Dynasties of Devotion : The Secrets of 7 Iconic Hindu Temples

by Deepa Mandlik, Aboli Mandlik (Translator), G.B. Deglurkar (Foreword)

For centuries, temples have functioned not just as places of worship but also 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. At the Airavatesvara Temple, in Tamil Nadu, she experiences the wonder of the saptaswara (seven-note) steps which, when struck lightly, produce the sound of the seven musical notes.

From these to the other similarly named Brihdeshwara Temple in Tamil Nadu to the Chainnakeshva Temple in Karnataka and the Padmanabh Swami Temple in Kerala to Angkor Wat and Bayon in Cambodia, Deepa brings to life the rich tapestry of history, art and spirituality that is woven through them. Marked by vivid storytelling, Dynasties of Devotion is an ode to the enduring legacy of India's temple culture; it is at once an intimate glimpse into these spaces for the curious reader and scholar and a handy walking guide for the spellbound tourist.

Genres: India

208 pages, Paperback

Published April 24, 2025

Reviews

[Ambica Gulati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dynasties of Devotion by Deepa Mandlik is a richly woven journey through seven iconic temples, blending history, art, and spiritual reflection into a compelling travelogue.
In India, temples are more than sacred monuments; they are dynamic centres of devotion, identity, and continuity. Through generations, they have shaped traditions, influenced social values, and nurtured collective memory. They are a living heritage.

The book, Dynasties of Devotion, can be called a pilgrimage in prose. Like a time traveller, Deepa Mandlik explores seven iconic Hindu temples—six in South India and one in Cambodia. Her narrative goes beyond architecture, delving into the historical, political and cultural milieu of the eras gone by.

Unlike most scholarly books on the ancient temples, this one meanders from the academic style of writing. Mandlik’s first persona narrative is like a traveller in wonder of the era gone by rather than a detached researcher or a mere tourist. Her husband accompanied her on these journeys, collecting photographs and her daughter Aboli Mandlik has translated the book, which was originally written in Marathi, titled Parakrami Hindu Rajanchi Adwitiya Mandire. It 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.

[Ashok Krishna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having been fortunate to visit five out of the seven locations written about by the author, I was very eager to read the book. But the amateur writing style and minor errors in details make this an OK read. I appreciate the author's enthusiasm but couldn't give this anything beyond 3 stars.

[Rahul Vishnoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

-In the House of Gods-
Review of 'Dynasties of Devotion'

Quote Alert
"𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐚 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐧, 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲, 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝟏,𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐨, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭, 𝐡𝐞𝐰𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤. 𝐈𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝'𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐯𝐞-𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲."

Ever visited a temple wondered about the time when they were made? Who made these houses of gods? Who ordered them to be made? And why? Is there any particular design or pattern that these temples follow? Why are they all sound radically different from one another? What did it take, in those times when there was no advanced technology, to get these behemoth structures made? These are the questions that Deepa Mandlik asks as she navigates between India and Combodia, visiting seven seats of devotion, seven temples thronged by devotees from all over the world.

While these temples are immensely important from a religious and cultural viewpoint, the visionary kings who dedicated themselves to constructing and preserving these marvels are equally vital. Usually, while visiting ancient temples, great importance is placed on the temple deity. Amidst the immortal and magnificent structures, the historical narratives of the kings who orchestrated their construction often fade into obscurity. It's this veil that Mandlik tries to lift.

Mandlik visits Kailasa temple, Brihadeeswara temple, Airavatesvara temple, Chennakeshava temple, Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple and tries to travel into the past, taking the readers with herself.
She writes: 'My vision for this book was not for it to be merely a travelogue, but to convey the essence of temple architecture, its unique features, its historical background, the mythological stories associated with these temples and the inspiration behind their construction.'

A joy to read about the forgotten times.

[Jais · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I appreciated her detailed descriptions, I did find myself needing to pause and reflect often. The prose, though poetic, can get dense, and at times I wished for more photographs to accompany the narrative. But perhaps that’s the beauty of the author’s work—she challenges readers to slow down, to savour each story, each stone, each sacred chant, and each layer of history that these temples represent.

If you’re a lover of history, architecture, spirituality, or just someone who appreciates a well-told story, Dynasties of Devotion is a book that will resonate. It’s not a guidebook—it’s an invitation to embark on a journey, to see these temples not just as buildings but as living, breathing testaments to human faith and creativity.

[Sumit Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Dynasties of Devotion, the author chronicles 7 iconic Hindu temples, ranging from the Kailasa Temple in Maharashtra to The Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram, The Airavatesvara Temple, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, The Chennakeshva Temple, and Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. She provides detailed explanations of their architectural marvels, the rulers responsible for their creation, the legends connected to each, and even the minute intricacies of their sculptures.

https://instatravelstyle.com/dynastie...

[Niraj Khandwala · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very different book....this not only gives details of these 7 temples but provides folklore, mythology around it as well. the best part was knowing the dynasties, kings and queens who gave us these marvels. I would have loved a few more pictures though 🙂

[Meenal]

4% bad foreword made me stop reading the book