For centuries, Mandirs 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. And this sacred splendor of Indian Mandirs, which shaped an entire continent, has been uncovered by Author Deepa Mandlik in her latest release, ‘Dynasties of Devotion’.
In Dynasties of Devotion, Deepa Mandlik explores seven ancient temples across India and Cambodia, and meticulously examines historical contexts and 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 Brihadeeswara Temple at Gangaikondacholapuram and the Chennakeshava Temple in Karnataka and the Sri Padmanabhaswamy 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.
Deepa Mandlik has been a prolific and versatile Marathi writer for over a decade whose work has been published in numerous prestigious Marathi publications. She has authored five books across genres, in Marathi and is regularly invited to give talks on ancient temples and Indian heritage.
‘Dynasties of Devotion’, the English translation of her book ‘Parakrami Hindu Rajanchi Adwitiya Mandire’ published by HarperCollins holds significance due to her unique approach to exploring the intersection of history, art, and spirituality, through the lens of ancient temples.
Mandlik’s literary contributions have been recognized with several awards, notably with ‘Parakrami Hindu Rajanchi Adwitiya Mandire’ receiving the Best Book of the Year Award by the oldest literature society of Maharashtra, Granthottejak Sanstha, Pune. Her first book, ‘Divas Ase Ki’ received Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad’s critically acclaimed prestigious C. V. Joshi Award for the Best Humorous Literature of the Year, Maratha Mandir Mumbai’s best book of the year and Yashwant Date Pratishthan’s best humorous literature of the year award.
In order to know more about the aspects of Hindu Mandirs touched upon by Deepa in her book, Sonakshi Datta of GoaChronicle asked her a few questions.
‘Dynasties of Devotion’ Author Deepa Mandlik
What made you specifically choose the seven Mandirs that you have talked about in your book?
For this book, I chose seven remarkable temples, and the inspiration behind that choice goes back to my very first article on temples. Let me share a bit of that journey. My husband Vinod and I have always shared a passion for travel, especially when it comes to exploring ancient temples. Despite this longstanding interest, my very first article focused on just one temple: the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala.
At the time, the temple was at the centre of national attention due to the discovery of its underground vaults filled with immense wealth. A court-ordered inventory had sparked public debate and intrigue. I, too, found myself captivated. Who had placed such vast treasure there? Why was it hidden? And why is it believed to belong to Lord Vishnu?
Driven by curiosity, I began to search for answers through every source I could find. What I discovered was far more fascinating than just the treasure. The temple’s rich spiritual symbolism, its majestic gopuram, and above all, the extraordinary legacy of King Marthanda Varma left a deep impression on me. I was struck by how little we know of this inspiring history, much of which has never been taught or widely shared.
Motivated by these revelations, I wrote a detailed article exploring every aspect of the temple. The response was overwhelming. Many readers wrote to say that although they had visited the temple before, my article offered them new insights and made them want to return with a fresh perspective.
That encouragement became a turning point. I decided to write about our ancient and courageous dynasties, along with the magnificent temples they built, in order to bring their stories to light. I began by selecting a unique temple to represent each royal dynasty. I visited them, researched deeply, and eventually curated the truly exceptional ones for this book.
Among them is the awe-inspiring Kailasa Temple at Ellora in Maharashtra, carved entirely from a single rock from top to bottom, built by the Rashtrakuta dynasty. Naturally, the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, built by the Chera kings, is also included. The book features the exquisitely sculpted Chennakeshava Temple of the Hoysala dynasty in Karnataka, who built over a thousand temples in the refined Vesara style.
The book also offers unique insights into Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the world’s largest Vishnu temple, built by the Varman kings reflecting how Hindu culture spread beyond India. Also included are three temples from the Great Living Chola Temples series, built by the mighty Chola dynasty, renowned for their long reign in South India. These three temples are absolute marvels in terms of architecture, engineering, and sculpture.
Each temple featured in this book is a gem in its own right. The stories of the kings who built them are deeply inspiring, and I believe they are histories that everyone should know.
How does your book highlight the significance of Mandirs in Indian culture?
I believe that ancient temples are powerful symbols of our highly evolved culture. However, this understanding emerges only when we approach these temples with awareness and insight. When seen in the right light, temples offer a deep and tangible experience of the architectural sophistication, artistic excellence, and remarkable engineering skills of their time. In many ways, they stand as living testaments to a progressive and visionary civilization. My book aims to illuminate these very facets.
It is important to recognize that these temples were never intended to serve solely as places of worship. They were built with a far-reaching vision encompassing the holistic development of society and the state. In ancient times, large temples functioned as vibrant hubs of art, culture, commerce, governance, and community life. They created employment for thousands and supported a wide range of crafts and disciplines.
That is why, regardless of the primary deity to whom a temple was dedicated, you will often find carvings and motifs reflecting Shaiva, Vaishnava, Buddhist, and Jain traditions. This inclusive spirit reflects a deep cultural harmony that transcended sectarian lines.
