The morning was still fresh when Meera and Ananya, newly appointed teachers at the local girls' school, were invited for a special morning ritual by Gowri Amma, reached the temple premises.
Meera was wearing a deep green pavadai (long skirt) with a mustard yellow sattai (blouse) and sheer davani (half-saree drape) while Ananya was wearing a maroon pavadai with a cream sattai and davani.
Both of them had tied their long into thick braids with fresh jasmine flowers..Gowri Amma was clad in a simple white cotton saree with no blouse, and greeted them.
"Come, child," Gowri Amma said.
She led them to a small wooden platform.
"You must be pure before offering prayers to the goddess. Let me cleanse you."
She dipped her fingers into a brass bowl filled with warm sesame oil. She motioned for Meera to step forward.
"Remove your davani," she said.
Meera hesitated but obeyed and carefully unpinned the fabric from her blouse and slid off her shoulders.
"Good. Now sit down."
Meera folded her hands and lowered herself onto the cool stone floor.
Gowri Amma began by massaging Meera's arms and then moving towards her shoulders. The oil dripped down and stained the fabric of Meera's yellow blouse.
Gowri Amma turned to Ananya.
"Now you, child. Take off your davani."
Ananya.undraped her maroon half-saree and sat next to Meera.
"Good girls," the priestess said.
She began rubbing oil on Ananya's arms and shoulders, and then to her neck. The warm oil soaked into Ananya's blouse. She shivered as Gowri Amma's hands brushed along her collarbone.
"The blessing must reach your skin, take off your blouses." Gowri Amma said.
Meera and Ananya looked at each other. Slowly Meera reached behind her back and unhooked the buttons and slid it off her shoulders revealing her white cotton bra. Ananya followed and peeled off her cream blouse revealing her pink floral bra.
Gowri Amma's hands pressed against their bare shoulders and applied firm strokes. Her fingers slid along their backs, moving along the straps of their bras.
"Such smooth skin," she said.
"The waist is sacred and it must be free." She continued.
She reached for the knots of their petticoats and slowly untied them. Meera gasped as the skirt loosened around her waist and slipped down. Ananya's petticoat too pooled at her ankles revealing her thighs.
"You are like temple sculptures," Gowri Amma said as she caressed the curve of their waists.