> One story that I clearly remember about the thoughts of an old archak
> (needless to say poor) in a small temple on a rainy day how the activity
> in the temple integrated with his life. This story always haunts me
> whenever I visit a less popular or less crowded temples which or either
> deteriorating or declining phase(sidhilavastha). The gross comparision is
I think the story you are referring to is 'tulasi taamboolam'. While the
description of the protaganist's wait for the devotees makes up the bulk
of the story, the last two paragarphs of that story (the tenderness and the
strength of the wife and husband on a day where they couldn't afford to
eat a regular meal) lift the story up a few more notches.
Regards. --- Chowdary Jampala