Guruvayur head priest is doctor who worked in Russia

THRISSUR: Looking dapper in a long-sleeved turtleneck, striped beige trousers and posing for a selfie with Dubai’s Burj Al Arab in the background is not an image one would associate with the head priest of Guruvayur temple. But Kakkad Kiran Anand Namboodiri, 34, an Ayurveda doctor who ran a clinic in Moscow for six years and was appointed melshanthi of the temple on Saturday, is as worldly as it gets.

As his latest recognition shows, Kiran Anand is adept at temple rituals too. He will take charge on the night of September 30 and will function as the head priest for six months from October 1.

“My understanding is that our most blissful moments are those when we are able to pursue activities and thoughts which give happiness to us, without causing harm to anyone else. When I am performing puja, I get mentally elevated into that frame of mind and I’m able to get completely engrossed in that,” he said.

He was selected through a draw of lots. As many as 42 people had applied and 39 were shortlisted after an interview with the temple thanthri, a priest who holds a high position in the hierarchy and appoints the melshanthi.

Coming from a family of hereditary priests, Kiran Anand learnt Rigveda from Brahmasree Narayana Mangalath Agnishaman Namboodiri. His grandfather Kakkad Damodaran Namboothiri was head priest of Guruvayur temple five times, and his father’s younger brother Devadasan Namboodiri held the position twice.

“I’m extremely happy at the selection of my son as melshanthi. I had this dream, but it did not fructify, now it is Lord Gurvayurappa’s blessing that my son has been selected for the post,’’ said his father, Kakkad Anandan Nambooodiri.

Kiran Anand took his medical degree from Coimbatore Ayurveda Pharmacy College, worked in Russia for six years and for some time in Dubai.