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 11
... example, all are elements of the relations between the priests of the Munnesvaram temple, who are Tamil Saivite Brahmins, and the villagers of the surrounding area who are mostly Sinhala Buddhists. Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict does, at ...
... example, all are elements of the relations between the priests of the Munnesvaram temple, who are Tamil Saivite Brahmins, and the villagers of the surrounding area who are mostly Sinhala Buddhists. Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict does, at ...
Page 13
... example, the Saiva/Vaisnava (Visnu-centred) distinction obtains more strongly and there is a markedly greater presence of Brahmin castes) I shall use the label 'Tamil Saivism' throughout this book as a counterpart to the category ...
... example, the Saiva/Vaisnava (Visnu-centred) distinction obtains more strongly and there is a markedly greater presence of Brahmin castes) I shall use the label 'Tamil Saivism' throughout this book as a counterpart to the category ...
Page 14
... example, is one where the concepts of social drama and extended case method reveal the force of structural ... examples, and set against a history of Roman Catholicism in Sri Lanka. Relevant to my work, Stirrat explores how attendance at ...
... example, is one where the concepts of social drama and extended case method reveal the force of structural ... examples, and set against a history of Roman Catholicism in Sri Lanka. Relevant to my work, Stirrat explores how attendance at ...
Page 18
... examples illustrate how the area around Munnesvaram displays a history of shifting political fortunes and alliances that have linked the area at different times to different kingdoms. The proximity of Panduvasnuwara situates the temples ...
... examples illustrate how the area around Munnesvaram displays a history of shifting political fortunes and alliances that have linked the area at different times to different kingdoms. The proximity of Panduvasnuwara situates the temples ...
Page 27
... example, have survived murderous Sinhalese mobs during ethnic riots because the rioters could not guess their ethnicity.23 The combination of these very loose ethnic markers with the style of behaviour in the temple served as my primary ...
... example, have survived murderous Sinhalese mobs during ethnic riots because the rioters could not guess their ethnicity.23 The combination of these very loose ethnic markers with the style of behaviour in the temple served as my primary ...
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 |
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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