Rannamaari

Rannamaari is a Maldivian myth or legend which chronicles the Maldivian people's conversion from Buddhism to Islam.

Brief outline

According to Ibn Batuta's version of the story, Rannamaari, a sea demon, haunted the people of the Maldives and had to be appeased monthly with the sacrifice of a virgin. On the last day of every month, the king would choose a girl to sacrifice and keep her in an isolated temple for one night. The girl would be found the next day dead.

Blood sacrifices used to be made to the demon.

Common versions

Rannamaari has two main versions, the traditional version and the one told by Ibn Batuta.

According to the Moroccan traveler Ibn Batuta, who visited the Maldives during his journeys through Asia,

“

Rannamaari, the notorious sea demon haunted the people of the Maldives since time began. Every month, a virgin had to be sacrificed for the demon, or the people were to face his wrath. A girl was chosen from the inhabitants by the king or his advisers and she would be kept alone on the first night of the month in an isolated temple at the eastern seafront in Malé. At dawn, the girl's family would return to the temple to find the dead body of the girl. A Muslim traveler suggested that he be sent to the temple in the place of a girl to read verses of the Quran there. After the traveler was sent to the temple, the demon disappeared and was never heard of again. Everyone was grateful that the demon disappeared and in gratitude they accepted the faith of the Muslim traveler.

”

References

• Rihla.
• Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999, ISBN 84-7254-801-5