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. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 17
Page xxiv
0 20 40 60 80 100 km Mannar Trincomalee Puttalam Anuradhapura Batticaloa CHILAW D edu ra Oya Kurunegala Kandy Negombo Colombo Adam's Peak Kataragama Galle Matara Figure 1.1 Map of Sri Lanka N Jaffna CHAPTER 1 WORSHIP, DIFFERENCE AND ...
0 20 40 60 80 100 km Mannar Trincomalee Puttalam Anuradhapura Batticaloa CHILAW D edu ra Oya Kurunegala Kandy Negombo Colombo Adam's Peak Kataragama Galle Matara Figure 1.1 Map of Sri Lanka N Jaffna CHAPTER 1 WORSHIP, DIFFERENCE AND ...
Page 10
Jaffna in the north has experienced an aggressive government military response to this militancy since 1981, with periods of control by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. In addition to their standing army, the Tigers maintain cadres ...
Jaffna in the north has experienced an aggressive government military response to this militancy since 1981, with periods of control by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. In addition to their standing army, the Tigers maintain cadres ...
Page 15
Munnesvaram and Chilaw port share their fame, as do Thirukithesvaram and Mannar (in the north-west), Nagulesvaram and Kankesanturai (in Jaffna), Konesvaram and Trincomalee (in the north-east) and Ramesvaram off the southeast coast of ...
Munnesvaram and Chilaw port share their fame, as do Thirukithesvaram and Mannar (in the north-west), Nagulesvaram and Kankesanturai (in Jaffna), Konesvaram and Trincomalee (in the north-east) and Ramesvaram off the southeast coast of ...
Page 23
Her centrality did not correspond to what he knew of the temples of Jaffna where he grew up, so he asked an uncle, one of the older priests, about it. The priest told him gently that Munnesvaram had mysteries not worth pursuing, ...
Her centrality did not correspond to what he knew of the temples of Jaffna where he grew up, so he asked an uncle, one of the older priests, about it. The priest told him gently that Munnesvaram had mysteries not worth pursuing, ...
Page 29
... with Jaffna Velala caste backgrounds whose family fortunes waxed during the British period when they figured prominently in the colonial bureaucracy. While it is reasonable to declare that the Bhadrakali temple has greater appeal to ...
... with Jaffna Velala caste backgrounds whose family fortunes waxed during the British period when they figured prominently in the colonial bureaucracy. While it is reasonable to declare that the Bhadrakali temple has greater appeal to ...
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
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 |
Other editions - View all
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
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Domain of Constant Excess: Plural Worship at the Munnesvaram Temples in Sri Lanka |
| Author | Rohan Bastin |
| Publisher | Berghahn Books, 2002 |
| ISBN | 1789203678, 9781789203677 |
| Length | 254 pages |
| Subjects | › › Religion / General Social Science / Anthropology / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |