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 55
... in the History of Munnesvaram 15 The Temples and Their Deities 19 The Social Composition of Worship 26 Temple Ownership 34 Chapter 3 Myths and Marginality 43 Rama Myth 45 The Myth of the Diseased King 47 Heritage or History?
Tirtham – The Crossing Point Bhadrakali Temple Festival Divine Kings and Regal Gods: Temples in Society and History Orientalism and Postcolonialism 152 157 163 164 165 170 171 173 175 183 186 189 190 192 195 201 207 213 227 Figure 1.1 ...
Mercury cakra (Skt. ) – 'discuss', significant juncture along bodily axis cakravartin (Skt.) – ideal king, ruler whose authority encompasses entire domain Chandran (Tm.) – Moon Chandraya (Sinh.) – Moon che ̄na (Sinh.) ...
king coconut, a type of drinking coconut tandava (Skt.) – Siva's ́ special dance tantra (Skt.) – 'the warp, the propagating line', the principles and practices associated with specific types of ritual. tattvas (Skt.) – principles ...
Of such inscriptions, the most important is the one granting lands and revenues by the Sinhala Buddhist king Parakramabahu VI in the mid-fifteenth century. The inscribed stones were used when the temple was rebuilt in the 1870s ...
What people are saying - Write a review
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 |