Nestled between the District Jail and the District Police Headquarters (formerly Armed Reserve camp) in the Civil Station ward of the Alappuzha municipality stands more than two-century-old Sri Mahaganapathi Temple, managed by the State Police department.
But what truly sets it apart is its chief priest S. Sankaran Namboothiri, a retired police Sub-Inspector.
For nearly three decades, Mr. Namboothiri enforced the law by day and performed rituals at the temple at dawn and dusk until his retirement from service in 2018. Even after retiring, he continues to serve as the temple’s chief priest.
Built for soldiers
The temple was originally built for soldiers when the present-day police headquarters served as a camp for the Travancore Army’s coastal defence unit. “The temple has a history of around 275 years. When India gained independence, both the camp and the temple were handed over to the police department,” says Mr. Namboothiri.
Today, the temple’s management is overseen by a committee of police officers with Deputy Commandant V. Suresh Babu serving as its president and Sub-Inspector V.D. Babu as secretary. District Police Chief M.P. Mohanachandran is the patron of the committee.
The beginning
Before appointing Mr. Namboothiri, the temple management committee used to hire priests from outside. “I joined the Police department as a constable in Thiruvananthapuram in 1988. Two years later, I was transferred to Alappuzha and assigned as a writer. One day, the AR camp commandant asked if I knew how to perform poojas. Having learnt temple rituals from my father, I was appointed as the temple’s priest. This led me to take on the dual role of a police officer and priest,” recalls Mr. Namboothiri, a native of Alappuzha.
Until his retirement, he balanced both roles — starting his day with temple rituals in the morning and then reporting for police duty. In the evenings, he returned to the temple. Now, having completed 35 years as a priest, Mr. Namboothiri remains dedicated to his spiritual duties. “After I retired, the temple committee asked me to continue as the chief priest and I happily agreed,” he says.
Remarkably, according to both the temple and devotees’ committees, Mr. Namboothiri has performed his temple duties free of cost all these years. Despite being under the Police department, the temple does not receive government funding.
“The temple is run by donations from police personnel and the devotees’ committee,” says Mr. Babu.
In 2014, the temple underwent a major renovation, including the reconstruction of its Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum).
