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
Results 11-15 of 56
Page 13
... caste, ethnicity, class and gender. Above all, temples are about divinity, righteous action and demons. They ... castes) I shall use the label 'Tamil Saivism' throughout this book as a counterpart to the category 'Sinhala Buddhism ...
... caste, ethnicity, class and gender. Above all, temples are about divinity, righteous action and demons. They ... castes) I shall use the label 'Tamil Saivism' throughout this book as a counterpart to the category 'Sinhala Buddhism ...
Page 15
... caste orders and different religious ideas and practices . Munnesvaram and Chilaw port share their fame , as do Thirukithesvaram and Mannar ( in the north - west ) , Nagulesvaram and Kankesanturai ( in Jaffna ) , Konesvaram and ...
... caste orders and different religious ideas and practices . Munnesvaram and Chilaw port share their fame , as do Thirukithesvaram and Mannar ( in the north - west ) , Nagulesvaram and Kankesanturai ( in Jaffna ) , Konesvaram and ...
Page 16
... caste who pre- dominate in Chilaw town . Many Chilaw Karava migrated in the late nineteenth century from Negombo ... castes who subsequently settled right along the west coast . These Tamil - speaking groups became members of the ...
... caste who pre- dominate in Chilaw town . Many Chilaw Karava migrated in the late nineteenth century from Negombo ... castes who subsequently settled right along the west coast . These Tamil - speaking groups became members of the ...
Page 28
... caste and ethnicity. On an average non-festival day, around one hundred and fifty people would attend the Munnesvaram temple for activities ranging from breaking a coconut at the side entrance and not entering the temple to ...
... caste and ethnicity. On an average non-festival day, around one hundred and fifty people would attend the Munnesvaram temple for activities ranging from breaking a coconut at the side entrance and not entering the temple to ...
Page 29
... caste backgrounds whose family fortunes waxed during the British period when they figured prominently in the colonial bureaucracy. While it is reasonable to declare that the Bhadrakali temple has greater appeal to the poor than the ...
... caste backgrounds whose family fortunes waxed during the British period when they figured prominently in the colonial bureaucracy. While it is reasonable to declare that the Bhadrakali temple has greater appeal to the poor than the ...
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
aesthetic Aiyanar annual festival arccanai articulation associated Astara Astara Devata bandara bathing rite becomes Bhadrakali temple Bhairavar Brahmins Buddhist revitalisation camphor caste Chapter chariot Chilaw coconut coconut game Colombo consciousness cosmic daily rites deities demonic described devotees Diseased King divine dynamic ethnic expression firewalking flag flagpole gaze goddess guardian hall ibid important inner road inner sanctum Jaffna Kali Kapferer 1997a Kataragama Kramrisch lamp linga Maradankulam Munnes Munnesvaram festival Munnesvaram priests Munnesvaram temple Murugan Navaratri Obeyesekere 1984 offerings Pattini performed Pillaiyar temple popular potency potentiality practice presence procession puja Purusa relation religious ritual sacrifice Saivism sakti sense shrine simply Sinh Sinhala Buddhist Sinhalese Siva social Somaskanda sorcery south Indian specific sponsor Sri Lanka Sri Lankan Tamil stress Suniyam Tamil Saivite Tamil Saivite temple Taniyavala temple complex temple festivals temple priests temple’s theme trance varam Visnu worship yantra