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
... 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 discussion is intended to draw out general issues about ...
... 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 discussion is intended to draw out general issues about ...
Page 3
... temple complex. I stress this apparent sense, however, for while at one moment the fluidity of social and religious ... 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 religious ... temple's dynamic. The events are associated with the festival climax, an event known in Tamil as the 'sacred bath ...
Page 5
... temples' significance. Most importantly, the spectacle feeds into the development of the bo tree site, a development ... temple priests. Passing over the River Dedura and continuing a few kilometres north one finds a strangely designed ...
... temples' significance. Most importantly, the spectacle feeds into the development of the bo tree site, a development ... temple priests. Passing over the River Dedura and continuing a few kilometres north one finds a strangely designed ...
Page 6
... temple's built form, the inscription is central to the relationship between the temple and the Brahmin priests who effectively own the temple. It underpins the legal status of the temple and also that of its priests, and thus has a ...
... temple's built form, the inscription is central to the relationship between the temple and the Brahmin priests who effectively own the temple. It underpins the legal status of the temple and also that of its priests, and thus has a ...
Page 7
... temples are owned and run by their Tamil Saivite priests. This is important because through their ownership the ... temple complexes, because they have lacked executive power. This lacuna has created a space in which spontaneous peasant ...
... temples are owned and run by their Tamil Saivite priests. This is important because through their ownership the ... temple complexes, because they have lacked executive power. This lacuna has created a space in which spontaneous peasant ...
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
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