Book Erudition..!!
Title: Dynasties of Devotion: [The Secrets of 7 Iconic Hindu Temples]
Author: Deepa Mandlik
Pages: 208
Genre: Non-Fiction
Publication date: 24 February 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
About Author..!!
Deepa Mandlik has been a prolific and versatile Marathi writer for over a decade. This book has been originally published in Marathi as पराक्रमी हिंदू राजांची अव्दितीय मंदिरे and has received the Best Reference Book of the Year Award by Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Prakashak Sangh as well as the Best Book of the Year Award by the oldest literature society of Maharashtra, Granthottejak Sanstha, Pune.
Now, with Aboli Mandli, she brings it to a larger set of readers in English. Deepa has written humour, horror, science fiction, travelogues, thrillers, history, and archaeology. Her first book, Divas Ase Ki, received critical acclaim and awards, including the prestigious C. V. Joshi Award for the Best Humorous Literature of the Year. She regularly writes for numerous prestigious Marathi publications.
Book Description..!!
An odyssey that traverses countries..!!
For centuries, temples have functioned not just as places of worship but also as social and cultural centres, offering both a connection to the divine and entertainment in the form of music and dance as respite from everyday life. In Dynasties of Devotion, Deepa Mandlik explores seven ancient temples across India and Cambodia, meticulously examines historical contexts and mythological stories associated with each temple
At the Kailasa Temple in Ellora, Maharashtra, she is struck by the visual representation of fertility and abundance – Goddess Lakshmi, elegantly sitting on a lotus, surrounded by four elephants showering her with rain. Through the dancing sculptures of Shiva and Parvati at the magnificent Brihadeeswara Temple in Tamil Nadu, Deepa reveals that this Chola dynasty temple was once a prestigious platform for Bharatanatyam with nearly 400 dancers and 250 musicians in residence.
Devotional Insights..!!!
India is widely regarded as a global center of spiritual devotion due to its rich and diverse religious heritage. The country has been the birthplace of major religions and philosophical practices like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism etc. India is equipped with countless sacred sites dedicated to various faiths, attracting millions of devotees from around the world. The country’s ancient scriptures, chants, hymns, and meditative practices deepen the devotional experience. India attracts millions of pilgrims seeking spiritual fulfillment.
Temple Worship cognizance..!!!
In ancient India, temples weren’t just for prayer. They were energy centers- machines built with cosmic intent. At their peaks, metallic rods reached the skies not for decoration, but for connection to draw in energy from the ionosphere. Temples aren’t just a place of worship; they are not just cosmic power generators. They do transmit the energy to the devotees as per their eligibility.
As electric energy flows to the household, temples are powered by multiple elements for the betterment of humankind. Plants like Thulasi, Bael, Neem, Peepal, and Banyan are the main sources of air purification, which is predominantly seen in temples. Hence, it is a common notion that people who come to temples expecting peace, calmness, and serenity are often fulfilled.
Archakas (temple priests) who conduct the daily rituals(tantra) to the main deity are acupressure sinks. The hymns(mantras) recited in the temples daily are begetters of electromagnetic & microwaves. The idols are made out of Panchaloha (an amalgamation of gold, silver, copper, zinc, and iron), which are direct receptors of energy to transmit to humankind.
What is ‘Dynasties of Devotion‘?
“Dynasties of Devotion,” authored by Deepa Mandlik, is not just a travelogue; this is a religious detailing of seven notable temples within India and in Cambodia. This book isn’t just a portrayal of those temples; this is Deepa’s physical and personal experience of visiting these temples and the perpetual scrutiny accompanied by her husband and daughter. Being a South Indian, my excitement doubled as I saw that the list of temples presented in this book is mostly from the southern part of India.
The author justifies the title by imbibing the history, sacrifices, and ancestral connections that led to the building and maintenance of these temples. A vast and culturally rich country ruled by ample kings and their respective dynasties, plus their adherence to their respective dharma, which led to those structures holding cultural and historical citations. Special mention of breathtaking and picturesque images along the temple detailing boosted the majesty.
My take…!!!
Deepa’s narrative presentation echoes an inquisitive sightseer, filled with curiosity, astonishment, and a visualistic detailment most of us would tend to skip. Through Deepa’s writings, I discovered myself bringing back old memories to engross my visit to these temples and adoring the structures and the untold stories of the artisans who created them. I sincerely appreciate the research and analysis of the author and her praiseworthy effort to refer to enormous texts to serve as proof for her book narrative.
Book Emphasis..!!!
My thoughts go to the author for her magnificent presentation skills for crisp and crumbly writing by eloquently bisecting the chronicled portion of diversified attentiveness. In addition to the book content, the cover picture does play a vital role in the success of this book. Credit goes to the image owner and the designer.
I pray to God to give strength and wealth to the author and her family to visit more and more temples and to provide deeper insights to readers. I eagerly await the next set of new temple fables and pay my respects through the lens and writings of the author. For me, the missing piece in the narrative is the usage of Sanskrit tidbits/shlokas in the respective temple enumeration. I am sure the author would have analysed the Sanskrit/Devanagari scriptures during her research. I wish the author had included those to support her narrative.
Inquisitive Ideas..!!!
Through this blog, I invite Deepa Mandlik to explore and bring those temples to the limelight with her writings that have tremendous religious reputations, plus are equally ancient and are not only picturesque but also super powerful. I hope my picks are featured in her upcoming book (if she planning to).
- The Annamalaiyar Temple, Tiruvannamalai(Tamil Nadu)
- Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai (Tamil Nadu)
- Sri Manjunatha Swamy Temple, Dharmasthala (Karnataka)
- Sree Vadakkumnathan Temple, Thrissur (Kerala)
- Shri Parasurameswara Swamy Temple, Gudimallam (Andhra Pradesh)
- and the list goes on….!!!!!
Conclusion..!!
Overall, this work is an assiduously crafted exegesis of seven handpicked temples accompanied by visual extravagance. The respective dynastic rise that led to those temples stands as icons in the Indian monumental chronology. The glossary at the end of the book and travel itinerary during the start escorted the credits for all the reference materials, which the author used to make this a best read. It needs applause.
Special mention to the adorable book cover. Picturisque capture of “Shri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy” temple of Tiruvananthapuram blends perfectly with the content and gives a better ambitious frame of mind for the readers and dives into the secrets of seven iconic Hindu Temples.
Quote(s)..!!
- The study of temples tends to overlook the historical background of their creation
- The sheer variety of sculptures in India can be overwhelming for researchers.
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Links & FootNote..!!
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