The History and Culture of Indian Temples. Book I: The Birth of the Temple

This book is dedicated to South Indian temple architecture. It discusses how, under what conditions, and according to which principles the temple is born - as an architectural idea and as a specific structure. It addresses questions (mainly based on Tamil material) concerning the origins and development of the temple, the main stages and principles of its construction (with special attention to the creation of vastu purusha mandala and construction rituals), the structure of temple complexes and the symbolism of architectural elements (specifically, it talks about the levels of perception of the temple), the worldview of the builders and patrons, as well as some aspects of iconography, the rules for making and classifying murti of Hindu gods in honor of whom the temples are erected. Furthermore, the book provides a description of the main styles of temple architecture.