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 61
Page 7
... social composition of worship raises the issue of the history of the temples. Through my account of this history I explain the unusual fact (for Sri Lanka) that both the Munnesvaram and Bhadrakali temples are owned and run by their ...
... social composition of worship raises the issue of the history of the temples. Through my account of this history I explain the unusual fact (for Sri Lanka) that both the Munnesvaram and Bhadrakali temples are owned and run by their ...
Page 8
... social relations whose reality lies elsewhere, rather they constitute nodal points in the articulation of these relations. While they are not the only grounds of interaction between social groups, they have had a central place in the ...
... social relations whose reality lies elsewhere, rather they constitute nodal points in the articulation of these relations. While they are not the only grounds of interaction between social groups, they have had a central place in the ...
Page 11
... social composition of the worshipping patronage of the Munnesvaram temples and to explore aspects of the interplay of social factors in the practices of worship. Caste, class and eth- nicity are manifested in the temple worship, and I ...
... social composition of the worshipping patronage of the Munnesvaram temples and to explore aspects of the interplay of social factors in the practices of worship. Caste, class and eth- nicity are manifested in the temple worship, and I ...
Page 13
... social possibility by which the Munnesvaram temples are rearticulated with their world. Finally, having moved through a detailed presentation of the festival I return to the question of the relationship between the Hindu temple and its ...
... social possibility by which the Munnesvaram temples are rearticulated with their world. Finally, having moved through a detailed presentation of the festival I return to the question of the relationship between the Hindu temple and its ...
Page 14
... social field of otherwise embedded social relations whose reproduction proceeds in multiple taken-for-granted ways, including ritual contexts. 7. Tirtham refers specifically to a crossing point, a ford in the river, or a threshold. It ...
... social field of otherwise embedded social relations whose reproduction proceeds in multiple taken-for-granted ways, including ritual contexts. 7. Tirtham refers specifically to a crossing point, a ford in the river, or a threshold. It ...
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 |
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