In our culture, great importance is placed on visiting and praying at the Family Deity’s Temple at least once a year, especially after significant family events. Around the age of one, a child's head is tonsured at the designated place in the Temple. I am uncertain whether I or any of my siblings had the tonsure ceremony there, but for both my sons, we made the visit and held the ceremony.

In those days, there were no hotels or restaurants nearby, so we had to commute from a place called Mayuram. The taxis charged fixed fares, which were exorbitant, never operating on a meter. Fortunately, a couple of good hotels with nice restaurants have opened up recently, making visits easier. It is often said that one should stay at least one night in the vicinity of the Temple to breathe the air and feel the energy.

Since we had not visited the Temple for a long time due to various reasons, my wife and I decided in 1998 to make the trip. We also visited the village Temple where our village Deity, Lord Bhairava, resides. One of my colleagues from Trichy organized a car and accompanied us to both Temples. The village Temple was in poor condition. A generous family that had been taking care of it decided to raise funds for renovations from families with roots in the village. Those willing contributed, and the family successfully renovated the Temple. It looks nice now, with daily pujas performed. We have visited the Temple a few times, though we did not manage to go recently.

My mother always said that three Temples are very important: the local Temple near where you reside, the Family Deity's Temple, and your Ishta Devata. We have made it a practice to visit the Temple at least once a year, although the pandemic put a temporary halt to this tradition.

Last January, the entire family—our sons and their families—visited the Temple and a few nearby Temples. However, this year, we have not been able to go so far. My eyesight has deteriorated significantly, and we were all concerned about how my wife and I would manage. However, our recent visits to Bangalore, Kancheepuram, and Thirukkadaiyur restored our spirit, energy, and belief. Since my elder son is visiting shortly, we decided to plan a visit to the Temple during that time.

Why am I being so elaborate? Do you remember the poem "My Walking Stick," which I talked about long ago and that won me the Best Poem of the Month award on FanStory? And do you know who or what my walking stick is? It is my wife, whose 71st birthday is approaching.

Contd. 301. The Never Aging Walking Stick - Part 2