Manu Namboothiri, who hails from the state’s Tantric Gurukulam Puthumana, is all set to ascent the holy Sabarimala shrine as the chief priest of Malikapuram. Son of Puthumana Easwaran Namboothiri, the young priest considers himself more fortunate than his father who has made it to the list of candidates for the chief priest post several times.
The second one to be selected as the Malikappuram Melshanthi from a Kavil Bhagavati temple, Manu Namboothiri is all praise for Pampa, Kottarakkara Ganapathy and Kavil Bhagavathi. He strongly believes that he is immensely indebted to these deities for all his fortunes.
*What is special about Puthumana Illam?
Traditionally, our ancestors at Puthumana Illam enjoyed a reverential status in performing temple rituals; we used to do Mantrika and Vaidika karmas such as marriage and upanayanam. My brother Maheshvaran Namboothiri is a Tantric scholar.
*Your relation with Tantra Vidya Peetham?
I am the secretary of Puthumana Tantra Vidya Peetham.
*How are you connected to Thirupathy?
In ancient times, Brahmins of Puthumana Illam were worshippers at Thirupathy. It is said that they learned tanric and mantric vidyas from a Yogi who lived there.
*A story says that your family was brought by the king. Is it true?
The ancestors of Puthumana Illam were originally from Vanneri in Kannur. The king brought them to Travancore to perform a Pooja at Thuruthy Dharma Sastha Temple.
*Where did you learn to perform poojas and other rituals?
I learned to perform poojas and tantric karmas from my grandfather Puliyoorkunnam Kaleekkal Mathom Sankaran Namboothiri and my father Puthumana Easwaran Namboothiri.
*You had been a head priest at many prominent temples?
I started working at Thrivathamkoor Devaswom Board in the year 2000. I was fortunate to serve as the head priest at Erumeli Sastha temple in 2006, Pampa Ganapathy Kovil in 2013 and Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple in 2015. Besides these, I have also served as a priest at Vazhappilly Maha Ganapathy temple, Vakathanam Dharma Sastha temple, Ramankary Vezhapra Bhadra Kali temple, Sachivothama Puram Sri Ramaswami temple and Chithra Kadavu Mahadeva Temple.
*What were the preparations before taking up the chief priesthood of Malikappurathamma?
I performed ‘Bhajana’ at Thazhamon Mathom and learned rituals and poojas from Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru and Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru. Hence, Tantri Kandararu Mohanaru is ascending the mount wholeheartedly.
*Blessings of Kavil Bhagavati?
I believe we need the blessings of Kavil Bhagavati, just as we need those of Ayyappa Swami of Malikappurathamma, for anything and every thing. Now, I am the chief priest of Kavil Bhagavati. Earlier, Vasudevan Namboothiri of Ramankary Koduppana Illam was chosen to be the chief priest of Malikappuram, while he was serving as the chief priest of Kavil Temple.
