Mysuru:  The District Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP) and Samvahana Prakashana had organised a function at Rotary Hall on JLB Road here on Sunday to release the book ‘Krishnarajanagara talukina grama devathegalu: Samskrutika adhyayana’, a research volume written by K.R. Nagar First Grade College Assistant Professor Dr. H.R. Chandrakala Ashok.

Releasing the book, Tourism Minister S.R. Mahesh said that in the interest of tourism, historic temples and their vicinity would be developed. He contended that ancient temples have a lot of history to convey and regretted that people were constructing temples indiscriminately at parks and by the road side without any sanctity. He hence stressed the need to develop ancient and historic temples in Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan, Chamarajanagar, Kodagu and other districts.

Mahesh said steps have been taken to protect Arkeshwara temple and Chunchanakatte temple in KR Nagar, Madhyaranga temple in Chamarajanagar and temples in Srirangapatna and Melukote.

He commended the effort of Dr. Chandrakala in coming out with a book on rural deities after a thorough research which could be a good guide for Tourism Department to develop the temples.

Speaking further on the book, JSS Mahavidyapeetha’s College Education Director Prof. Morabada Mallikarjuna observed that every village has a rural deity to worship and most of them are Goddesses which also symbolises the respect for women in society. He appreciated the researcher in evolving a book relating to rural deities with the present society.