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 viii
... Offering Sinhala Buddhist Statuary The Logic of Deity Offerings in Sinhala Buddhism The Presence of Sakti The Goddess and Her 'Mountain' The Identity of Ambal and Kali Guardians, Games and the Formation of Power The Village Guardian ...
... Offering Sinhala Buddhist Statuary The Logic of Deity Offerings in Sinhala Buddhism The Presence of Sakti The Goddess and Her 'Mountain' The Identity of Ambal and Kali Guardians, Games and the Formation of Power The Village Guardian ...
Page xi
... Offering to the Temple Chariot A Man Carries his Child over the Hot Coals of the Firewalking. The firewalking leader with the margosa pot on his head dances in the background Trading in Plurality: Buddhist, Christian and Hindu Images at ...
... Offering to the Temple Chariot A Man Carries his Child over the Hot Coals of the Firewalking. The firewalking leader with the margosa pot on his head dances in the background Trading in Plurality: Buddhist, Christian and Hindu Images at ...
Page xv
... offering wave of lamps in puja ålåyam (Skt.) – abode, shrine am ̆ba (Sinh.) – mango Am ̆ba Vidamana (Sinh.) – the Mango Shoot ritual that celebrates the birth of Pattini from a mango; a key event in the annual festival at Munnesvaram ...
... offering wave of lamps in puja ålåyam (Skt.) – abode, shrine am ̆ba (Sinh.) – mango Am ̆ba Vidamana (Sinh.) – the Mango Shoot ritual that celebrates the birth of Pattini from a mango; a key event in the annual festival at Munnesvaram ...
Page xvi
... offering arccanam (Tm.) – as for arrccanai artha (Skt.) – purpose, name of main public hall in temple årü∂ha (Sinh.) – divine presence or the experience of divinity through trance årü∂ha kårayå (Sinh.) – term for the male trance ...
... offering arccanam (Tm.) – as for arrccanai artha (Skt.) – purpose, name of main public hall in temple årü∂ha (Sinh.) – divine presence or the experience of divinity through trance årü∂ha kårayå (Sinh.) – term for the male trance ...
Page xviii
... offering to festival patrons consisting of a half coconut, betel leaf and plaintain kannüru (Tm.) – eye evil kapa (Sinh.) – pole, flagpole, sacrificial stake – key object in deity rites kåppu (Tm.) – protective thread tied around a ...
... offering to festival patrons consisting of a half coconut, betel leaf and plaintain kannüru (Tm.) – eye evil kapa (Sinh.) – pole, flagpole, sacrificial stake – key object in deity rites kåppu (Tm.) – protective thread tied around a ...
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