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 4
... , which draw out a symbolic association of the site as an ambiguous juncture of land and water. Most importantly, the potency is expressed in and through the wild trance behaviour that occurs when –4– The Domain of Constant Excess.
... , which draw out a symbolic association of the site as an ambiguous juncture of land and water. Most importantly, the potency is expressed in and through the wild trance behaviour that occurs when –4– The Domain of Constant Excess.
Page 5
... land for this plantation that an Indian Tamil 'discovered' a stone sivalinga image which he claimed to be the original linga brought by the god Hanuman from India when, according to the temple origin myth, Munnesvaram was first founded ...
... land for this plantation that an Indian Tamil 'discovered' a stone sivalinga image which he claimed to be the original linga brought by the god Hanuman from India when, according to the temple origin myth, Munnesvaram was first founded ...
Page 6
... 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 following its destruction at the hands of Jesuit missionaries in 1606 ...
... 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 following its destruction at the hands of Jesuit missionaries in 1606 ...
Page 17
... land, and on the fourth by the Munnesvaram tank which feeds these fields (see Figure 2.1 and page 21). A paved road runs from Chilaw to Munnesvaram and continues past the settlement eventually reaching the interior township of ...
... land, and on the fourth by the Munnesvaram tank which feeds these fields (see Figure 2.1 and page 21). A paved road runs from Chilaw to Munnesvaram and continues past the settlement eventually reaching the interior township of ...
Page 18
... lands and slash-and-burn (chena) gardens. The rich coconut lands between Negombo and Chilaw stretch into the interior as far as Kurunegala, these three towns forming the points of what is unofficially called Sri Lanka's 'Coconut ...
... lands and slash-and-burn (chena) gardens. The rich coconut lands between Negombo and Chilaw stretch into the interior as far as Kurunegala, these three towns forming the points of what is unofficially called Sri Lanka's 'Coconut ...
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