The Temple Of The Tooth The Crown Jewel Of Sri Lanka

That Sri Lanka is rich with a heritage spanning over two and a half millennia is

well-known fact; the relics of this long history is today preserved in the ancient ruins of majestic stupas and the traditions handed down over the generations of its people. In the hill country at the centre of the island is the city of Kandy, the capital of the countrys last kingdom. The quaint city, with its narrow streets and small yet bustling shopping centres, is situated against the beautiful backdrop of the ancient hills and the great Mahaveli River, which appear to encircle the city protectively. The general atmosphere of this city and its denizens appear to indicate that it is yet a self-contained domicile of proud subjects, untroubled by the encroaching modernity of the outside world, in whose memory the days of kings and courtly grandeur is yet recent and fresh. This atmosphere is because of that which is placed at the heart of the city the Temple of the Tooth, or Dalada Maligawa, the crown jewel of Sri Lankas religious and cultural heritage.

Sixteen centuries ago, Buddhism was dying in India and the royal custodians of Buddhist tradition, Princess Hemammala and Prince Dantha, fled to the protection of Sri Lanka, where the religion was not only beginning to flourish under royal patronage, but also starting to fertilize its culture and art into what would later shape and make distinct the Singhalese identity. In the folds of her hair, the princess secreted the most sacred object of her fathers kingdom a single tooth of the Buddha. This she presented to the Sri Lankan king for safe-keeping, and thereafter it became the privilege and duty of the Singhalese King to protect this symbol of the predominantly Buddhist nation. In turn its custodianship came to symbolize the right of sovereignty. Over the centuries, it has resided in several kingdoms until finally finding a permanent home in Kandy, where it was enshrined by the King Vimaladharmasooriya the Great after stealing it back from the British.

The present-day Dalada Maligawa is the headquarters of the Malwathu and Asgiri monastic orders, to whom the entire Sri Lankan Buddhist priesthood defers. The temple itself is built over a moat, whose platform is adorned with stone carvings of elephants. At the foot of the steps to the main entrance is an ornate moonstone carving (or Sandakada Pahana) which bears key characteristics of the Kandyan-era artwork. The steps lead up to the temple and a distinctive octagonal building on its right known as the Pattirippuwa. This was originally the court of the Kandyan King whose audience hall has borne witness to several watershed events of the islands recent history. Inside the temple, colorful frescoes depicting the life of the Buddha and the torments of hell stretch from floor to ceiling. The sanctuary of the Sacred Tooth Relic can be seen herein, behind an ornate door inlaid with silver and gilt. The Tooth is rarely taken out of the six bejeweled shrines it is encased within, which themselves are only seen by the general public during the annual Esela Procession, when it is carried in grand state upon the back of a caparisoned elephant. The syncretistic effects of Hinduism can also be seen by the presence of the Natha and Vishnu Dewala that flank the temple; the former is dedicated to the future incarnation of the Buddha and the latter to the Hindu God whom Buddhists consider the protector of Buddhism. The temple, palace and grounds are suffused by incense-smoke and the garlanded by the profusion of flowers hawked by sellers and placed by devotees; the yellow-robed monks leading tame elephants belonging to the temple are a common sight.

No Sri Lanka travel expedition is complete without a visit to this historic site. The Truly Sri Lanka website can give you details on the best times to visit and what to see and expect so that you will not miss out on any of the excitement on your Sri Lanka holiday.

by: Pushpitha Wijesinghe

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