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 6-10 of 87
... rites pansala (Sinh.) – Buddhist temple/school paråvåc (Skt.) – the first word parinibbåna (Sinh.) – Buddha's death and release parivåram (Tm.) – the royal retinue, a name for a procession påsa (Skt.) – fetter pattini (Tm.) – virgin ...
... rite involving coverof Kålî, in cooling sandalwood paste sangku (Tm.) – conch shell Íani (Sinh., Tm.) – Saturn Sårada (Skt.) – Autumn Sårada Navaråtri (Skt.) – The Autumn Nine Nights festival, the best known Navaråtri festival in the ...
... rite at end of festival tîrtham (Tm.) – bathing rite at the end of temple festivals tiruvil.å (Tm.) – festival procession and label for the festival as a whole todpullu (Skt.) – special pointer stick made of woven kusa grass used in ...
... rite of renewal when the ritual condition of possibility floods the temple complex as a mass of worshipping humanity. This book is primarily about the annual festival, a month long event involving thousands of people from all over the ...
... rite was a Sinhala Buddhist deity priest who normally ran a small shrine to the Sinhala Buddhist sorcery deity Suniyam.9 He described how he used this bo tree throughout the year for sacrifice and sorcery, bringing clients from ...
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 |