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 xv
ritual specialist ågama (Skt.) – tradition, knowledge, authority ågama nilåyam (Skt.) – temple library ågamas (Tm.) – the core texts of Tamil Saivism (in Anglicised plural form) aisvarya (Skt.) – regal power aiyyå (Sinh.) ...
ritual specialist ågama (Skt.) – tradition, knowledge, authority ågama nilåyam (Skt.) – temple library ågamas (Tm.) – the core texts of Tamil Saivism (in Anglicised plural form) aisvarya (Skt.) – regal power aiyyå (Sinh.) ...
Page 4
... indication of resident guardians, as well as being in some sorcery traditions the mystical agents of sorcerous attack. For there to be as many as nine of them suggests that the religious power of this particular site is very great.
... indication of resident guardians, as well as being in some sorcery traditions the mystical agents of sorcerous attack. For there to be as many as nine of them suggests that the religious power of this particular site is very great.
Page 18
Vital to the bandara tradition is the weaving of historical figures and geo-political events with such guardian deity traditions (Kapferer 1997a, nd). By the second half of the sixteenth century, Madampe was ruled by princes aligned ...
Vital to the bandara tradition is the weaving of historical figures and geo-political events with such guardian deity traditions (Kapferer 1997a, nd). By the second half of the sixteenth century, Madampe was ruled by princes aligned ...
Page 23
Buddhism, Kataragama) and Pillaiyar (Gana Deviyo), or his counterpart (and in some Hindu traditions brother-in-law) Visnu, the pre-eminent god of Sinhala Buddhism.16 So while Siva's divine and honourable qualities are celebrated by both ...
Buddhism, Kataragama) and Pillaiyar (Gana Deviyo), or his counterpart (and in some Hindu traditions brother-in-law) Visnu, the pre-eminent god of Sinhala Buddhism.16 So while Siva's divine and honourable qualities are celebrated by both ...
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She is so thoroughly grounded in Buddhist ideals that Obeyesekere is led to speculate about her south Indian origins, concluding that the Sinhala Buddhist Pattini has her roots in the traditions and ideas of south Indian Jainism and ...
She is so thoroughly grounded in Buddhist ideals that Obeyesekere is led to speculate about her south Indian origins, concluding that the Sinhala Buddhist Pattini has her roots in the traditions and ideas of south Indian Jainism 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 |