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 7
Both middle-class Tamils and Sinhalese have been significant throughout the twentieth century in separate religious revitalisation movements and associated ethnic politics. Both groups have been highly influential in the Munnesvaram ...
Both middle-class Tamils and Sinhalese have been significant throughout the twentieth century in separate religious revitalisation movements and associated ethnic politics. Both groups have been highly influential in the Munnesvaram ...
Page 9
... complementarity of sacred/profane, cosmos/chaos or pure/impure, although such dyads certainly hint at aspects of the sacred (in Greek 'hieros'). More accurate is the interrelation and movement between interiorising and exteriorising ...
... complementarity of sacred/profane, cosmos/chaos or pure/impure, although such dyads certainly hint at aspects of the sacred (in Greek 'hieros'). More accurate is the interrelation and movement between interiorising and exteriorising ...
Page 16
The movement into Sri Lanka has been a steady stream punctuated by waves of immigration by often distinct social groups such as sections of the Karava fishing caste who predominate in Chilaw town. Many Chilaw Karava migrated in the late ...
The movement into Sri Lanka has been a steady stream punctuated by waves of immigration by often distinct social groups such as sections of the Karava fishing caste who predominate in Chilaw town. Many Chilaw Karava migrated in the late ...
Page 24
Their movement is facilitated by the meritorious assistance they give to humans who make offerings to them (Obeyesekere 1984: 61–70). Kali, it appears, has yet to graduate even to the first stage and so remains a ghoulish outsider.
Their movement is facilitated by the meritorious assistance they give to humans who make offerings to them (Obeyesekere 1984: 61–70). Kali, it appears, has yet to graduate even to the first stage and so remains a ghoulish outsider.
Page 30
However, from the medieval period, when the Sinhalese aristocracy became enmeshed with trader families such as the Alagakkonnara, the movement of groups through the caste structure appears to have become more common.
However, from the medieval period, when the Sinhalese aristocracy became enmeshed with trader families such as the Alagakkonnara, the movement of groups through the caste structure appears to have become more common.
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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 |