Krish's Photography
Location :- Kandy
Camera :- Canon 6D
Date :- 7th July 2018
At first this temple of tooth relic was built by king Wimala
Dharma Suriya in 1592-1604 A.D. later it had changes by various kings in Sri
Lanka. The present palace were done by king Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe in
1747-1781.
When Buddha was passed away, after the cremation priests and
kings of different countries and people gathered there and obtained relics for
worship. The tooth of the upper jaw of left side was taken to Kalingu rata.
Many kings kept this tooth relic with respectfully. after few centuries a
nephew of a king name Ksheera Dhara came for war claiming the tooth relic. By
that time king of Kalngu was Guha-Siva. He told to his daughter Hema Mala and
son in law Dhantha, will not give the Tooth relic until his death, anyhow if he
loses the war, advised them to flee to Sri Lanka with the tooth relic. This was
the time Tooth relic arrives here. With guidance of Princess Hema Mala and
Prince Dhantha, Sri Lankan king Keerthi Sri Megha Warna started do offerings
and paying respect to the tooth relic. Also held annual ceremony in tooth relic
temple. Its name Asala Perahera (Esala Profession).
At the moment there’s a big procession joining with four
processions starting from four Devalas Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and paththini.
The credit goes to king Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe for organizing a procession by
joining the tooth relic temple and four devalas.
Places can visit in Kandy
Royal Council Hall
National Museum
Palace complex of Senkadagala Kingdom
Vishnu Devala
Natha Devala
Paththini Devala
St. Paul’s Church
Kataragama Devala
Royal Botanical Garden
Gadaladeniya temple
Ambakke Devala
Lankathilaka Temple
After the cremation of Buddha’s body, in the remaining relics
of Buddha, there were four tooth relics. According to chronicles, from that
four, three of those tooth relics are in Sri Lanka. From those, the right side
tooth relic is in Somawathie Stupa in polonnaruwa which was built by king Giri
Abha. Another tooth relic is in Tissamaharama Stupa built by king Kavanthissa.
The tooth relic in Kandy temple is the left side tooth of Buddha. This left
tooth relic bring to Sri Lanka from Kalinga district in India.
After the cremation of Buddha’s body, monk Kemah took left
tooth of Buddha and given it to the king of Kalinga name Brahma Daththa. His
families were taking care and paying their respect to the tooth relic and other
Hindu kinds wasn’t happy about this. Then a king name Pandya wanted to destroy
the tooth relic, due to this reason king Guha Seeha decided to send the tooth
relic to Sri Lanka with his daughter Hema Mala and his son in law Dhantha. The
tooth relic were welcomed by king Keerthi Sri Megha Warna. Tooth relic were
kept in a palace name Dhammachakkageha built by king Devanampiya Tissa. Then
the tooth relic moved to Megagiri Temple and every once per year, it brings to
Abhayagiri temple and kept it there for 90 days. This is for special annual
worshipping ceremony. This convention kept continue till 10th
Century A.D.
Several types of offerings and worshipping were held by
people and the king. This was an order from the king. Also held an annual
ceremony in Abhayagiri temple for tooth relic. For several years this ceremony
were held. But from mid of Anuradhapura kingdom information about the tooth
relic in written history wasn’t found. Maybe it’s because of many important
places like, Sacred Bo Tree, Ruwanvelisaya stupa and the biggest stupa also in
Anuradhapura.
History about Tooth Relic starting again in Polonnaruwa
kingdom. Then Tooth Relic became very important for everyone. Because all other
things in Anuradhapura cannot bring wherever people or king wants. Tooth relic
was in a golden cascade and it’s easy to bring it when the kingdoms change and
when each kings built a palace for it. This became as the most Honorable symbol
of the government state. Whoever became as the king in Sri Lanka, if he became
as the caretaker, people will not get him as the real inheritor of the
government state. So, all the kings has done lots of duties to the Tooth Relic
and introduced many of offerings and worshipping systems. King Parakramabahu IV
has made a constitution to worship the Tooth Relic. Due to these reasons every
kings has built a palace for the tooth relic next to the royal palace. Present
palace in kandy also built next to the King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe’s palace.
North of Sri Lanka were invade by Indian Soli. Then the monks
in Abhaya giri denomination were kept and protect the tooth relic. Then King
Vijaya Bahu fight against invaders and got the control of North again. After
that he bring the relic to his kingdom polonnaruwa and kept it in a special
palace name Atada Geya. The responsibility of it given to Velakkara army. After
King Vijaya Bahu, King Parakrama Bahu and Nissanka Malla were kept tooth relic
in a palace name Hatada Geya and protected it.
Due to enemies invasion kingdom has been changed from
polonnaruwa to Dambadeniya. There were two palaces built. One on the rock
mountain. In a short time that kingdom also were changed and King Buwaneka Bahu
I were the king in Yapahuwa Kingdom. After the invasion of Pandya tooth relic
were brought back to india. Then Parakrama Bahu III were make a good friendship
between Pandya King and got the tooth relic back to Sri Lanka.
Once in Portuguese colonial period, kings decided to make
many models of the tooth relic. For the safety of it. Then in 1560 Portuguese
told they’ve brought it to Goa and destroyed. Unfortunately that’s wasn’t the
real one. It’s a model. Before it was destroyed king in Burma were made a
request to get it back by paying as much money they want. But Portuguese
rejected that. Then in 1566 a group of Burma ambassadors were came to Sri Lanka
and worship the real tooth relic.
In 18th century king Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe has
done lot’s of things for the relic and paid his big attention on safety of the
tooth relic. Unfortunately in 1815 Sri Lanka became as colonial of British and
by a big assay, British got the tooth relic and the control of the country.
Then they’ve kept tooth relic in the present palace and provided the safety and
security.
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