The Domain of Constant Excess
Plural Worship at the Munnesvaram Temples in Sri Lanka
1st Edition
Published on 1. December 2002
254 pages
978-1-78920-367-7 (ISBN)
Description
The 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.
Reviews / Votes
"...a successfully ambitious effort, richly informative and insightful in its coverage of the site's religious life and most sophisticated in its use and advancing of theoretical perspectives...Profound insights...abound in this complex and rewarding piece of scholarship..a must read for scholars of south Asian religions." -The Australian Journal of AnthropologyMore details
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
Index; 12 Figures; 10 Plates, unspecified; 10 Graphs; 1 Tables, unspecified
ISBN-13
978-1-78920-367-7 (9781789203677)
DOI
10.3167/9781571812520
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
01/2003
1st Edition
Berghahn Books, Incorporated
€148.70
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Person
Rohan Bastin is Head of the School of Anthropology, Archaeology & Sociology at James Cook University.
Content
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1. Worship, Difference and Marvellous Potentiality
Chapter 2. Fluidity and Ambiguity in the History of Munnesvaram
Chapter 3. Myths and Marginality; Ritual Practices and Religious Identity
Chapter 4. The Saivite Temple as a Monumental Architecture
Chapter 5. 'The Look and the Thing Seen': Puja and Arccanai
Chapter 6. The Presence of Sakti; Guardians, Games and the Formation of Power
Chapter 7. The World Inside Out
Chapter 8. The Domain of Excess
Chapter 9. Divine Kings and Regal Gods: Temples in Society and History
Bibliography
Index
Chapter 1. Worship, Difference and Marvellous Potentiality
Chapter 2. Fluidity and Ambiguity in the History of Munnesvaram
Chapter 3. Myths and Marginality; Ritual Practices and Religious Identity
Chapter 4. The Saivite Temple as a Monumental Architecture
Chapter 5. 'The Look and the Thing Seen': Puja and Arccanai
Chapter 6. The Presence of Sakti; Guardians, Games and the Formation of Power
Chapter 7. The World Inside Out
Chapter 8. The Domain of Excess
Chapter 9. Divine Kings and Regal Gods: Temples in Society and History
Bibliography
Index
