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
... action kassippu ( Sinh . ) – illegal coconut spirit kāvadi ( Tm . ) – decorative hoop and pole carried by devotees for special devo- tional dance of the same name kemmura ( Sinh . ) – a deity's special day or days in the week Kētu ...
... action kassippu ( Sinh . ) – illegal coconut spirit kāvadi ( Tm . ) – decorative hoop and pole carried by devotees for special devo- tional dance of the same name kemmura ( Sinh . ) – a deity's special day or days in the week Kētu ...
Page 1
... action to be yet another moment in the great Christian struggle against evil. The enemy of mankind, who had so long held his tyrannical sway from the idol, as from a citadel, has been put to the rout by this celestial standard. Formerly ...
... action to be yet another moment in the great Christian struggle against evil. The enemy of mankind, who had so long held his tyrannical sway from the idol, as from a citadel, has been put to the rout by this celestial standard. Formerly ...
Page 12
... actions. My point is that the priests enable the private offerings through their own ritual practice, but must then ... action and practice in the world. The Navaratri, not unlike the three other Navaratri festivals Munnesvaram ...
... actions. My point is that the priests enable the private offerings through their own ritual practice, but must then ... action and practice in the world. The Navaratri, not unlike the three other Navaratri festivals Munnesvaram ...
Page 13
... action and demons. They confront the issue of action as the expression of the world, and even appear to capture it. However, in doing so they forge the possibilities of a grand excess – a riot of life the recognition of which is the ...
... action and demons. They confront the issue of action as the expression of the world, and even appear to capture it. However, in doing so they forge the possibilities of a grand excess – a riot of life the recognition of which is the ...
Page 34
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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
aesthetic Aiyanar annual festival arccanai articulation associated Astara Astara Devata bandara bathing rite becomes Bhadrakali temple Bhairavar Brahmins Buddhist revitalisation camphor caste Chapter chariot Chilaw coconut coconut game Colombo consciousness cosmic daily rites deities demonic described devotees Diseased King divine dynamic ethnic expression firewalking flag flagpole gaze goddess guardian hall ibid important inner road inner sanctum Jaffna Kali Kapferer 1997a Kataragama Kramrisch lamp linga Maradankulam Munnes Munnesvaram festival Munnesvaram priests Munnesvaram temple Murugan Navaratri Obeyesekere 1984 offerings Pattini performed Pillaiyar temple popular potency potentiality practice presence procession puja Purusa relation religious ritual sacrifice Saivism sakti sense shrine simply Sinh Sinhala Buddhist Sinhalese Siva social Somaskanda sorcery south Indian specific sponsor Sri Lanka Sri Lankan Tamil stress Suniyam Tamil Saivite Tamil Saivite temple Taniyavala temple complex temple festivals temple priests temple’s theme trance varam Visnu worship yantra