The Domain of Constant Excess: Plural Worship at the Munnesvaram Temples in Sri LankaThe Sri Lankan ethnic conflict that has occurred largely between Sinhala Buddhists and Tamil Hindus is marked by a degree of religious tolerance that sees both communities worshiping together. This study describes one important site of such worship, the ancient Hindu temple complex of Munnesvaram. Standing adjacent to one of Sri Lanka's historical western ports, the fortunes of the Munnesvaram temples have waxed and waned through the years of turbulence, violence and social change that have been the country's lot since the advent of European colonialism in the Indian Ocean. Bastin recounts the story of these temples and analyses how the Hindu temple is reproduced as a center of worship amidst conflict and competition. |
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Page xviii
... Brahmin temple priest reed kutsam (Skt.) – crown of kusa grass used in the kumbhabhiseka rite laukika (Sinh.) (Pali – lokika) – wordly, existing lîlå lin.ga (Skt.) (Skt.) – – play, 'sign' disinterested or activity master signifier, the ...
... Brahmin temple priest reed kutsam (Skt.) – crown of kusa grass used in the kumbhabhiseka rite laukika (Sinh.) (Pali – lokika) – wordly, existing lîlå lin.ga (Skt.) (Skt.) – – play, 'sign' disinterested or activity master signifier, the ...
Page 6
... Brahmin priests who effectively own the temple. It underpins the legal status of the temple and also that of its priests, and thus has a profound bearing on what kind of temple the Munnesvaram temple has become, and with that its place ...
... Brahmin priests who effectively own the temple. It underpins the legal status of the temple and also that of its priests, and thus has a profound bearing on what kind of temple the Munnesvaram temple has become, and with that its place ...
Page 7
... Brahmins the other by non-vegetarian non-Brahmins, enables the complex to express in a refractive manner (and not simply reflect or represent) the activities of sections of Sri Lanka's landed and high caste strata who sponsor the Brahmins ...
... Brahmins the other by non-vegetarian non-Brahmins, enables the complex to express in a refractive manner (and not simply reflect or represent) the activities of sections of Sri Lanka's landed and high caste strata who sponsor the Brahmins ...
Page 11
... Brahmins and the non-Brahmins of the Bhadrakali temple. In Chapter 3 I begin my examination of the religious world of the Munnesvaram temples by discussing the principal temple myths recounted to me by devotees. These myths concern the ...
... Brahmins and the non-Brahmins of the Bhadrakali temple. In Chapter 3 I begin my examination of the religious world of the Munnesvaram temples by discussing the principal temple myths recounted to me by devotees. These myths concern the ...
Page 13
... Brahmin castes) I shall use the label 'Tamil Saivism' throughout this book as a counterpart to the category 'Sinhala Buddhism'. I do so first and foremost because the main deities of the Munnesvaram complex are Siva, his consort(s) and ...
... Brahmin castes) I shall use the label 'Tamil Saivism' throughout this book as a counterpart to the category 'Sinhala Buddhism'. I do so first and foremost because the main deities of the Munnesvaram complex are Siva, his consort(s) and ...
Contents
| 1 | |
| 15 | |
Chapter 3 Myths and Marginality | 43 |
Chapter 4 Ritual Practices and Religious Identity | 59 |
Chapter 5 The Saivite Temple as a Monumental Architecture | 89 |
Puja and Arccanai | 117 |
Chapter 7 The Presence of Sakti | 133 |
Chapter 8 Guardians Games and the Formation of Power | 145 |
Chapter 9 The World Inside Out | 163 |
Chapter 10 The Domain of Excess | 183 |
Divine Kings and Regal Gods Temples in Society and History | 195 |
References | 213 |
Index | 227 |
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The Domain of Constant Excess: Plural Worship at the Munnesvaram Temples in ... Rohan Bastin No preview available - 2002 |
Common terms and phrases
according action active aesthetic Ambal annual associated attend bathing becomes Bhadrakali temple body Brahmins called caste central century Chapter Chilaw closely coconut complex condition deities demonic described developed devotees discussion divine especially ethnic example existence expression festival Figure flag front goddess ground guardian hall Hindu human important Indian inside involves Jaffna Kali Kataragama king lamp land marked meaning movement Munnesvaram temple myth nature Navaratri noted Obeyesekere offerings origin Pattini pattuva performed Pillaiyar popular possibility potency potentiality practice presence priests procession puja regard region relation religious remains reveals rite ritual Saivite temple sense shrine simply Sinh Sinhala Buddhist Sinhalese situation Siva social sorcery space specific Sri Lanka statue stress symbolic takes Tamil Saivite temple’s theme traditions tree village worship