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
... Popular Religion as a Practice of Resistance The Saivite Temple as a Monumental Architecture Potency as Simultaneous Origin and Effect Monumental Architecture Essentials: Temples in War and Death Munnesvaram Temple Design Binding the ...
... Popular Religion as a Practice of Resistance The Saivite Temple as a Monumental Architecture Potency as Simultaneous Origin and Effect Monumental Architecture Essentials: Temples in War and Death Munnesvaram Temple Design Binding the ...
Page 2
... popular temples in the complex. Each temple is owned and run by a distinct group of Tamil Hindu priests, and each temple largely conforms to the aesthetic style and ritual practice of the south Indian Hindu and specifically Saivite ...
... popular temples in the complex. Each temple is owned and run by a distinct group of Tamil Hindu priests, and each temple largely conforms to the aesthetic style and ritual practice of the south Indian Hindu and specifically Saivite ...
Page 3
... popularity.6 The thesis I pursue is that the religious appeal of a complex like Munnesvaram continually emerges from the diversity of interests, ideas and practices (often antagonistic, such as those of the Jesuits) that the temple ...
... popularity.6 The thesis I pursue is that the religious appeal of a complex like Munnesvaram continually emerges from the diversity of interests, ideas and practices (often antagonistic, such as those of the Jesuits) that the temple ...
Page 5
... popular place for worshippers to visit on their return to the Northern Province following the end of the festival. Through to the late 1970s the temple maintained a modest income and its own resident priest, largely because of the ...
... popular place for worshippers to visit on their return to the Northern Province following the end of the festival. Through to the late 1970s the temple maintained a modest income and its own resident priest, largely because of the ...
Page 8
... popular temple complex with a socially diverse patronage. Not all temples are so accessible, and for this Munnesvaram is remarkable. However, in being so open Munnesvaram reveals a possibility of the Indian temple – the dynamic process ...
... popular temple complex with a socially diverse patronage. Not all temples are so accessible, and for this Munnesvaram is remarkable. However, in being so open Munnesvaram reveals a possibility of the Indian temple – the dynamic process ...
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