Renowned Vedic Scholar and Astrologer, Areekkara Sudheer Namboodiri will serve as the melsanthi (head priest) of the The world famous Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala, South India for a period of one year starting from November 17, 2019. The selection of the head priest was through an interview followed by lot held at the temple sopanam. "The lot was drawn by the youngest member of the Pandalam royal family Madhav K Varma," the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) said in a press release. The names of nine candidates who passed the interview held on August 8 were included in the draw of lots which included Sudheer Namboodiri and eight others. http://sabarimala.kerala.gov.in/

Being a keen traditional practitioner of Indian Astrology, Tantric and Vaidik traditions he blessed with lord ayyappa, Sabarimala as he has been chosen as main priest at Sabarimala for the period 2019-2010. Shri Sudheer Namboodiri was born as the second child of Late Areekara Narayanan Namboodiri (Chief Priest, Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple) and Smt.Badra Antharjanam, Kalpuzha one among the leading Thantri family in Kerala where Thantra Sasthra Brihaspithi Kalpuzha Divakaran Namboodiripad was born

Areekara family is having its roots at Baluserry, Kozhikode and was traditionally well known for their exemplary ability in thantric and vedic practices. The family cherished with long tradition, and history says that the family was shifted to Thirunavaya, Malappuram by Zamorin and conferred as the Chief Priest of Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple, where Brahma Vishnu and Siva (Thrimoorthi) together worshiped along the bank of river Bharathappuzha. Vettakkorumakan (Lord Siva) is the family deity of Areekara and they shifted with this deity from Balussery to Thirunavaya. In their home they worshiped Vettakorumakan (Siva) and in temple (Thirunavaya) they worshiped Lord Vishnu. Sudheer Namboodiri is also think his opportunity to serve as the Chief Priest of Sabarimala where Lord Ayyappa (Hariharasutha) is as the blessing of his Temple deity Navamukunda (Lord Vishnu = Hari) and family diety Vettakorumana (Lord Siva= Hara). He served Hari, Hara and now being a priest of Sabarimala he is serving Harihara.

Sudheer Namboodiri in his child hood days showed his interest in Astrology, Veda and Thantric rituals. He started practicing Pooja in 13 year old and he later started his learning in astrology through traditional Gurukula model from the Astrologer Karunakaran Nambiar. He further added his knowledge by learning deep into the astrology including Ashtamangalya prasna from renowned Acharya brahmasri Manapuzha Raman Namboodiri who served for leading temples including Sabarimala and Guruvayoor.