The book explores the historical development of image worship, the importance of the temple itself, festivals, the manifestation of God as the various Deities of the Saiva, Vaishnava and Shakta sects, devotion as expressed in temple worship, dance, and more. The interrelations between different forms of worship and beliefs are brought out with great clarity.
The book does contain some misspellings, particularly of Indian words; and the glossary contains a few errors in the definition of Sanskrit words. But the glossary and bibliography are extremely useful; and the superb pictures, excellently presented, put the volume in a class by itself.