In the Hindu tradition, images of the deities, meant for worship in the temples, were invariably crafted in conformity with the prescriptions laid in the Silpa/Agama texts. In the South Indian art and architecture, Vaikhanasa Agama tradition had played a vital role, just as the Pancaratra Agama did in North India. Based on Vaikhanasa Agamas, this book is the first ever to offer an exhaustive, systematic study of Vaisnava iconography. Surveying a large number of rock-cut caves and temples south of the river Godavri, the author not only identifies the myriad manifest forms of Visnu, but also sets out a detailed analysis of their widely varied iconographic attributes, like emblems, crowns, postures.

The Present work based on Vaikhanasa Agamas  is a systematic study of Vaisnava Iconography in all its aspects. The vaikhanasa authors give elaborate and specific rules regarding minute details on Iconography. They repeatedly advice the reader to consult silpa works. With due consideration to this advice, the present study ha staken into consideration such works for clarification, comparison  and further corroboration.