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
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Page vii
... Composition of Worship 26 Temple Ownership 34 Chapter 3 Myths and Marginality 43 Rama Myth 45 The Myth of the Diseased King 47 Heritage or History? 51 Kali's Myth 53 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 – – vii Contents.
... Composition of Worship 26 Temple Ownership 34 Chapter 3 Myths and Marginality 43 Rama Myth 45 The Myth of the Diseased King 47 Heritage or History? 51 Kali's Myth 53 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 – – vii Contents.
Page viii
... Thing Seen': Puja and Arccanai Daily Rites Puja as Offering Sinhala Buddhist Statuary The Logic of Deity Offerings in Sinhala Buddhism The Presence of Sakti The Goddess and Her 'Mountain' The Identity of Ambal and Kali Guardians, ...
... Thing Seen': Puja and Arccanai Daily Rites Puja as Offering Sinhala Buddhist Statuary The Logic of Deity Offerings in Sinhala Buddhism The Presence of Sakti The Goddess and Her 'Mountain' The Identity of Ambal and Kali Guardians, ...
Page 1
Unlike the Jesuits, for whom the activities at Munnesvaram were the work of the Devil, those who would see the contemporary temple in such terms would more likely blame it on the goddess Kali, for her devotees regularly fall into trance ...
Unlike the Jesuits, for whom the activities at Munnesvaram were the work of the Devil, those who would see the contemporary temple in such terms would more likely blame it on the goddess Kali, for her devotees regularly fall into trance ...
Page 2
Kali, for her devotees regularly fall into trance, curse their enemies, and offer blood sacrifice. Those who think of Munnesvaram in such terms will not necessarily share the Jesuits' proselytising fantasy and desire.
Kali, for her devotees regularly fall into trance, curse their enemies, and offer blood sacrifice. Those who think of Munnesvaram in such terms will not necessarily share the Jesuits' proselytising fantasy and desire.
Page 4
... however, was that alongside the previously solitary bo tree there now stood a trident (weapon and symbol of Siva, especially in his guardian Bhairavar form) and a small cement structure housing a painted statue of Kali.
... however, was that alongside the previously solitary bo tree there now stood a trident (weapon and symbol of Siva, especially in his guardian Bhairavar form) and a small cement structure housing a painted statue of Kali.
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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 |