The Indian Subcontinent is romantic, remote and mysterious. From the plains of Pakistan to the foothills of the Himalaya, from Northern India and Rajasthan to Tamil Nadu in the south, this vast melting pot of civilizations, religions, cultures and landscapes has seen some of the greatest artistic golden ages on earth. This series examines the Indus Valley civilizations, Tamil Nadu-land of the temples-and the Mughal Empire, three very different dynasties that have shaped modern India. In Of Gods and Men, art historian Sona Datta traces Hindu architectural development in Tamil Nadu from Pallava cave temples to Chola Dynasty monumental structures. Along the way, she reveals how the Nayanar holy men unified religious principles in the Agama scriptures and links Thanjavur and Madurai temple rituals to contemporary Hindu culture.

Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on October 01, 2015.

Hindu Temple Overview --(1:46) -- Hindu Temple Culture -- (2:00) -- Pallava Cave Temples -- (3:40) -- Mahabalipuram Rathas -- (2:49) -- Descent of the Ganges -- (3:30) -- Shore Temple -- (2:39) -- Hindu Scripture -- (2:52) -- Thanjavur Temple -- (2:31) -- Thanjavur Temple Layout -- (3:30) -- Thanjavur Temple Function -- (2:38) -- Madurai Temple Ritual -- (3:05) -- Madurai Temple Caste System -- (3:26) -- Contemporary Hindu Representation -- (2:35) -- Shiva Dichotomy -- (2:28) -- Karthigai Festival -- (3:14) -- Credits: Of Gods And Men: Treasures of the Indus -- (0:42).