Translator: Aboli MandlikPublisher: HarperCollins IndiaGenre: History / Religion / Cultural HeritageReviewed by: Sanjana SinghThere are books you read, and then there are books you quietly feel. Dynasties of Devotion belongs to the second kind. At a time when everything is moving faster than ever, this book made me pause and not just once. It’s not just about temples or dynasties; it’s about something much deeper: a sense of continuity, sacredness, and shared faith.Written by Deepa Mandlik and translated by Aboli Mandlik, the book revolves around the Trimbakeshwar temple in Maharashtra one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. What drew me in is how personal and heartfelt it feels. This isn’t just a chronicle of events; it’s a story of devotion, one that stretches across generations.What struck me most was the portrayal of the Bhonsale dynasty’s relationship with the temple. Their connection wasn’t just about patronage or power. It was about service quiet, consistent, deeply rooted in belief. You can feel the reverence in every page, the kind that doesn’t scream but lingers.Deepa Mandlik writes with tenderness, and Aboli’s translation preserves that completely. Honestly, I forgot I was reading a translated work. There’s an emotional flow in the writing not overly polished, not distant just real. The unspoken warmth to the storytelling, which I truly appreciated. For me, one of the most beautiful takeaways from this book is the idea that devotion, like heritage, can be inherited not through force, but through presence. Through rituals, stories, and shared silences. There’s something very grounding about that.By the time I finished the book, I didn’t feel like I had just read about Trimbakeshwar or the Bhonsales. I felt like I had visited something sacred not a place, but a mindset. A way of living where the divine isn’t separate from life, but woven into its every thread.Dynasties of Devotion reminded me why stories like this matter, especially now. For anyone curious about Indian heritage, temple culture, or the quiet strength of belief, this book is worth picking up. And even if you’re not familiar with these themes, give it a chance. You might find something of yourself in its pages.I did.
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