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. |
From inside the book
... central axis dvåja (Skt.) – flag dvåjasthambha (Skt.) – flag pole gambhara (Sinh.) – village guardian god gamma∂uva (Sinh.) – name for a body of rites held for the goddess Pattini Gam Udåwa (Sinh.) – 'Village Reawakening', government ...
... central to the reproduction of religious power in the forceful aesthetic of ritual . I am interested in what is ' dramatic ' or critical about Munnesvaram as an aspect of the temples ' popularity . The thesis I pursue is that the ...
... central to my argument the place of Munnesvaram in Sri Lankan history , politics and cultural heritage . The contemporary Munnesvaram temple is built on the site of a famous ancient Siva temple , a temple whose renown is recorded at ...
... central to the role of the south Indian temple in both society and history more generally. Munnesvaram is dis- tinctive for its religious and ethnic blend. Indeed, it is highly unusual. What Munnesvaram reveals through its unique ...
... central region around Anuradha- pura to the south - west via Kurunegala , Yapahuwa , Dambadeniya and other sites . In this ' drift ' of political power there is an associated rise in Sri Lanka's trade in spices and arecanut , and a ...
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 |