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
Results 1-5 of 60
Page vii
... Social Composition of Worship 26 Temple Ownership 34 Chapter 3 Myths and Marginality 43 Rama Myth 45 The Myth of the Diseased King 47 Heritage or History? 51 Kali's Myth 53 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 – – vii Contents.
... Social Composition of Worship 26 Temple Ownership 34 Chapter 3 Myths and Marginality 43 Rama Myth 45 The Myth of the Diseased King 47 Heritage or History? 51 Kali's Myth 53 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 – – vii Contents.
Page 2
... social and cultural articulation. My focus is the temple complex of Munnesvaram, a predominantly Hindu cluster of five temples near the north-west coastal town of Chilaw, during the period from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. My ...
... social and cultural articulation. My focus is the temple complex of Munnesvaram, a predominantly Hindu cluster of five temples near the north-west coastal town of Chilaw, during the period from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. My ...
Page 3
... social and religious categories appears to be asserted by a unity of purpose in temple worship at Munnesvaram, in the next moment the temples display the fragmentation of different and often competing, contesting and resistant interests ...
... social and religious categories appears to be asserted by a unity of purpose in temple worship at Munnesvaram, in the next moment the temples display the fragmentation of different and often competing, contesting and resistant interests ...
Page 4
... social transformation, specifically urbanisation, my interpretation is concerned with how a temple complex like Munnesvaram enables shifting forms of worship to take place. Importantly, the priests establish the conditions for the ...
... social transformation, specifically urbanisation, my interpretation is concerned with how a temple complex like Munnesvaram enables shifting forms of worship to take place. Importantly, the priests establish the conditions for the ...
Page 6
... social composition of the body of worshippers and I examine the nature of the physical location of the Munnesvaram complex in the religious topography of the island. The social composition of worship raises – 6– The Domain of Constant ...
... social composition of the body of worshippers and I examine the nature of the physical location of the Munnesvaram complex in the religious topography of the island. The social composition of worship raises – 6– The Domain of Constant ...
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