There are several books on individual manifestations of Siva such as Nataraja, Ardhanarisvara, Sadasiva and so on. There is no exhaustive study of a fierce form of the Lord Virabhadra. In seven chapters and three appendices the mythology, art and cult of Virabhadra is systematically sketched. The first chapter deals Prolegomena; second chapter deals exhaustively with most of the Sanskritic puranas and other liturgical works. The speciality is the summary of Tamil ideas from literary sources. The third chapter deals with some of the select temples for the Lord in south India; fourth with Pratimalaksana of Vira and allied deities from silpasastras and agamas; fifth with Vira in early medieval art of the Pandyas, Pallavas, Calukyas of Badami and Vengi and Rastrakutas; sixth with Vira in later medieval art, particularly Vijayanagara-Nayaka; and seventh with festivities and cult orientation as gleaned from travel accounts and the case study of a clan temple. The annexures deal with Sarabhamurti, Astamukhagandabherunda Nrsimha and Vira in the art of Andhradesa. The book is richly illustrated with plans of temples and photographic samples of Vira.

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