Chapter Six
What use is shame, all the village knows.
If I am to be cured … then take me to him
Nacciyar Tirumoli 12:2
‘It is a vision of majesty, madam.’
I was standing in the shadow of Srirangam’s largest temple tower, straining my neck back to take it all in. A vision indeed painted in technicolour. I nodded to the voice hovering at my ear.
‘It is the raja gopuram madam. The first and largest tower through which the devotees will be entering on their way to the most sacred temple in all of India. You will be passing through six more towers, madam, before reaching the shrine of our Lord Ranganatha.’
It was early morning. I had slept through the night. Had it not been for the flip-flop of thongs up and down the Pilgrim House hallway and next door’s guest—his snorts, guttural throat
