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
... Processions and the Spiral Upward 171 Morning and Night Processions 173 Chariots - The Temple Turns on Itself 175 Chapter 10 The Domain of Excess 183 The Cool Fire of Reabsorption 186 The Danger of Cosmic Excess 189 The Hunting Festival ...
... Processions 172 Figure 9.2 Arrangement of Deities for the Processions 174 Table 4.1 The Nine Planets as they are positioned in their Saivite temple shrine 74 LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS The Munnesvaram Temple and Tank 21 ( -X- List of Figures ...
... Procession Led by Sinhalese and Tamil Musicians 168 Cosmogenesis : Bathing the Flagpole 169 A Coconut Offering to the Temple Chariot 177 A Man Carries his Child over the Hot Coals of the Firewalking . The firewalking leader with the ...
... procession pāśa ( Skt . ) – fetter pattini ( Tm . ) – virgin bride pattu ( Sinh . ) – plural form of pattuva pattuva ( Sinh . ) – geo - political unit consisting of a number of villages perahara ( Sinh . ) – festival procession and ...
... procession and label for the festival as a whole todpullu (Skt.) – special pointer stick made of woven kusa grass ... processions uttåna (Skt.) – face upwards våhana (Skt.) – vehicle, term for the animal bearers of deities such 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 |