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
coconut milk rice ko ̄∂imaram (Tm.) – flag tree, another name for the temple flag pole ko ̄∂iyettum (Tm.) – flag-raising at commencement of temple festival kolam (Tm.) – decorative pattern in rice flour used at house and shrine ...
coconut milk rice ko ̄∂imaram (Tm.) – flag tree, another name for the temple flag pole ko ̄∂iyettum (Tm.) – flag-raising at commencement of temple festival kolam (Tm.) – decorative pattern in rice flour used at house and shrine ...
Page xx
type of tree used in the Munnesvaram festival 'Hunting Festival' Radala (Sinh.) – aristocratic landowner caste Råhu (Sinh.,Tm.) – the Dragon's Head planet ratha (Skt.) – chariot Ravi (Sinh.) – Sun rüpa (Skt.) – xx – Glossary.
type of tree used in the Munnesvaram festival 'Hunting Festival' Radala (Sinh.) – aristocratic landowner caste Råhu (Sinh.,Tm.) – the Dragon's Head planet ratha (Skt.) – chariot Ravi (Sinh.) – Sun rüpa (Skt.) – xx – Glossary.
Page 1
Formerly the wicked hell-hound had such complete mastery over the place, that nobody dared to pass by it even in broad daylight. Women, who dared to pass that way, were said to be obsessed by a demon, or hung up on trees, ...
Formerly the wicked hell-hound had such complete mastery over the place, that nobody dared to pass by it even in broad daylight. Women, who dared to pass that way, were said to be obsessed by a demon, or hung up on trees, ...
Page 3
The procession and bathing seemed to me to be following a predictable course until there was a sudden onset of trance and abandon in front of a bo tree near the pavilion entrance at the precise moment the statues were installed.
The procession and bathing seemed to me to be following a predictable course until there was a sudden onset of trance and abandon in front of a bo tree near the pavilion entrance at the precise moment the statues were installed.
Page 4
The main difference, however, was that alongside the previously solitary bo tree there now stood a trident (weapon and symbol of Siva, especially in his guardian Bhairavar form) and a small cement structure housing a painted statue of ...
The main difference, however, was that alongside the previously solitary bo tree there now stood a trident (weapon and symbol of Siva, especially in his guardian Bhairavar form) and a small cement structure housing a painted statue of ...
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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 |