Venkat, Satish Arun and Chandra attended the Wedding which was conducted in accordance to Chettinad traditions.
The Wedding Hall is a private Home.. typical Chettinad Architecture..
I visited the previous day attending their private function and had lunch with them ..
I was STUNNED to know from Venkat's father that ::
Venkat's Great Grandfather - became a SANYASI ... GURU .. relinquishing EVERTHING.. and it appears he was funding THREE SAMASTHANAMs in Southern India.. Rajas Sethupathi of Ramnad, Rajas Bhonse of Thanjavur and Raja of Pudukottai !!
I could not but recall Warren Buffe ( Wolrd's 2nd Billionair) Who visited India and stated among our Business Students that he has earned enough for his sons.. and their sons should earn themselves and he would like to relinquish his huge assets to Charities !!
Venkat said his Great grandfather's Samadhi is located near Kalayarkoil and the family conducts Gurupuja annually !!
His Home (Palace ) in Devakottai is known as Zamin Palace - wherein King of Nepal and another Royal personality - stayed prior to the Independence !!
There used to Elephants in their Kottaram !!
Yet our most respected Venkat is so simple and accessable.. !!
The wedding was conducted in Venkat's grandmother's Home.. !!
And talking of Vairam !
They are in Education and other Business..
His Grandfather, Father and Mother have attended our PS Group function on the 15th August 2009 !!
They invited us for a traditional Chettinad food at their Home.. !! We could not go since Vairam left for the USA by then.
Even in the brief moments my meeting him, he spoke only of SANGAM LITERATURE - script - words - works etc., !!
Chandra's paternal side SWAMI SUDDHANANDHA BHARATHI ( of nearby Sivaganga ) was Teaching in Devakottai School those year !!
While returning I picked a Drinking Water bottle and noted it was labeled :: AVM
Of course, how can we forget AVM !!
The Legend Meyyappa Chettiar - who constructed the FIRST STUDIO in Devakottai prior to the AVM Studio was constructed in Chennai ?
And Venkat rightly recalled that in their Home ( Palace ) Legends like MS Subbalakshi was rendering musical performance for not less than 50 times over the years.. !!
I am very much aware of these .. for the Water -Tanks in nearby villages are known as FIRST MANDAGAPPADI (First Day Festival) tank, 2nd Mandagappadi Tank... like wise and there used to be 7 - 8 of them in Chettinad Vilalges each one connected to a small temple atleast.. !!
And in these Festivals, Malakkottai Govindasamy Pillai (Violin) , Pudukkottai Dakshinamurthy Pillai (Mridangam) , Tiruvavaduthurai Rajarathnam Pillai (Nagaswaram), Maharajapuram Viswanathapuram ( Vocal) used to take part.
Ariyakkudi Ramanujam Iyengar - Music Dyon - hails from (karaikkudi) nearby Ariyakkudi !!
The Nagarathars' contribution to South Indian Classical Music, Art and Architecture is enormous and trend-setting..
Likewise AV Meyyappachettiar set the trend for South Indian Film industry as well !!
and this trend continues by way of contributions from Venkat.. Vairam and similar Simple but Super Persons..