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 Temple
of Tooth Relic : The tooth relic was brought to
Sri Lanka in 371 A.D. from India. In India there was a king called
Buhasiva. He has instructed his son in law Dhantha supposing if he lost in
the battle take the tooth relic to Sri Lanka where his friend was living.
He handed over this tooth relic to his son in law DhanthaThe king lost the
battle and his daughter princes Hemamali and son in law Dhantha brought
the tooth relic to Sri Lanka, and it was hidden in her knot of hair foe
safety. When they reached Sri Lanka King Buhasiva’s friendly king Mahasen
had died.So they handed the sacred tooth relic to king Megavan who was
ruling in Anuradhapura.
The sacred tooth relic was then
handed over to bikku, buddhist monk’s of Abayagiriya for safe keeping and
also object of worship for Buddha’s. Traditionally thereafter the sacred
tooth relic was regarded as a royal treasure and symbol of kingship and
was enshrined in the private shrine room of temple in the royal palace
complex of Capital and protected by the king himself.
When the
capital was shifted from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa the tooth relic was
taken to Polonnaruwa by king Vijayabahu 1 and he constructed “Atadage”and
enshrined it.Aftertsome time Queen Sugala has taken the tooth to Amsterdam
bay.There was a fortress and it was hidden there. After a long battle king
Parakramabahu the 1st brought the tooth relic again to Polonnaruwa. And
king Nissankamalla constructed the tooth relic temple called "Hatadage"
and enshrined it. After that it was brought to Dmbadeniya,Yapahuwa,
Kurunegala from Kurunegala they brought to Kotte. During the period of
Mayadunna it was taken to Seethawaka.During period of Rajasinghe 1,
portugues power spread in the costal area and it was taken to Delgamuwa
Viharaya, which is situated at Kuruwita in Rathnapura district, and it was
taken to Kandy in 1593 and kept by king Wimaladharmasuriya. In 1753 the
Kandy Perahara started to honour the tooth relic, and it was taken around
the Kandy town.
After Sri Lanka was concord by
British in 1815 the custody of the sacred tooth relic given over to three
custodians. The venerable mahanayaka thero of Asgiriya and malwatta
chapters and to the Diyawadana Nilame, the chief custodian, and continue
even to day. During the period of king wimaladhrmasuriya the temple of
tooth relic constructed.he made it a two storied building. Later king
wimaladhrmasuriya the 2nd, have constructed three storied building. King
Narendrasingha re-built and had paintings of 32 jathaka stories of Depict
of the wall of court yard.
Paththirippuva (octagan) is
part of the royal palace. King used to come and address the people from
there. It was constructed by Devendra Moolachari during the period of king
Sri Wickrama Rajasingha. Now it’s handed over to the temple of tooth
relic, and uses as a library of ola leaves. In front of the Daladha
Maligava you get the “diyarelibemma”. as soon as you come out side in the
wall you get the diyarelibemma, in the shape of a waves get in the
lake.
When
the electricity is not there you can keep the oil lamp and light in the
“diyarelibemma”. There are two walls. First one is calld “diyareli bemma”.
The one close to the temple calls “walakulu bemma” at the entrance you get
the “maha wahalkada” one of the entrance to the palace area. At the
entrance you get a moonstone and by both sides you get nicely carved
elephant figures. When you enter the wahalkada you come through a door –
way, with makara thorana. And a figur of dhorotupala.(door man) When you
pass through a cave called ambarawa. Then you come to the hevisi mandapaya
(drumers' courtyard) in front of the sacred tooth relic temple. The lower
chamber of the temple call pallemaluwa. Upper chamber call uda mahala or
wedahitina mahala. To the right side of the octagon is aramudal ge in
which you get the Buddha's image house. then you get pirith mandapaya.
Lower chamber of this building have two rooms called dig ge, long house.
Other one is maha aramudhala.
The treasure room, where the gifts
offered are housed. The wooden doors framed over late with rich silver
plates with the sun and moon symbol either sides. That is in the lover
floor. In the upper chamber there are three rooms. handhun hunama, is the
name given to first and second room, or sandal wood shed or gandhakutiya,
or perfume chamber. It is the first room that the exposition of the tooth
relic take place. The third room is called wadahitina maligawa , where the
tooth relic reside. Door frames in these chambers are late with ivory.
There are seven golden caskets enclosed for the tooth relic and each
studded with precious gems. The outer most caster is embedded by jewellery
offered to the relic by various kings and other distinguished quest. on
the right hand of the tooth relic is the perahera karaduwa. There is a
relic chamber presented by India with the Buddha's relic from dharmajika
sthoopa in Thaksala the relic casket is covered with bullet proof glass
frame. In front of it is the wooden alter mal asana in late with silver.
over it from the ceiling hangs lotus flower made out of gold with gems at
the center.
Daily rituals are performed three times a day. One is
early morning at 4.30 a.m. second is at 10.30. a.m. and the third is at
6.30. p.m. in the evening at 4.30 a.m. and 10.30 a.m. 32 measures of rice
are cooked as offering for Breakfast and Lunch every day. 32 vegetables
are cooked for alms and in the evening various medicinal drinks like
koththamalli, tea, fruit juice, with beetle and banana are offered as
Buddhist's believe treating Buddha's relic is like treating Buddha
alive.
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