GURUVAYOOR: Vadakancheri Panangattukara Pallissery Manaikal Madhusudhanan Namboothiri, aged 53 has been selected as the Melshanthi of Guruvayoor temple for the upcoming six months. His term will commence on April 1. On the 31st of this month, he will officially assume his duties after the evening dinner. Preceding his assumption of office, there will be a twelve-day bhajan ceremony in the temple.

This marks his second tenure as the chief minister with his previous term lasting from April 1, 2017 for six months.

Following yesterday's pooja, a draw was conducted in the namaskara mandapam, located in front of the shrine. Out of 56 applicants, 54 were invited for a meeting with Tantri Chennas Dinesan Namboothiripad. Ultimately, 50 individuals participated and 45 qualified names were placed and deposited in the silver tank. The incumbent Melshanti Pottakuzhi Srinath Namboothiri drew the lot.

Madhusudanan Namboothiri acquired his knowledge of pooja vidhis from Mundayur Manakal Sreedharan Namboothiri and his late father, Subramanian Namboothiri. Currently, he serves as the Melshanti at the Nelluvai Dhanvanthari temple of the Cochin Devaswom Board, a position he has held for 20 years.

Popularly known as Machad Madhusudhan, he is also an accomplished artist who has performed panchavadyam in various renowned temples including Guruvayur.

Madhusudhan Namboothiri's wife Nisha, hails from Pillaikot Mana, Kottayam. He has two sons, Shravan, who works at Federal Bank in Aluva and Unnikrishnan.