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 76
Page xiii
The research itself was made possible by the priests and the devotees of the different temples at Munnesvaram. I single out R.S. Karthikeyan, the chief priest of the Munnesvaram temple, and K. Letchiraman, the chief priest of the ...
The research itself was made possible by the priests and the devotees of the different temples at Munnesvaram. I single out R.S. Karthikeyan, the chief priest of the Munnesvaram temple, and K. Letchiraman, the chief priest of the ...
Page xviii
illegal coconut spirit kåva∂i (Tm.) – decorative hoop and pole carried by devotees for special devotional dance of the same name kemmura (Sinh.) – a deity's special day or days in the week Ke ̄tu (Sinh., Tm.) – the Dragon's Tail planet ...
illegal coconut spirit kåva∂i (Tm.) – decorative hoop and pole carried by devotees for special devotional dance of the same name kemmura (Sinh.) – a deity's special day or days in the week Ke ̄tu (Sinh., Tm.) – the Dragon's Tail planet ...
Page xix
'mother', a female trance specialist and particularly a devotee of the goddess Bhadrakali mantra (Skt.) – ritual syllabic utterance (linked to both 'measure' and 'mind') måran mariyåtai .a (Skt.) (Tm.) – 'killing', – 'honour', ...
'mother', a female trance specialist and particularly a devotee of the goddess Bhadrakali mantra (Skt.) – ritual syllabic utterance (linked to both 'measure' and 'mind') måran mariyåtai .a (Skt.) (Tm.) – 'killing', – 'honour', ...
Page xxii
warrant or boon granted by a deity to a devotee, usually associated with soothsaying and ordered trance varam (Skt.) – boon or request vas (Skt.) – an abode Vasanta (Skt.) – Spring vaßya (Skt.) – 'influencing' a type of sorcery våstu ...
warrant or boon granted by a deity to a devotee, usually associated with soothsaying and ordered trance varam (Skt.) – boon or request vas (Skt.) – an abode Vasanta (Skt.) – Spring vaßya (Skt.) – 'influencing' a type of sorcery våstu ...
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 ...
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 |