Sri Dalada Maligawa - (Sinhala: ශ්රී දළදා මාළිගාව Tamil: ஸ்ரீ தலதா மாளிகை) or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of Buddha.
Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local
politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the
governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan
kings and is a UNESCO world heritage site partly due to the temple.
Monks of the two chapters of Malwatte and Asgiriya
conduct daily worship in the inner chamber of the temple. Rituals are
performed three times daily: at dawn, at noon and in the evenings. On
Wednesdays there is a symbolic bathing of the Sacred Relic with an
herbal preparation made from scented water and fragrant flowers, called
Nanumura Mangallaya. This holy water is believed to contain healing powers and is distributed among those present.
The temple sustained damage from bombings at various times but was fully restored each time.
History
Main article: Relic of the tooth of the Buddha
After the parinirvana of Gautama Buddha, the tooth relic was preserved in Kalinga and smuggled to the island by Princess Hemamali and her husband, Prince Dantha on the instructions of her father King Guhasiva. They landed in the island in Lankapattana during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Meghavarna (301-328) and handed over the tooth relic. The king enshrined it Meghagiri Vihara (present day Isurumuniya) in Anuradhapura.
Safeguard of the relic was a responsibility of the monarch, therefore
over the years the custodianship of relic became to symbolize the right
to rule. Therefore reigning monarchs built the tooth relic temples quite
close to their royal residences, as was the case during the times of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa and Kurunegala kingdoms. During the era of Kingdom of Gampola the relic was housed in Niyamgampaya Vihara. It is reported in the messenger poems such as Hamsa, Gira, and Selalihini that the temple of tooth relic was situated within the city of Kotte when the kingdom was established there.
During the reign of King Dharmapala, the relic was kept hidden in Delgamuwa Vihara, Ratnapura in a grinding stone. It was brought to Kandy by Hiripitiye Diyawadana Rala and Devanagala Rathnalankara Thera. King Vimaladharmasuriya I built a two storey building to deposit the tooth relic and the building is now gone.In 1603 when the Portuguese invaded Kandy, it was carried to Meda Mahanuwara in Dumbara. It was recovered in the time of Râjasimha II and it has been reported that he reinstate the original building or has built a new temple.The present day temple of the tooth was built by Vira Narendra Sinha. The octagonal Patthirippuwa and moat was added during the reign of Sri Vikrama Rajasinha.
Famous Kandyan architect Devandra Mulacharin is credited with building
the Patthirippuwa. Originally it was used by the kings for recreational
activities and later it was offered to the tooth relic. Now it is an
oriental library. It was attacked on two occasion, first in 1989 by the JVP and in 1998 by the LTTE
Front view of The Temple of the Tooth, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Patthirippua At Sri Dalada Maligawa Kandy Sri Lanka
Architecture
Inside the Temple of the Tooth
The golden canopy over main shrine
The brick wall which runs along the moat and Bogambara lake is known as water waves wall.
Holes in this wall are build to light coconut oil lamps. The main
entrance gates which lies over the moat is called Mahawahalkada. At the
foot of Mahawahalkada steps there is a Sandakada pahana
(moonstone) which is carved in Kandyan architectural style.
Mahawahalkada was totally destroyed in a 1998 bomb blast and rebuilt
afterwards along with sandakada pahana other stone carvings.Elephants are depicted in stone on the either sides of the entrance. A Makara Torana
and two guardian stones are placed on top of the staircase. Hewisi
drummers' chamber is situated in front of the main shrine. The two
storeys of main shrine are known as "Palle malaya" (lower floor) and
"Udu malaya" (upper floor) or "Weda hitina maligawa".The doors of the Weda Hitana Maligawa are carved in ivory. The actual chamber which the tooth relic is kept is known as the "Handun kunama".
The golden canopy built in 1987 over the main shrine and the golden
fence which encircles the main shrine are other notable features.
The tooth relic is encased in seven golden caskets which engraved with precious gemstones.
The caskets have a shape of a stupa. The Procession casket which is used during the Esala Perahera is also displayed in the same chamber.
Wall painting at Kelaniya
Temple
of Princess Hemamali and her husband, Prince Dantha which she carried
Gautama Buddha's tooth relic hidden in her hair to Sri Lanka. - Painting
by Solias Mendis
Associate buildings and structures
Royal Palace
Vimaladharmasuriya I built the royal palace of Kandy
The royal palace is situated to the north of the temple.
John Pybus, who was on an embassy in 1762, gives a detailed description on the royal palace.
Vikramabâhu III (r. 1356-1374) and Senasammatha Vikramabâhu (r. 1469-1511) built royal palaces on this site. Vimaladharmasuriya I undertook various decorations to the palace. The Dutch orientalist Philippus Baldaeus visited the palace with General Gerard Pietersz. Hulft in 1656. The royal residence is known as "Maha Wasala" in Sinhala
from the Polonnaruwa period. The royal palace is also known as
"Maligawa." There were three Wahalkadas and a 8 feet (2.4 m) high wall
used as main entrances. The section of the palace facing the Natha Devale is said to be the oldest. During the beginning of the British period, it was used by Government Agent Sir John D'Oyly.
Successors of D'Oyly have continued to use it as their official
residence. Today it is preserved as an archeological museum. Ulpen Ge
and Queens Palace are the associated buildings of the palace.
Audience hall
Audience hall seen partially here from northern facade of the temple
the Audience hall or the Magul maduwa is where the Kandyan kings held their royal court.
It was completed during the reign of Sri Vikrama Rajasinha.The carvings of the wooden pillars which support the wooden roof are an example of wood carving of the Kandyan period. Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha built this in the year of 1783. The hall was renovated for the reception of arrival in Kandy of Prince Albert Edward,
Prince of Wales in 1872. Originally the hall of the size of 58*35.6
feet and after the renovation length was extended by additional
31.6 feet.Other nearby building to the halls believed to be demolished during the British rule. The audience hall was the venue where the Kandyan Convention
was drawn up, it was where the convention was read out to the people
and where the conference, about the convention was held on 2 March 1815.That space later used to erect the Kandy Kachcheri and Kandy supreme
court after that. Today it is used for state ceremonies and conserved
under department of archaeology.
-
Sri
Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist
temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal
palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of
the tooth of Buddha.
Address: Sri Dalada Veediya,Kandy 20000
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