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 xviii
geo-political unit of the Sinhalese state prior to and during European colonialism; a korale consisted of a number of pattu which in turn consisted of a number of villages kßetra (Skt.) – field of power (cultivated space) kulam (Tm.) ...
geo-political unit of the Sinhalese state prior to and during European colonialism; a korale consisted of a number of pattu which in turn consisted of a number of villages kßetra (Skt.) – field of power (cultivated space) kulam (Tm.) ...
Page xxiii
main rice paddy harvest yantra (Skt. ), yantram (Tm.) – special design serving ritual purpose of binding the energy of deities to space ya†apila (Sinh.) – lower team in Pattini games yoni (Skt.) – complement of the linga, ...
main rice paddy harvest yantra (Skt. ), yantram (Tm.) – special design serving ritual purpose of binding the energy of deities to space ya†apila (Sinh.) – lower team in Pattini games yoni (Skt.) – complement of the linga, ...
Page 4
The rush of lower order guardian deities into the space was, then, a direct result of the presence of the high deities inside the octagonal (lotus) pavilion. Without being typical, trance behaviour is a key component of contemporary ...
The rush of lower order guardian deities into the space was, then, a direct result of the presence of the high deities inside the octagonal (lotus) pavilion. Without being typical, trance behaviour is a key component of contemporary ...
Page 7
This lacuna has created a space in which spontaneous peasant and workingclass religious devotion spills forth and thereby shapes the religious aesthetic. The autonomy of the temple priests leaves the temples more open to a greater ...
This lacuna has created a space in which spontaneous peasant and workingclass religious devotion spills forth and thereby shapes the religious aesthetic. The autonomy of the temple priests leaves the temples more open to a greater ...
Page 12
Thus, in Chapter 5 I examine the aesthetics of the Munnesvaram temple as an architectural form and as a space for the obligatory and regular rites through which the form is rendered as a site for practice. I discuss the ground plan and ...
Thus, in Chapter 5 I examine the aesthetics of the Munnesvaram temple as an architectural form and as a space for the obligatory and regular rites through which the form is rendered as a site for practice. I discuss the ground plan and ...
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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
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Domain of Constant Excess: Plural Worship at the Munnesvaram Temples in Sri Lanka |
| Author | Rohan Bastin |
| Publisher | Berghahn Books, 2002 |
| ISBN | 1789203678, 9781789203677 |
| Length | 254 pages |
| Subjects | › › Religion / General Social Science / Anthropology / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |