I. Introduction: The Tovil in the Gourd -- II. Systems of Healing in Sri Lanka -- III. Meetings with Healers -- IV. A Culture-Specific Psychology -- V. The Healing Ritual as Psychotherapy -- VI. The Cultural Context of the Tovil Healing Ritual -- VII. The Controversy over the Buddhist Context of the Healing Rituals -- VIII. The Tovil in the Kandy Highlands -- IX. Examples of Treatment by Tovil -- X. The Skill of Upasena Gurunnanse -- XI. The Ethic of Upasena Gurunnanse -- App. Interview with Upasena Gurunnanse
Summary
Tovil is an indigenous healing ritual among the Sinfiala of Sri Lanka. It is a treatment for mental illness. During the ritual, which takes place at night, the patient embodies the demons who are the cause of his or her psychic problems. The ritual is a psychodrama, accompanied and induced by drumming, dancing and singing. The emphasis of this study is not on the patient but on the healer
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages [331]-338) and index