ABSTRACT
This book describes in detail how the South Indians believe in many deities, from where they derive their origins, how these deities relate to each other, what they are called and how their many different names relate to each other, and how they are portrayed in their poetical books. It also explains how they assume [visible] forms, what their nature is, what kind of offices they hold, and what kinds of activities they perform. This book mentions the families to which the deities belong, which manifestations of them the people believe in, what kinds of temples are built for them, what kinds of fasts and feasts are celebrated in their honor, what kinds of [ritual] offerings are made to them and what kinds of books they have written about them. It explains their true [visible] forms and has a detailed table of contents, which describes the whole order, scope and content of this Genealogy of the South Indian Deities.
