Sri Lanka is a beautiful island with an interesting history behind it. While many visit the country for its amazing landmarks, plethora of activities and mouth-watering cuisine, there are a good few who come to explore the historical aspects of it. One such area worth exploring is the city of Kandy, which was the last known kingdom of Sri Lanka before falling completely under foreign rule. One of the more significant historic landmarks of Kandy is the Temple of the Tooth Relic, more commonly known as the Sri Dalada Maligawa by locals. This temple and museum are a must-visit for anyone interested in the religious and historical aspects that it holds. For anyone lodging at one of the Kandy hotels, getting to the Temple of the Tooth Relic is quite easy.
A Relic Steeped in Legend
The story of the temple begins with the Buddha’s left canine tooth, which is said to have been taken from his cremation pyre and later brought into Sri Lanka in the 4th century CE. Legends tell the story of how Princess Hemamala, accompanied by Prince Dantha, carried the relic hidden in her hair during the reign of King Kirti Sri Meghavaṇa. From that moment, the relic became not only a sacred object of worship but also a symbol to confirm royal legitimacy. It was later believed that whoever possessed this sacred relic was surely destined to rule the island. As time passed and the island’s capitals shifted from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniya, and later Kotte, the relic journeyed alongside the rulers, protected in elaborate shrines. It finally found its permanent home in Kandy in the late 16th century during the reign of King Vimaladharmasuriya I. If you are staying at one of the hotels, like Cinnamon Citadel Kandy, it will be very easy to find your way to the temple.
A Living Legacy
The Temple of the Tooth is not just a museum made to be observed in silence, but a place full of life in the form of chants, lamps, incense and ritual. The daily routine inside the temple consists of three puja rituals that are held at dawn, noon and evening, performed by monks from the Malwathu and Asgiriya monastic chapters. On Wednesdays, there is a sacred bathing ceremony called Nanumura Mangallaya. The casket housing the relic is bathed in herbal water as part of this ritual. The water, later distributed among devotees, is believed to hold healing powers.
Layers of Art and Architecture
The quality of the temple is a direct parallel to the kind of splendour that was part of the late Kandyan Kingdom. The main entrance, known as Mahawahalkada, has a number of beautifully carved stone elephants and a Makara Torana, or (dragon display) arch. At the same time, the moonstone at the base symbolises the cycle of life. Inside, the walls are full of murals that tell various famous Buddhist tales, floral themes, and highly detailed woodwork reflecting the artistry of the 17th and 18th centuries. Probably the most recognisable structure within the complex is the Paththirippuwa, which is an octagonal pavilion overlooking Kandy Lake. King Sri Wickrama Rajasinha added it in the early 19th century as a royal audience hall.
Custodians of Faith and History
The guardianship of the temple has lain with the faction of figures known as the Nilames. The Diyawadana Nilame is the custodian responsible for the temple’s daily operations, in conjunction with the chief monks of the two monastic chapters. Together, they preserve traditions dating back many centuries. Despite surviving Portuguese and Dutch invasions, as well as a bombing in 1998, the temple continues with its rituals even to this day.
The Esala Perahera
Every July and August, the streets of Kandy burst into a spectacle of light, rhythm and movement. The Esala Perahera, held to honour the Tooth Relic, is one of Asia’s grandest processions. For ten nights, ornately dressed elephants, traditional dancers, drummers, and torchbearers parade through the city, carrying a replica of the sacred casket.