Introduction
Sri Dalada Maligawa 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 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 Sinhalese 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 evening. 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
After the parinirvana of Gautama Buddha, 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. a, 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. Although it was heavily
damaged in the 1998 terrorist attack it has restored to its previous state.
Architecture
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 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 Associate
buildings and structures
Royal Palace
Royal palace 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
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 beginning of the British period it was used by Government
Agent Sir John D'Oyly.[10] Successors of D'Oyly continued 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 or the Magul maduwa is the where the Kandyan kings held their royal
court. It was completed during the reign of Sri Vikrama Rajasinha.[12] The carvings
of the wooden pillars which support the wooden roof is an example of wood carving
of the Kandyan period. Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha built this in 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 of 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.
Mahamaluwa
Mahamaluwa is the lawn situated in front of the temple compound. It was used by
the public who came to see the annual Esala perahera. Today it contains a statue
of Madduma Bandara. The memorial of which contains the skull of Keppetipola Disawe
is another attraction. The statue of Princess Hemamali and Prince Dantha are also
located here.
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