These temples, therefore, are not just old stone structures rooted in faith. They are enduring embodiments of inclusivity, vision, and wisdom. They reveal the richness of our history, the social consciousness of the kings who built them, their reverence for art and knowledge, and the lasting impact their dynasties had on our heritage.
What are the lesser-known aspects associated with Mandirs and their construction in India that you have talked about in the book? Have you also covered the sub-altern facets related to the same?
In ancient times, India stood at the forefront of architectural innovation. Two of the most remarkable examples of this excellence are the Kailasa Temple at Ellora and the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur. These structures are so extraordinary in their design and execution that they truly deserve recognition among the wonders of the world.
The Kailasa Temple, built in the 8th century, is a marvel of monolithic architecture i.e. it is carved entirely out of a single mountain. What makes it even more astonishing is the method of construction: the temple was sculpted from the top down, beginning with the shikhara and finishing at the base. Designed in the Dravidian style, it is full of intricate carvings that speak to the artistic brilliance of the time. The sheer planning, precision, skill, and coordination required to execute such a feat is almost beyond comprehension. To this day, it remains the only temple of its kind in the world.
Yet, despite its significance, most Indians are unaware of these facts, except for a few scholars. Even the global community remains largely uninformed. In truth, when seen through an international lens, the level of architectural and engineering advancement in ancient India often far surpassed that of the rest of the world.
To offer a comparison, which I have also highlighted in this book, consider the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur. Built in the 11th century, it was then the tallest structure in the world, rising to an impressive height of 66 meters. What is even more remarkable is that this massive and towering temple was completed in just six years. Its foundation was reportedly dug only five feet deep, and yet, over more than a thousand years, it has withstood earthquakes, storms, and the passage of time without any significant structural damage.
Now contrast that with another well-known tall structure from history, the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. Construction began in 1173, but due to multiple setbacks, the tower was not completed until 1372, nearly 200 years later. The tower stands at just 57 meters, significantly shorter than the Brihadeeswara Temple, and began leaning shortly after construction due to unstable ground. Despite numerous restoration efforts, it eventually settled at a tilt of about 4 degrees, hence its famous name.
Some critics argue that the Pisa Tower’s leaning is due to the nature of the soil, not a construction flaw. But this only highlights the exceptional foresight of our ancestors. The builders of the Kailasa Temple carved into a mountain, starting at the top, a process that would have been unthinkable without a thorough geological understanding. How could they have proceeded with such confidence unless they had first ensured that the rock was seamless, stable, and capable of supporting such a grand design? Historical evidence suggests that such geological assessments were indeed conducted.
What is truly surprising is this: the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which has gained fame because of a structural flaw, is celebrated as one of the world’s wonders. Meanwhile, the Brihadeeswara Temple, which has stood tall and strong for over a millennium, and the Kailasa Temple, an unparalleled monolithic masterpiece, are often overlooked. Isn’t that something worth reflecting on?
Throughout history, Mandirs in India have been much more than centres of devotion, how does your book delve into this understanding of Mandirs as places of social, political, and economic importance?
Ancient temples were never built solely as places of worship. They served as vital centres of social, political, economic, educational, and cultural life.
Often, when a king reached the height of his power, he would commission the construction of a grand temple as a symbol of his strength and accomplishments. In many cases, temples were built to commemorate military victories, standing as enduring monuments to a king’s valour and leadership. These ambitious projects often took years to complete and provided employment to a wide range of people: architects, engineers, sculptors, craftsmen, labourers, and administrative staff. Once completed, these temples naturally drew devotees, and with them came traders, artisans, and merchants, giving rise to thriving temple-centred economies. This economic ripple effect can be observed around all the temples featured in this book.
Temples also served as important social gathering spaces. Among the sixteen elements of ritual worship, music, instrumental performances, and dance performances were regularly offered to the deity. These performances brought communities together and played a significant role in promoting the arts. I explore this in more detail in the chapter on the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur, which once served as a highly prestigious stage for Bharatanatyam dancers.
My book also features temples from Cambodia, where almost every temple was accompanied by a dedicated library. Many of these library structures still stand today, highlighting the important role temples.
Temples, therefore, were dynamic, multi-functional institutions that shaped the very fabric of society.
What makes ‘Dynasties of Devotion’ a must-read for all, especially for history geeks?
I personally visited all seven temples featured in this book before writing about them. However, this writing is not merely a travelogue. It delves into the architecture, sculpture, engineering marvels, unique features, and mythological stories associated with each temple.
What sets my book apart is that it also explores the history of the kings and dynasties who built these temples: their reigns, their valour, and the inspiration behind the construction of these grand structures. These narratives are both fascinating and deeply inspiring.
As readers go through each chapter, they won’t just see a temple, they’ll witness an entire era unfold through history. I am confident that this will be a truly unique experience for every reader.
