i grew up in vridhachalam. my house was just opposite to the west gopuram. those days it was closed and we used go to school near the north gate. the temple was our play ground between 2-4pm. boys and girls would play there for that two hours. from 4pm temple will be opened to public till then the temple was our private citadel.
the kandaradhithan gopuram, 28 siva agama mandapam, azhathu pillayar shrine and the anai kulam....etc were our most utilised play fields.
those days one of our school mates(rangan if i remember correctly)found out a small treasure buried inside the temple garden and it became a news. the treasure then was estimated a few lacks!
the 100 pillaired mandapam and the stone chriot within that premises the nandi ....where we would play hide and seek. the temple watchman and his intimidating behaviours, the early morning nadhaswarm by the isai vellala families, the annual katcheies, the proud karkathar family trusties of the temple, the brahmin priests with elephantiasis, the pongal atmosphere ....god those days!! they are gone gone and gone for ever.