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Home > Temples of Kerala > Saanthikkars SaanthikkarsSaanthikkars in temples can be broadly divided into Mel-saanthis (Chief priests) and Keezh-saanthis (Assistant priests). In some of the temples the Mel-saanthi is not allowed to go out of the temple complex during his tenure as Mel-saanthi and such category of Mel-saanthis is known as Puappada-saanthi. The Nambis who are the Chief priests, of Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple stay in the Nambi-matham maintained by the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple during their tenure of office, observing strict celibacy and many other restrictions, their movements being confined to the maryaada of the Sree PadmaInabha swamy temple and the matham, and to accompanying the deity for Pallivetta and Aaraat twice a year. Similarly in templesof Guruvayur, Peruvanam, Thuravoor, Thiruvalla, Aranmula, Evoor, etc and also in many others Saanthies by custom are Purappada-saanthi . Of late the Mel-saanthi of Sabarimala has also been declared as purappada-saanthi (from 1995 onwards)consequent on his visit to certain non-Hindu places of worship during his tenure to participate in their functions while holding the post of Mel-saanthi at-Sabarimala. As Sabarimala temple is not opened on all days, the Me1-saanthi has to spend his remaining tenure of office in anyone of the Saastha temples. There is yet another class of saanthi, known as Maasa-maaradi-santhikkaran where the Mel-saanthi and Keezh¬saanthi inter-change their posts in alternate months or fortnights. Some times it may become necessary to appoint temporarily a substitute in place of permanent saanthikkaran. In such cases the person who attends to the service is called muttu¬saanthikkaran. The essential qualifications and duties of these categories of priests are different and they are briefly described below.
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