We met Satish Gurukkal at Ellaiamman, to get some broad context on the temple even though it’s under construction and no utsavam is happening. He spoke a great deal about the once-importance and then decline of this temple, due to corruption and loss of land and property. He also keeps the existing ubhayakaras in play, by doing the pujas they have committed to and sending them photos, prasadam etc. It’s the only way that continuity gets maintained. Temples going through Thiruppani like this face existential risks of the loss of their established bases of support.