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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... expressions of the sacred bear the immanent potential of the other expressions. The interrelation of these features is inaccurately grasped by the terms of a complementarity of sacred/profane, cosmos/chaos or pure/impure, although such ...
... expression of the world, and even appear to capture it. However, in doing so they forge the possibilities of a grand excess – a riot of life the recognition of which is the temple's remarkable achievement. Notes 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15 ...
... expression of Munnesvaram as a whole. The great goddess dwells in the temple with a tremendous presence that pervades the whole settlement. With Ambal, the other important deity is Bhadrakali (or 'Auspicious Kali'). Indeed, for many ...
... expressions of their relative advancement along this path. Their movement is facilitated by the meritorious assistance they give to humans who make offerings to them (Obeyesekere 1984: 61–70). Kali, it appears, has yet to graduate even ...
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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 |
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The Domain of Constant Excess: Plural Worship at the Munnesvaram Temples in ... Rohan Bastin No preview available - 2002 |