligible priests for the coveted post.

The head-priests will be installed by the Tantri in a simple ceremony to be held at the Sopanam of the respective temples on the Mandalam eve, November 16.