Devaswom Board Sets 58 as New Age Limit for Sabarimala, Malikappuram Melshanthis
The Travancore Devaswom Board has reduced the age limit for appointing chief priests (Melsanthi) at the Sabarimala and Malikappuram temples from 60 to 58 years. This change was outlined in a notification calling for applications to select new chief priests.
Candidates must possess at least an SSLC qualification and be Malayali Brahmins born in Kerala, proficient in the state’s traditional poojas and tantric practices. They require 12 years of service experience in temples that offer daily darshan, open twice daily, and conduct three poojas, including a continuous 10-year term as a melsanthi. Selected priests are required to reside at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam for 30 days, starting from the first day of the Malayalam month of Thulam, to perform devotional duties (bhajanam). Applications must reach the Devaswom Commissioner’s Office in Thiruvananthapuram by 5:00 PM on June 30.