India, Aug. 29 -- Turning the pages of 'Dynasties of Devotion' feels like stepping barefoot into a temple courtyard with history, art and faith rising all around you, writes Abhi Singhal

There are books that inform, and then there are books that transport. Deepa Mandlik's Dynasties of Devotion, translated into English by Aboli Mandlik, belongs firmly in the latter category. Turning its pages feels less like reading and more like stepping barefoot into temple courtyards - stones cool under your feet, chants echoing in the air, stories of gods and kings coming alive around you.

For centuries, temples have stood as more than just religious spaces. They were once vibrant centres of community life - where music, dance, learning, and faith fl...