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 x
... Six Cakras Features of the Aesthetic of Piling Down The Progression of Puja Lamps The Sri Cakra Spatial Arrangement of Female Divinity at Munnesvaram The Maradankulam Aiyanar Temple Map of Munnesvaram Showing Processions Arrangement ...
... Six Cakras Features of the Aesthetic of Piling Down The Progression of Puja Lamps The Sri Cakra Spatial Arrangement of Female Divinity at Munnesvaram The Maradankulam Aiyanar Temple Map of Munnesvaram Showing Processions Arrangement ...
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Each temple is owned and run by a distinct group of Tamil Hindu priests, and each temple largely conforms to the aesthetic style and ritual practice of the south Indian Hindu and specifically Saivite temple.3 The worshippers, though, ...
Each temple is owned and run by a distinct group of Tamil Hindu priests, and each temple largely conforms to the aesthetic style and ritual practice of the south Indian Hindu and specifically Saivite temple.3 The worshippers, though, ...
Page 3
... manner in which the complexity behind the apparent unity of worship is not only an expression of contradiction and embedded social relations, but is central to the reproduction of religious power in the forceful aesthetic of ritual.
... manner in which the complexity behind the apparent unity of worship is not only an expression of contradiction and embedded social relations, but is central to the reproduction of religious power in the forceful aesthetic of ritual.
Page 5
For, while the sponsor of the Kali shrine is Tamil Saivite, the aesthetic style of his shrine with its painted statue is more routinely Sinhala Buddhist, and its priest on the day is also Sinhala Buddhist. Finally, this practice is both ...
For, while the sponsor of the Kali shrine is Tamil Saivite, the aesthetic style of his shrine with its painted statue is more routinely Sinhala Buddhist, and its priest on the day is also Sinhala Buddhist. Finally, this practice is both ...
Page 6
They are, together, the constituents of the temple aesthetic that this book explores. Crucially, the temple aesthetic is, in my analysis, the fundamental expression of divinity and not simply its representational signification.
They are, together, the constituents of the temple aesthetic that this book explores. Crucially, the temple aesthetic is, in my analysis, the fundamental expression of divinity and not simply its representational signification.
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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 |