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 72
... Siva) darbha (Skt.) – tuft of (kusa) grass, mark of the ritual sponsor darsana (Skt.) – darsanam (Tm.) – gaze, worship as witnessing the deity's gaze dasamī (Tm.) – tenth day after the new moon dehi käpīma (Sinh.) – lime cutting, an ...
... Siva's ́ special dance tantra (Skt.) – 'the warp, the propagating line', the principles and practices associated with specific types of ritual. tattvas (Skt.) – principles derived from the elements ther (Tm.) – temple chariot thībam (Tm ...
... Siva temples in Sri Lanka, and for still others, it is because the temple is their regional temple, a key element in their sense of regional religious and ethnic identity. Thus, while orientations to Munnesvaram and its significance ...
... Siva known as Astara Devata, is carried to the river for the bath. This is followed with free food being given to the worshippers by a sponsoring patron. Many worshippers attend the bathing and the almsgiving that follows. I attended my ...
... Siva to look over him and his consort while they were in the pavilion. The rush of lower order guardian deities into the space was, then, a direct result of the presence of the high deities inside the octagonal (lotus) pavilion. Without ...
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 |