Temples in India are not just a place of worship, it is a repository of the times, people, rule and economy it was built around.
While visiting these ancient temples we come across many inscriptions, most of which are not in a language commonly used or ancient ones. These inscriptions always generate a curiosity in us to know what these numerous inscriptions hold in them. The most frustrating part of knowing the information is that the priests in most of the temples are not aware of what is written.
The eagerness to have information about these inscriptions led me to do some "Site" searching on the web. What I came across was not less than a goldmine.Good things come in small packages it is said and for me it came in a book written during 1920's by Mr. Jagadisa Aiyar PV titled South Indian Shrines. This book illustrates and enumerates several inscriptions of ancient South Indian temples in plain English. Being full of inscriptions including the ones which have vanished due to passage of time and of blind renovations carried out in our temples can be still found in this book.
Not being in print for a long time and nearly lost, this treasure was brought to life by Asian Educational Services (A publisher involved in reviving old and lost books on Subcontinent) and is now available in print in major bookshops.
A boon for any Epigrapher interested in Indian temples and is a must buy for an amateur epigrapher like me.
The book has some rare (bit hazy) photographs of south Indian temples but the vivid explanation of the inscriptions with the background is what makes this so special.
This is really a worthy contender for our bookshelf.
The book has some rare (bit hazy) photographs of south Indian temples but the vivid explanation of the inscriptions with the background is what makes this book so special and a worthy contender for your bookshelf.
Rather than me telling in detail about this book, I would like you all to have a read.
You can also buy these book online also at sites like A1Books.co.in, Amazon.com,Flipkart, Gobookshopping.com, Rediff Books. I got mine from Rediff Books Site.
There is also a limited preview of this book on Google books:
http://books.google.co.in/books?id=NLSGFW1uZboC&printsec=toc&dq=south+indiAN+shrines+%5D&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0
I am sure that you will love this book!
Happy Reading !
