Colophon

The cover photo -- taken by Larry Habegger, series co-editor -- depicts a pilgrim being welcomed by a priest into a temple in Kanchipuram in southern India. Kanchipuram, with its huge gopurams (entrance towers) which can be seen from miles away, is one of India's seven sacred cities and home to as many as 150 active temples devoted to Shiva, Vishnu, Parvati, and other gods and deities.