This collection of essay by outstanding scholar of south India introduces the work of Velcheru Narayana Rao, who has revolutionized our understanding of the classical literary culture of the region. The essays span a wide range of fieldsTelugu literature and religion, south India history, Indian folklore and mythology, classical literary thoery, Dravidian linguistics, and temple architecture. In brief, this is a book which reflects the importance of south Indian civilization as one of the great frontiers of contemporary south Indian studies.