This treatise is an early attempt for a diligent search into the origin, descriptions, symbols, mythological
background, meaning and moral aims of Hindu images. The book is in two volumes, each volume again in two parts. Vol. I, Part
I contains a long Introduction discussing among other things the origin of Hindu image worship in India, explanatory
description of the terms employed in the work, Ganapati, Visnu and his major and minor avataras and manifestations, Garuda
and Ayudha-Purushas or personified images of the weapons and emblems held by gods. Vol. I, Part II deals with Aditya and
Nava Grahas (nine planets) and their symbolic features and images worshipped, Devi (Goddesses), Parivara-devatas, and
measurement of proportions in images. Vol. II, Part I begins with an Introduction discussing the cult of Siva which is
followed by such important topics as Siva, Lingas, Lingodbhavamurti, Chandrasekharamurti, Pasupatamurti and
Raudrapasupatamurti, other Ugra forms of Siva, Dakshinamurti, Kankalamurti and Bhikshatanamurti, and other important aspects
of Siva. Vol. II, Part II contains descriptions of Subrahmanya, Nandikesvara and Adhikaranandi, Chandesvara, Bhaktas, Arya
or Hariharaputra, Kshetrapalas, Brahma, the Dikpalakas, and demi-gods. In addition the book contains 5 Appendices including
Sanskrit texts of Parivaradevatah, Uttamadasatalavidhih and Pratimalaksanani. The treatment has been made interesting by
profuse illustrations, the two volumes containing as many as 282 photographs of sacred images.
