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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Results 1-5 of 88
Page 1
... temple which had begun with Portuguese soldiers six years earlier.1 To the horror of the Munnesvaram priests, the Jesuits set about the temple's main image with iron bars and later claimed their action to be yet another moment in the ...
... temple which had begun with Portuguese soldiers six years earlier.1 To the horror of the Munnesvaram priests, the Jesuits set about the temple's main image with iron bars and later claimed their action to be yet another moment in the ...
Page 2
... temple complex of Munnesvaram, a predominantly Hindu cluster of five temples near the north-west coastal town of ... temple in all Sri Lanka, for others it is because Munnesvaram is one of the most important Siva temples in Sri ...
... temple complex of Munnesvaram, a predominantly Hindu cluster of five temples near the north-west coastal town of ... temple in all Sri Lanka, for others it is because Munnesvaram is one of the most important Siva temples in Sri ...
Page 3
... temple complex . I stress this apparent sense , however , for while at one moment the fluidity of social and ... temple's dynamic . The events are associated with the festival climax , an event known in Tamil as the ' sacred bath ...
... temple complex . I stress this apparent sense , however , for while at one moment the fluidity of social and ... temple's dynamic . The events are associated with the festival climax , an event known in Tamil as the ' sacred bath ...
Page 5
... temple origin myth , Munnesvaram was first founded . The Tamil built the temple to house this ' marvel ' and it became a popular place for worshippers to visit on their return to the Northern Province following the end of the festival ...
... temple origin myth , Munnesvaram was first founded . The Tamil built the temple to house this ' marvel ' and it became a popular place for worshippers to visit on their return to the Northern Province following the end of the festival ...
Page 6
... temple is built on the site of a famous ancient Siva temple , a temple whose renown is recorded at least as far back as the tenth century of the Common Era ( C.E. ) . Although I have no firm inscriptional evidence , the temple's fame ...
... temple is built on the site of a famous ancient Siva temple , a temple whose renown is recorded at least as far back as the tenth century of the Common Era ( C.E. ) . Although I have no firm inscriptional evidence , the temple's fame ...
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
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