Devalaya

by Subhadra Sen Gupta

Amid the voluminous scholarly tomes and glossy, expensive coffee-table books on Indian temples and architecture, Devalaya is an exception, rendering something beyond wry technical, architectural details, and something more than pretty pictures with little information. the book talks not just about the history and architecture of temples, but also of the myths and legends sorrounding them, their rituals and festivals and everything that is part of these vibrant, colourful institutions. Meant for travellers, both of the active and armchair type, Devalaya caters to all those who find temples and the myriad myths about them fascinating. Knowing these legends, while visiting these palaces of gods, while watching their rituals and festivals, standing among the devotees for whom the deities are a living presence, one is in touch with a heritage in a primeval, emotional way that can not be captured in words.