Plus

Plus

Travelling saga of the Sacred Tooth Relic
A procession of floats depicting the various places where the Sacred Tooth Relic was kept over the years begins today in Kandy

By L.B. Senaratne
The Sacred Tooth Relic brought to Sri Lanka by the daughter and nephew of King Gavesi, Princess Hemamali and Prince Dantha was kept in many places until it was finally installed in Kandy.

With celebrations to mark 2550 years of Buddhism to be held in May, the Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa Pradeep Dela has planned to focus the thoughts of the Buddhist public on the Sacred Tooth Relic. He has arranged floats depicting the various places where the Sacred Tooth Relic had been kept over the years to be taken in procession to these areas.

The procession of floats will commence today, Navam Poya from the Sri Dalada Maligawa and will head to Delgamuwa Vihare in Kuruwita in Ratnapura, where the Sacred Tooth Relic was hidden in a grinding stone for protection from the invading forces. It is from here that the Sacred Tooth Relic was brought to Kandy through Uva, during the reign of Vimaladharmasuriya 1. From then on, it has been in the protection of the Maha Sangha in Senkadagalapura ( Kandy).
The procession of floats commences from the Sri Dalada Maligawa with all due pomp and pageantry and will proceed to Kuruwita. On the way through Mawanella and Kegalle, the procession would pause for some time for the people to view the floats and also hear the history of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
The floats would return to Kandy after a stay at Delgamuwa Vihare, Kuruwita and on Medin Poya will proceed to Kotte. The floats would continue to be taken from Kandy every Poya until May when the 2550-year final celebrations are held in Kandy.

The Sacred Tooth Relic was brought to Sri Lanka hidden in the tresses of the Princess Hemamali due to the waging of wars in Kalinga where it was originally kept. The princess, the prince and their retinue came through Madukanda and arrived at Isurumuni Vihare in Anuradhapura.

The Maha Sangha conveyed news of their arrival to the reigning monarch at that time King Meghavanna, who came in procession and received the princess and the venerated object.

From here the travails of the Sacred Tooth Relic are recorded. It was taken from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa, then there are accounts of it being kept at Kotmale, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala, also Kotte. It was later hidden at the Delgamuwa Vihare and then brought to Kandy and thereafter, it came into prominence, with the Mahanayakes protecting it and the ancient kings arranging for the building of three-storeyed Temples. But, all this was shortlived for temples were destroyed and the Relic again went into the protection of the Maha Sangha.

The British though an invading force, when they took control of the Kandyan Kingdom, accorded the Sacred Tooth Relic a position of honour which it enjoys to this day. The Maha Sangha of the two Chapters guard it so zealously that even today in the Inner Shrine Room, they and only they have control. The lay custodian has no control of the Inner Shrine Room as that domain remains with the Maha Sangha.

The Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Dela and the Mahanayakes of the Malwatta and Asgiri chapters should be given credit for their efforts to bring about what they term as the revival of the Buddhist precepts.

The purpose in having the floats according to the Diyawadana Nilame is to bring about an understanding of the event in May and also an understanding among the Buddhists of the need to live in the Buddhist spirit, according to the teachings of Buddha. The Diyawadane Nilame also said that this would definitely foster an understanding as to how one should live not only as a Buddhist but follow the five precepts of the Buddha.

At every point where the floats arrive there would be pahan pooja, pirith and other ceremonies so that the people could participate in these religious observances. The floats have been designed and prepared by a former Art Director of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Lakshman Liyanage and his team of 30 workers.

Back to Plus