The Temple of the Sacred Tooth
Relic also known as “Sri Dalada Maligawa” is a world-renowned and sacred place
of worship, where the left tooth of Gautama Buddha is enshrined. It is one of
the most sacred places of worship for Buddhists in Sri Lanka as well as
Buddhists round the world, and it was named as a world heritage by UNESCO in
1988.
The temple which carries a lot of value to Buddhists all over the
world also has immense cultural and historical value. The unique Kandyan
architectural style with a combination of unique styles used to build “Dalada
Mandira”.
The temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is built in the city of Kandy
near the ancient Royal Palace situated to the North of the temple and the Udawatta
forest reserve to the East. The Kandy Lake to the South and “Natha &
Paththini Devala” on the West.
Kandy city of Sri Lanka is the final location of the Sacred Tooth
Relic of Gautama Buddha. The Sacred relic was brought to Sri Lanka by Princess
Hemamala & Prince Dantha from the city of Kalinga in ancient India, during
the reign of King Keerthi Sri Meghavarna.
This sacred relic was become
a symbol of Sri Lankan kings, and was preciously guarded in a special shrine
built within the precincts of the royal palace, wherever the capital was
located. While in Kandy the last Kingdom the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
continues to be the greatest shrine to receive the utmost veneration.
The first “Dalada Madura” in Kandy, which housed the Sacred Tooth Relic was built by King I. Wimaladharmasuriya during his reign. However, it reveals that this was destroyed by the Portuguese during their invasions. The second temple for the tooth relic was built in the same location by King II. Rajasinghe during his reign, which was burnt by the Dutch.
History reveals that in year 1687 King II.
Wimaladharmasuriya built a 3 storeyed Dalada Madura, but with time the building
was decayed and destroyed. Later his son King Sri Veera Parakrama
Narendrasinghe built the 2 storeyed Dalada Madura which one can see today.
The temple was finely renovated and beautified by
King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe to its present appearance. Also, the famously known
“Paththirippuwa” or the Octagonal Pavilion was constructed by King Sri Wickrama
Rajasinghe.
Protecting of the Sacred Tooth Relic and
conducting religious rituals without a break is being carried out to the
present day under the strict surveillance of the three chief custodians of the
Tooth Relic, the most Venerable Mahanayake theros of Malwatta and Asgiriya
chapters and the lay custodian, the Diyawadana Nilame.
The historical and world-famous procession called The Kandy Esala Perahera is held annually to pay homage to the Scared Tooth Relic by Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy Sri Lanka.
0 Comments