Dalada Maligawa
The temple of the Tooth or Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy is one of the most important and sacred tooth sites for Buddhists in Sri Lanka.it house the sacred tooth relic of the lord Buddha. The sacred tooth is housed in a gold casket six other smaller and smaller caskets are said to be inside this to protect the relic.
The tooth is said to have been retrieved from Buddha’s funeral pyre by a priest named Khema Thera. It was smuggled to Sri Lanka by prince Dantha and princess Hemamala , hidden in the latter’s hair during the fourth century AD when Sri Lanka was ruled by king Kithsiri Mewan. It was initially taken to Anuradhapura where it remained for hundreds of years. As the kingdoms changed ,it was moved to Polonnaruwa,Dambadeniya,Kurunagala,Gampola and Kotte before finally ending up at Kanday.
The present temple ,surrounded by a deep moat,was constructed mainly under kandyan kings from 1687 to 1707 and 1747 to 1782. The octagonal tower was built by Sri Wikrama Rajasighe,the last king of Sri Lanka. The gilded roof over the relic chamber is more recent addition.
The temple of the tooth is one of the most visited sites in the country among pilgrims and tourists both foreign and local. There is a museum behind the shrine in the main building which display many artifacts and gifts to the temple.
The stuffed remains of Raja,the maligawa Tussker wich used to carry the tooth relic at the Esala Perahara, and which died in 1988,are also displayed here.
The administration and operation of the temple and the tooth relic are now entrusted with the Diyawadana Nilame with advise and guidance from the priests of the Malwatte and Asgiri Viharas.
(Source: Observer)
The temple of the Tooth or Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy is one of the most important and sacred tooth sites for Buddhists in Sri Lanka.it house the sacred tooth relic of the lord Buddha. The sacred tooth is housed in a gold casket six other smaller and smaller caskets are said to be inside this to protect the relic.
The tooth is said to have been retrieved from Buddha’s funeral pyre by a priest named Khema Thera. It was smuggled to Sri Lanka by prince Dantha and princess Hemamala , hidden in the latter’s hair during the fourth century AD when Sri Lanka was ruled by king Kithsiri Mewan. It was initially taken to Anuradhapura where it remained for hundreds of years. As the kingdoms changed ,it was moved to Polonnaruwa,Dambadeniya,Kurunagala,Gampola and Kotte before finally ending up at Kanday.
The present temple ,surrounded by a deep moat,was constructed mainly under kandyan kings from 1687 to 1707 and 1747 to 1782. The octagonal tower was built by Sri Wikrama Rajasighe,the last king of Sri Lanka. The gilded roof over the relic chamber is more recent addition.
The temple of the tooth is one of the most visited sites in the country among pilgrims and tourists both foreign and local. There is a museum behind the shrine in the main building which display many artifacts and gifts to the temple.
The stuffed remains of Raja,the maligawa Tussker wich used to carry the tooth relic at the Esala Perahara, and which died in 1988,are also displayed here.
The administration and operation of the temple and the tooth relic are now entrusted with the Diyawadana Nilame with advise and guidance from the priests of the Malwatte and Asgiri Viharas.
(Source: Observer)
No comments:
Post a Comment