KOTTAYAM: He lives engulfed in the divinity of the temple; hands sandal paste and flowers as prasadam to devotees. However, in mind, Vaikom native Unnikrishnan Namboothiri has only one craze, bike stunting.

Early into his life, he switched away from the IT profession that offered him lakhs. The 34-year-old is currently the chief priest of Manjoor Puthukulangara Devi temple. After completing the morning puja, Unnikrishnan will adorn a jacket, protected with headgear, and turns to switchback stunts near the temple premise to make many people gape. The routine applies the same after evening puja.

The chief priest aims for the title in the Indian national rally championship to be held in Coimbatore this July. The priest wants a victory to take him further to the arduous terrains of the Himalayas for another rally to be held late this year.

The devotees always swarm up in big numbers on the temple ground to see the chief priest perform. Some among the ladies miss a beat or move their fists to their mouths giving small yelps watching the stunts. Whatever his craze, Unnikrishnan Namboothiri never compromises his profession for bike stunts. God's grace is what he believes in and the devotees are more than supportive of his crazy choice of interest that is contrary to his profession.

The craze for offroad riding sprouted in 2007 during his college days. The family was perturbed by his endeavors but later withdrew protest learning how deep he was into it.