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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... simply a Siva temple. Yet 'Munisvara' is also the name of a lower status village guardian deity in south India, known in northern Sri Lanka as Muniappan or simply 'Muni'. Muniappan is also known as Virabhadra, Siva's angry form. In ...
... simply 'Mother Goddess' (Amma Deviyo) but she is also known by many Sinhala Buddhists at Munnesvaram as the single most important and highest goddess in their pantheon – Pattini. For many Sinhala Buddhists, Munnesvaram temple is ...
... simply because of the prices of the rites, but also because of the presence of the wealthy, who both monopolise the time available in the day and create an atmosphere in which the poor and low in status are often reluctant to make their ...
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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 |