"Ravanisation": The Revitalisation of Ravana among Sinhalese Buddhists in Post-War Sri Lanka

• Author(s): Deborah de Koning,
• Publisher: LIT Verlag Münster
• Pages: 402
• ISBN_10: 3643915047
  ISBN_13: 9783643915047
  
• Language: en
• Categories: Religion / General , Social Science / Anthropology / General , Social Science / Anthropology / Cultural & Social ,

Description:... This book discusses Ravanisation: the revitalisation of Ravana among Sinhalese Buddhists in post-war (after 2009) Sri Lanka. The Hindu Ramayana generally portrays Ravana as a cruel king. How and why, then, has Ravana gained the interest of Sinhalese Buddhists? This study takes an ethnographic perspective to answer these questions. The book discusses multiple Ravana representations that have emerged at an urban Buddhist site (the Sri Devram Maha Viharaya) and a rural site (Lakegala), and discloses how Ravanisation relates to Sinhalese Buddhist ethno-nationalism. In addition, the material, ritual, and spatial perspectives offer unique insights in the personal and local relevance of Ravana.