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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... 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 thresholds to protect and order boundaries korale ...
... 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.
... trees, or were stripped of their clothes, or had some indecent freak played upon them. But now, after the erection of the Cross, wonderful to say, all these spectres and impurities have ceased altogether. The way is safe now, and people ...
... tree near the pavilion entrance at the precise moment the statues were installed. A large part of the assembled crowd were affected, and while many were already familiar to me as trance specialists who regularly went into trance at ...
... tree throughout the year for sacrifice and sorcery, bringing clients from different parts of the island for night-time rites. Nine cobras dwell in the tree, he added, and he made regular offerings to them. Cobras are often reported as ...
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 |