"Thatha," Karthik whispered, his voice breaking. "I felt it. For one moment, I wasn't Karthik the engineer. I was just… a human. And that was enough."
"…Maanida janmam punya janmam… idharku saavai poda vendam." punyajanam mantra in tamil
Every morning, as the first rays hit the stone gopuram , Somanathan would chant the in Tamil. His voice, though frail, would rise like incense: "Mannil pirandha pin, punya janam edutha pin, kadavulai kandu kolluvadhu kadamai. Maanida janmam punya janmam, idharku saavai poda vendam." (Having taken birth on this earth, having taken this meritorious birth, it is our duty to realize the Divine. This human birth is a sacred birth; do not waste it.) "Thatha," Karthik whispered, his voice breaking