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.