First published in 1914, volume one of this study, published under the patronage of the government of His Highness the Maharaja of Travancore, sought to add to the growing literature on Hindu iconography and mythology for a European audience with the notable inclusion of Sanskrit sources along with extensive photographs of Indian sculpture. Gopinatha Rao begins with an exploration of the history of image-worship in India, followed by a discussion of their usage, classification and production. This detailed introduction is then applied to case studies of Ganapati, Vishnu, Garuda and Āyuđha-purushas, Ādityas, including the Nava-grahas and Devī.