Now a ballet explores the virtues of King Ravana

‘Maha Ravana’, which aims to explore the virtues of the king will be staged here later this month and will underline the high points of his reign, according to the director.

Wijegoonewardane contends that Ravana was the only king who managed to wipe out all forms of divisions in Sri Lanka thereby uniting it.

“Every nation, strives to keep true to an icon; a national figure. The manner in which the icon is portrayed can take many forms. This is the story behind the ballet Maha Ravana,” the Sunday Times reported.

It says Ramayana, an epic, woven around Rama, Ravana and Sita, by Indian poet Valmiki, has always been given the highest recognition and authority in Sri Lanka.

Wijegoonewardane told the newspaper that the root of the ‘Maha Ravana’ ballet, can be found in the Lankavathara Suthra, said to be preached to the king by Konagama Buddha (the Third Buddha in the Maha Bhadra Kalpa Era).

Another legend associated with Ravana is his flying machine, the Dandu Monara Yanthra or Pushpaka Vimana, which helped him travel around South Asia.

In fact, the Sri Lankan Tourism board is promoting Ramayana through highlighting the sites where Ravana was associated with the epic.

The board has even identified the site where Ravana parked his flying machine in a cave.

While the concept of a flying vehicle during the time of Ravana seems unbelievable, Wijegoonewardane says the Vimanika Shasthra by Maha Rishi Bharadvaja has documented evidence of such inventions.

The Vimanika Shastra (science of aeronautics) is an early 20th century Sanskrit text obtained by chanelling on aeronautics.

It includes discussions of construction of vimanas, the ‘chariots of the gods’ and the mythical self-moving aerial cars contained in the Sanskrit epics.

In addition to its controversial nature it was the director’s love for music and dance that made him take on the challenge of directing this ballet, he says.

The ballet will be presented in the John de Silva Theatre in Colombo on May 30.