KUMBAKONAM
Kumbakonam has many ancient names - Thiru Kuzhandai, Bhaskara kshetram, and Koodavayil. It is surrounded in every direction by ‘Koyil gopuram’, or temple towers. It is a town where just around the corner from every doorstep exists the entryway of an ancient temple structure. A structure sculpted by stories, celebrated by devas and rishis, and memorialized by music and dance. It is the glory of the past that is breathing in the present…and will stay alive in the future.
Kalyanasundareshwara
From Thirunallur, come the procession of Nataraja. This Lingam is also called Panchavarnehwara because of the changing colors. Venkata is now older and already thinking of writing his book. The Somaskandar murthi in this temple is his favorite deity. Venkata already knows the first verse in his book is going to be ‘Somaskandar Upasmahe’
Chakrapani
In 1620 Govinda Dikshithar builds the Ramaswamy temple and makes a new high road connecting it to the Chakrapani temple. When the procession comes out on this road, Ayyan Veedhi people are jubilant. Venkata adores his father’s care for all the people of this town. Venkata knows that this quality of his father is hardest for him to emulate.