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The Sacred Tooth Relic Temple
The Crown Jewel of Sri Lanka
One of the most sacred places of the Buddhists, the temple enshrines the much venerated Sacred Buddha Tooth Relic. According to the tradition the Relic was taken from the ashes of the Buddha’s funeral pyre in 543 BC. In the 4th century AD Buddhism was dying in India, the Relic hidden in the hair of the Princess Hemammala fled to Sri Lanka, where the religion was beginning to flourish under the local royal patronage. Since then it became the privilege and duty of the Singhalese King to protect the symbol of a predominantly Buddhist nation. In turn its custodianship came to symbolize the right of sovereignty. At the end of the 10th century the Relic was moved from Anuradhapura, the former capital, to Polonnaruwa, the new capital. Afterwards the sacred Relic moved again from place to place before eventually ending up in the xvi c at Kandy Royal Palace in the specially constructed Temple.

Sacred Tooth Relic Temple

Sri Lanka stock photographs


Rebuilt and modified at various times nothing remains of the original temple that was built around 1600. The temple exterior is a collection of white buildings with the octagonal tower, the Pittirippuva, projecting into the moat that surrounds the temple. From here you can note the gilded roof that covers the main shrine. At both sides of the Great Gate (Maha Vahalkada) near to the ticket booth, there are various carvings (originals are kept inside the gardened area), note also the triangular moonstone. The temple is surrounded by two walls: the outer wall is called "Walakulu Bamma" (wall of clouds), the inner wall is called "Diyareli Bamma" (wall of water ripples), with holes to place oil lamps during the celebrations. After the entrance you pass through a stairway with a canopy brightly painted with scenes of the perahera.

Sri Lanka Stock pictures

Sacred Tooth Relic Temple


Entrance to the Drummers Courtyard (Hewisi Mandapaya) is by a stone makara-torana followed by a painted tunnel "ambarawa". At the centre of courtyard there is the actual shrine (Vahahitina Maligawa), a two-storey rectangular building covered by a gilded roof. The shrine doorway is always hidden behind a red curtain. The shrine walls are dotted with various paintings, painted medallions with images of the sun and moon, symbol of regality, and others like the usual 'Hare in the Moon'. Oddly, however, is the absence of Buddha images.
At around 6.30 pm puja ritual were conducted to venerate the Relic. The ceremony is performed behind closed doors and only elected pilgrims are allowed to assist. The ritual drumming began to resonate, within a few minutes they became so strong to hurt the ears and reverberate in the body with an almost physical impact.

Sacred Tooth Relic Temple

Sri Lanka stock photographs


From the Drummers Courtyard a stairway leads at the upper level to the Recitation Hall (Pirit Mandapa), a plain space with latticed wooden walls in front of the entrance of the Tooth Relic chamber itself. During the pujas the Tooth Relic chamber is opened to the public, anyhow you are permitted to pass by the entrance and give a brief look to the gold casket containing the Relic.

Sri Lanka Stock pictures

Sacred Tooth Relic Temple


Behind the main temple, a stairway with guardstones leads the New Shrine Room (Alut Maligawa) a large space with various Buddha statues and paintings that narrate the history of the Relic. Outside in a gardened area there are various other buldings once part of the Royal Palace. Immediately north of the temple lies the Audience Hall, a Kandyan wooden pavilion with pillars open on all sides.

Sacred Tooth Relic Temple

Sri Lanka stock photographs




  Related Pages
- Sri Lankan Buddhist art and architecture


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