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 2
... south Indian and Sri Lankan society and history. In order to do so, I shall argue closely through my ethnography on the Munnes- varam temples to arrive at some general propositions about the historical importance of temples in South ...
... south Indian and Sri Lankan society and history. In order to do so, I shall argue closely through my ethnography on the Munnes- varam temples to arrive at some general propositions about the historical importance of temples in South ...
Page 7
... south Indian temples,15 this has not meant that the temples remain aloof from the social tensions affecting Sri Lanka. Apart from anything else the priests are Tamil while the majority of wor- shippers is Sinhalese. Moreover, the ...
... south Indian temples,15 this has not meant that the temples remain aloof from the social tensions affecting Sri Lanka. Apart from anything else the priests are Tamil while the majority of wor- shippers is Sinhalese. Moreover, the ...
Page 8
... south Indian temple in both society and history more generally. Munnesvaram is dis- tinctive for its religious and ethnic blend. Indeed, it is highly unusual. What Munnesvaram reveals through its unique configuration, though, is a ...
... south Indian temple in both society and history more generally. Munnesvaram is dis- tinctive for its religious and ethnic blend. Indeed, it is highly unusual. What Munnesvaram reveals through its unique configuration, though, is a ...
Page 13
... South Asian life. Their power is a pristine energy of cosmos and through it they create the potent realm of possibility. This, I argue, is what hierarchical encompassment and the sacred in the Indian context mean. It is a form of ...
... South Asian life. Their power is a pristine energy of cosmos and through it they create the potent realm of possibility. This, I argue, is what hierarchical encompassment and the sacred in the Indian context mean. It is a form of ...
Page 14
... Indian army participated as a 'Peace Keeping Force' in 1987 and 1988. 5. My source is my own sample of the temple ... south-east of Chilaw, a town renowned as the symbolic centre for Suniyam in Sri Lanka – Kabälläva (Kapferer 1997a ...
... Indian army participated as a 'Peace Keeping Force' in 1987 and 1988. 5. My source is my own sample of the temple ... south-east of Chilaw, a town renowned as the symbolic centre for Suniyam in Sri Lanka – Kabälläva (Kapferer 1997a ...
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
aesthetic Aiyanar annual festival arccanai articulation associated Astara Astara Devata bandara bathing rite becomes Bhadrakali temple Bhairavar Brahmins Buddhist revitalisation camphor caste Chapter chariot Chilaw coconut coconut game Colombo consciousness cosmic daily rites deities demonic described devotees Diseased King divine dynamic ethnic expression firewalking flag flagpole gaze goddess guardian hall ibid important inner road inner sanctum Jaffna Kali Kapferer 1997a Kataragama Kramrisch lamp linga Maradankulam Munnes Munnesvaram festival Munnesvaram priests Munnesvaram temple Murugan Navaratri Obeyesekere 1984 offerings Pattini performed Pillaiyar temple popular potency potentiality practice presence procession puja Purusa relation religious ritual sacrifice Saivism sakti sense shrine simply Sinh Sinhala Buddhist Sinhalese Siva social Somaskanda sorcery south Indian specific sponsor Sri Lanka Sri Lankan Tamil stress Suniyam Tamil Saivite Tamil Saivite temple Taniyavala temple complex temple festivals temple priests temple’s theme trance varam Visnu worship yantra