Sri Lanka’s most treasured Buddhist relic | Temple of the Tooth


Sri Lanka’s most treasured Buddhist relic, a tooth of the Buddha, is housed in the golden-roofed temple of the tooth in Kandy. 
This is open to devotees and tourists to worship and see at times of offering or prayers. The temple of the Tooth is located on the border of Kandy Lake.


Arrival to the Sri Lanka and the Custodianship

After the passing of the Gautama Buddha the tooth relic was kept in Kalinga in India. Then served on the island of Sri Lanka.

The tooth relic was carried to Lankapattana in Sri Lanka by prince ‘Dantha’ and the princess ‘Hemamala’.  ‘Hemamala’ hid the relic in her hair on the route to the island due to the attacks by the other nations. They handed it to the then King of Anuradhapura, Kirthi Sri Meghavanna (301-328 CE).

Following that, the King enshrined it in the Megagiri Viharaya, which is known as the Isurumuniya now. The King of the period assumed responsibility for the safekeeping of the tooth relic. The right to lead the country is reflected by the custodianship of the tooth relic.

Since then, several rulers and kingdoms kept the tooth relic close to their royal castles. The tooth relic is now kept at the Sri Dalada Maligawa or temple of the tooth in Kandy also known as Senkadagala.

 

Malwatta and Asgiriya Chapters

The Diyawadana Nilame, as well as the main prelates of the Malwatta and Asgiriya chapters, have always played a vital part in affairs concerning the temple of the tooth or Sri Dalada Maligawa.

The two bhikkhus or chief prelates of these monastic organizations (Malwatta and Asgiriya) are members of the prominent sect Siyam Nikaya. Upali Thero established the Siyam Nikaya sect in 1753.

 

Sri Dalada Maligawa

Sri Weera Parakrama Narendrasinghe was the King who built this according to the Kandyan architecture. Sri Dalada Maligawa consists of the entrance and moat, Octagonal building, Golden canopy, audience hall, Museum of the temple, royal palace and the national museum of Kandy.

In addition, the museum of the ‘Raja’. The ‘Raja’, an elephant, led a procession for years carrying a tooth relic. In the museum, there is a scaled figure of the ‘Raja’, along with photographs of notable occasions.  

The complex is situated between the Udawattakale Sanctuary and Kandy Lake, with the queen’s bathing pavilion on the edge of the lake being the most visible monument. The Octagonal Paththirippuwa building and the moat were created during the time of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe (1798-1815).

Recently added golden awning that covers the main shrine was created by then Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1987.


The main shrine compound positioned in a central courtyard includes a wonderfully decorated view and tunnel. The temple of tooth was renovated twice because it was damaged in 1989 and 1998.


Thewawa

Dawn, noon and evening rituals are conducted three times a day.

Every Wednesday, the relic is symbolically bathed in a herbal concoction produced from perfumed water and aromatic flowers. It is called Nanumura Mangallaya. 

The King himself would attend to the offering in the past. However now, a monk and few servicemen would bring the Dalada Puja or offering to the casket and place it symbolically. Thewawa or daily services is a meal and flower offering. The drummers in the lower hall keep drumming throughout the duration of the Thewawa.

The majority of the current rites date back to the time of King 4th Parakramabahu in Kurunegala reign. During the reign, the constitution known as ‘Dalada Siritha’ was compiled which comprises all aspects relating to the ‘Sri Dalada Maligawa’. The tooth relic is enclosed in seven golden caskets adorned with diamonds on the main deck of the building. The casket is shaped like a Dagoba.

 

Kandy Esala Perahera

The feast of Esala Perahera originated from the reign of King Keerthi Sri Meghawanna. During that time, all the aspects related to the procession were handed over to Abayagiri Viharaya in Anuradhapura by the King. Kandy Esala Perahera is a vital aspect of paying respects to the precious tooth relic.

This ancient spectacle begins on the grounds of the temple of the tooth and continues its way through Kandy town. The procession also known as Dalada Perahera is the pinnacle of Buddhist festivals in the country. Dalada Perahera takes place in the month of Esala (July).

Actually the Kandy Perahera consists of a collection of processions. The four guardian shrine processions accompany the main temple procession. The four sections of the guardian shrine are as follows.

·         Naatha

·         Wishnu

·         Kataragama

·         Paththini

These processions amalgamate with the main temple procession to perform their indigenous artistic segments, especially the cultural factors and the fire dances. Hundreds of drummers and dancers as well as whiplashes and elephants perform in various traditional acts.

 

The relic was secured in various locations before moving to the ‘Sri Dalada Maligawa’ in Kandy under several reigns, including the Kingdom of Anuradhapura, the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa, the Kingdom of Kotte and the Kingdom of Dambadeniya.

It was kept safe at a temple known as Niyamgampaya throughout the Kingdom of Gampola. The relic was located within the Kingdom of Kotte during the time of King Dharmapala. Due to the invasions it was relocated to the Delgamuwa Viharaya in Rathnapura District. After that the relic was taken to the Kandy by two people known as Hiripitiye Diyawadana Rala and Devanagala Rathnalankara thero. Then it was placed in a palace which was built by King I Vimaladharmasooriya.

The tooth relic was brought to conceal in Medamahanuwara in Dumbara once again during the Portuguese assault in 1603. In addition, Beligala, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala, Kuruwita and Kothmale are the other cities that the tooth relic was kept. King 2nd Rajasinghe again brought it back to the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy a half century later. Because of the ancient temple and its relic, the temple of tooth was nominated as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Kandy is located in the central province of Sri Lanka, about 120 kilometers from Colombo, and takes nearly three to three and half hours to arrive through the Colombo-Kandy major route. In Kandy, pilgrims, foreigners and locals can stay in hundreds of star-rated hotels, villas, restaurants and boutiques. Rain showers make the frigid atmosphere more bearable. 

                  

  

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