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 6
... simply in the more limited sense of 'command', where power is very simply the power over another.12 Potentiality in my usage relates to the French term puissance in contrast to pouvoir where pouvoir (power, command) is an instantiation ...
... simply in the more limited sense of 'command', where power is very simply the power over another.12 Potentiality in my usage relates to the French term puissance in contrast to pouvoir where pouvoir (power, command) is an instantiation ...
Page 7
... simply reflect or represent) the activities of sections of Sri Lanka's landed and high caste strata who sponsor the Brahmins in contrast with the activities of sections of the entrepreneurial strata who sponsor the non-Brahmins. Thus ...
... simply reflect or represent) the activities of sections of Sri Lanka's landed and high caste strata who sponsor the Brahmins in contrast with the activities of sections of the entrepreneurial strata who sponsor the non-Brahmins. Thus ...
Page 8
... simply reflect social relations whose reality lies elsewhere, rather they constitute nodal points in the articulation of these relations. While they are not the only grounds of interaction between social groups, they have had a central ...
... simply reflect social relations whose reality lies elsewhere, rather they constitute nodal points in the articulation of these relations. While they are not the only grounds of interaction between social groups, they have had a central ...
Page 13
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Contents
| 1 | |
Chapter 2 Fluidity and Ambiguity in the History of Munnesvaram | 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