De revitalisering van Ravana: Een verkennend onderzoek naar hedendaagse voorstellingen van Ravana onder Sinhalezen in Sri Lanka

This explorative article revolves around contemporary views on Ravana as one of the components of Ravanisation – i.e., the current revitalisation of Ravana among Sinhalese Buddhists in Sri Lanka. Compared to some earlier Sinhalese movements in which Ravana was first and foremost portrayed as a king, numerous of his devotees nowadays ascribe divine characteristics to him. By discussing three examples from explorative fieldwork research it is argued that a focus on the current diverse views on Ravana – including the ones in which he is revitalised – and ‘lived religion’ are both important to gain insight into the contemporary Ravanisation.