Title: Dynasties of Devotion
Author: Deepa Mandlik (original in Marathi)
Translated by: Aboli Mandlik
Genre: Non fiction, Travel, History
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 184
As the title suggests, this book is about temples. There are 6 Indian temples and one that is situated abroad, the largest in this world. Can you guess which one is it? Yes, it's the Angkor Wat of Cambodia. Did you know that this huge structure (or city rather) was hidden amidst thick forests before a French naturalist discovered it? Well there are various fascinating facts revealed, about every temple that is described here.
The book starts with the magnificent Kailasa Temple of Ellora. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ellora caves need no new introduction. The temple derives its name from Kailasutthan, whose sculpture is well preserved and admired. This temple was built during the rule of the Rashtrakuta dynasty, and a lot of sculptures depict the relationship between Shiva and Parvati. There's also a legend associated with this temple, that it has been carved vertically. A queen had kept a fast for her ailing king, that she wouldn't eat, unless she would see the temple shrine. A very talented architect, Kokas, took up this challenge of carving the temple vertically, which meant that the shrine was ready in a few days. He carved out a mountain, which resulted in this magnificent structure, and also prevented the queen from dying from hunger. There are a ton of intriguing facts about this temple, which are elaborated in this book very nicely.
The second chapter deals with the creator of Kailasa temple. Because of its unique nature, there's legend that it's the work of aliens that have created this iconic structure. Out of the 34 caves of Ellora, the aliens are attached to only one cave. The temple is monolithic (made from a single stone) and gigantic, which poses as an incredible feat.
The third chapter deals with the Brihadeeswara Temple of Tanjaur, Tamil Nadu. Part of the Great Living Chola Temples, this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The writer dives into the history of each temple described, the rulers under whom it was built, architectural marvels, legends associated with it and her experience while visiting that particular temple, which is a lot of information.
The other temples described here are Gangaikondacholapuram of Tamil Nadu, the Airavateswara Temple ( the 3rd of the Living Chola temples), Chennakeshava Temple of Karnataka and Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple of Thiruvananthapuram.
What I absolutely loved about this book are the vibrant coloured pictures of every temple described. A picture says a thousand words. And when you are reading about something so much in detail, regarding the architecture and all, one needs to have a proper visualisation, and not entirely rely on imagination. Also, like a true travel book, those glossy pages evoke the desire to go and visit these temples. The writer shares her experience of visiting all these temples like a travelogue, which provides a personal touch to the book, as then it's not just pure history.
If you are a history or architecture lover, then this book is for you. This book unravels numerous fascinating facts about these temples, which is indeed fuel for history lovers.
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