Photographed image of a Painting on ceiling (Udu Viyana) at the Old Temple ( Pallemale) structure of Dalada Maligawa
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The importance of the temple of the tooth relic in Kandy, Sri Lanka is based on the fact that it safe keeps a tooth of the Buddha , which is highly venerated by the Buddhists world over as it had experienced all of Buddha’s verbal energy vibrations created while expounding the Dhamma of Noble Truth to his followers during the whole lifetime after becoming enlightened. Majority of Sinhala people who are Buddhists in the country call this tooth relic temple as Sri Dalada Maligawa. Though the Buddha was born in northern India, now Nepal, his doctrine or the school of thought did not live long in India. Instead it was in Sri Lanka that his Dhamma prevailed to exist for centuries onward up to the present day. Buddhists pay homage and venerate the Buddha relics on par with treating the living Buddha. Both Indian and Sri Lankan history indicates the reign by monarchs in those countries. Since the time that the highly preserved Buddha tooth relic was brought to Sri Lanka from Kalinga (an Indian state) the ruling king safe kept the Tooth relic in a special building adjacent to the royal palace. It was the practice throughout the long history until the end of the reign of last king Sri Vikrama Rajasingha in 1815.
Relics of the Lord Buddha is venerated by all Buddhists throughout the world and the relic at the Dalada Maligawa is the left pointed conical tooth of the Lord Buddha which is one of the remains of the cremated body of the Lord Buddha after the Parinirvana. It is said to be removed by the Arahanth Kema, who is a pupil of the great Arahanth Sariputta and given to King Brahmadatta of Kalinga, India. For centuries it was venerated and homage was paid by the Buddhists of Kalinga. During the time of King Sirimeghavanna (301 - 328 AD ) of Anuradhapura, the Tooth Relic was brought to Sri Lanka by Prince Dantha (son of the King of Udeni ) and Princess Hemamali ( daughter of King Guhasiva ). During a war waged to obtain the possession of the Relic tooth by the nephews of King Pandu against King Guhasiva, this was brought to Sri Lanka by Hemamali and Danta in the guise of Brahmins and the Tooth Relic was hidden and concealed in Princess Hemamali's hair. The Lord Buddha Tooth relic which is presently at the Dalada Maligawa was brought to Kandy during the rein of king Vimaladharmasuriy I and he made a two storied Palace to place the Tooth Relic. During the first few centuries , it had been placed at Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Beligala Rock, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala and Kotte kingdoms. Due to Portuguese invasion it was taken away by Buddhist priests to a mountanous region of Kandy and once Kandy was under the rule of the king, it was brought back again. Later King Vimaladharmasuriy II ( 1687-1707 AD) had built a three storied Tooth Relic Palace. King Parakrama Narendrasinghe ( 1707-1739 AD ) has also build a two storied temple for the Tooth Relic. The Last King of Sri Lanka, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe made the Octagonal Building called “ Pattirippuwa” and the moat in front of the Palace.
In the year 1988, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic was named as a world heritage by UNESCO. The Temple of the Tooth Relic is also a part of the Maligawa Complex, belonging to the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka. It is the most significant building in Kandy city and is located at the eastern corner of the city. This site's content can be translated to Sinhala or Tamil using the Google Translate app located at top Navigation bar. Through the information on the Tooth Relic Temple in this web page an essay can be easily created. Photo images with description are provided for all photographs. A separate section caters for the Dalada Maligawa Esala Perahera with photo description.
A The roadway running in between the Temple of the Tooth and the King's Palace and the Natha Devale temple is not being used as a road now. Earlier it was the access road to the King's Palace and the Tooth Relic Temple. There is a thick short wall with a feature of a triangle shape running along the border in between the Tooth relic temple and the road called "Diyareli Bamma" which means Wave swell Wall. There are triangle shaped cavities running throughout the width which were used to place lighted oil lamps. There is a moat between this wave swell wall and another wall in a higher elevation built onto the front side of the Temple of Tooth Relic which has a curve design called "Walakulu Bamma" or Cloud swell wall. This Cloud swell wall can be found in many temple paintings of Kandyan era.
The entrance to the Tooth Relic Temple is through a stone slab bridge over the moat and the Great Gate or the Maha Vahalkada is built on the bridge. The Gates are no more there now but old hinges for the doors can be noticed. A Moonstone or a "Sandakada Pahana" of Kandyan design was placed at the entrance to the Bridge way by the road which leads to a five step stairway to the stone bridge. This entrance way is common to both the King's Palace and the Tooth Relic Temple and diverts to the northern and southern directions after coming over the bridge leading the way to the Palace and the Temple. During the Kandy Perahera procession the Maligawa Tusker elephant carrying the Casket of a Tooth Relic (Dalada Karaduwa) enters through the bridge to this area to have the Dalada Karaduwa placed on a specially decorated ornamental casket tied onto his back.
Taking the stairway leading to southern direction will take the visitor to a passageway in front of the main entrance to the temple with a stone doorway with beautifully carved Makara Torana on top and two "Doratupala" or Door Keeper figures on eitherside. Passing through the "Ambarawa" or the tunnel with a length of 28 feet and a width of 8 feet one enters in to the "Hewisi Mandapaya" or the Drummers' Courtyard. This Drummers' pavilion is of the size of 40 feet width and 118 feet in length situated in front of the two storied Wedahitina maligawa or the Tooth Relic temple where the Tooth Relic is kept.
There are three rooms in the upper chamber. The first and the second rooms are called as Handun Kunama or the Sandlewood room. This space is a Gandhakuti or a Perfumed chamber. The exposition of the Tooth Relic takes place in the first room on special occations. It is in the third room that the Tooth Relic is residing and is called Vedahitina Maligawa. The first and the second chambers are called Handun Kunama or Sandlewood chamber. During the exposition of the Tooth Relic which takes place from time to time , it is exhibited to the devotees from the first room which the accompanying photograph depicts.
Doorway to the Vedahitina Maligawa or the Tooth Relic chamber having door frames covered with silver plaques and hava the symbols of sun and moon embossed on them. The Tooth Relic is enclosed by seven golden, precious gem studed caskets. The outer most casket is partially covered by valuable jewellery offered to the relic by Kings and dignitaries of the past. The Perahera Karanduwa or the casket taken during the perahera pocession is kept next to the relic casket. Monks of Maha Viharas of Malwatta and Asgiriya partake in daily rituals on half yearly duty basis turns. During the daily service performance the drummers beat the drums from the hewisi mandapaya below.
Dalada Perahera Photographs by Sunil Atugoda
Reference - "Kandy"- Anuradha Seneviratna
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