Sri Lanka’s spectacular and historical cultural pageant commenced in the ancient capital of Senkadagala on August 4. The Dalada was brought to then Lanka at the ninth year of the reign of Kithsirimeven. Since then the Dalada Perahera has been held annually for about 1,700 years up to now uninterrupted. Even during periods of invasions from Soli, Pandi, Kerala, Portuguese, Dutch, British and J.V.P. insurrections, the perahara was held observing the customs, traditions and rituals associated with this event.
Though there are various other relics of the Buddha enshrined in several dagabas throughout the island, there is no other relic of the Buddha that is held in such veneration and respect as the Tooth Relic in Senkadagala. The sanctity it commands and deserves is due to its many unique qualities.
Unique features
It is a common and accepted belief that the relic has divine powers. When there were prolonged droughts, the ancient kings invoked the blessings of the Dalada to bring rain. History records instances when the kings made offerings and fasts to bring rains.
Even during British rule an occasion is recorded where the Mahaweli was flooded and the devotees from Harispattu areas were unable to cross the river to come to Senkadagala. During the Damabadeniya Parakramabahu’s reign the Tooth Relic performed a miracle by rising in the sky drawing the attention of the king and the people and finally settling in a golden bowl offered by the king. The relics showered its rays at this moment as mentioned in the Mahawansa.
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| Esala Perahera |
It was the belief among the Lankans that the ruler of the time should be the custodian of the relic. No ruler who was not the custodian of the relic was accepted as their king. When Maha Parakambabahu was the king in Polonnaruwa, Queen Sugala escaped to Rohana with the Tooth Relic.
Parakramabahu’s army recovered the relic near Ethimale in the present Moneragala electorate and the king held his second coronation having the Relic in his possession and thus gaining the people’s acceptance as their king.
When the kingdom changed to Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala, Gampola, Kotte and Senkadagala the Relic was taken to these capitals and kept in a Dalada Maligawa built for this purpose. The ruins of these edifices can be seen even today.
It is believed that the gods and all celestial beings came daily to the Kotte Dalada Maligawa to worship the Tooth Relic. Such are the divine powers of this holy object of worship which occupies the foremost position among the Buddha’s relics.
Journey to Senkadagala
The Tooth Relic was brought to Abayagiri Vihara in Anuradhapura during the ninth year of the reign of Kithsirimevan (303-331 BC). The left Tooth Relic of the Buddha was in possession of king Guhaseeva of Kalinga Desh, now Orissa. When the king faced a theat of invasion by a rival he sent the relics to his friend Mahasen who was the king of Lanka at the time with his daughter Hemamala and son-in-law Prince Dantha.
When the relics arrived here Mahasen was dead and his son received the relics, kept the sacred object in the Abhayagiri Vihare and annually held the Dalada Perahera.
Successive kings protected the Tooth Relic in Beligala Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala, Gampola, Kotte and finally in Senkadagala,
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