Times were when, just after Saraswati Yamam1, one could see the scantily clad Pattar2 in a hurry to get to the Puzha Kadavu3, for his morning bath. Smearing of holy ash over his forehead, chest, hands and neck and off to the Gramam temple for a darshanam4 of his Ishta Devata5. Hours of pooja, before he could have his first morsel of food. The chanting of mantras reverberated through out the Agraharams.
No one adjective fits the Palakkad Iyer perfectly. He is a combination of various elements, has varied interests, which …