Experience amazing cultural, religious and architectural values at the Temple of the Tooth Relic, Kandy
Dalanda Maligawa or the Temple of the Tooth Relic is a popular tourist destination in Kandy, that earned its place amongst UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in the year 1988 due to its tremendous cultural / historical, religious, and architectural value.
Temple name and histor
The temple received its name from the fact that the left canine tooth of Gautama Buddha has been enshrined there, having been smuggled to Sri Lanka from the city of Kalinga in ancient India. The tooth was passed down from kingdom to kingdom, always being enshrined in the royal palace. Kandy being the last kingdom, the tooth continues to be enshrined there and the temple is considered as a sacred site and the tooth relic is venerated by Buddhists from around the world.
Location
The Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy is found in the midst of an ancient Royal Palace, the forest reserve “Udawaththa Kelaya”, the famous Kandy Lake also known as “Kiri Muhuda” as well as a devalaya or Hindu temple known as Natha and Paththini on the north, east, south and west sides of the temple respectively.
Architecture
The temple, which displays classical Kandyan architecture is considered an architectural marvel. One can observe complex and unique carvings made from gold, silver, bronze as well as ivory. The carvings on the sandakada pahana or moonstone at the entrance to the temple as well as carvings on wooden pillars that support the wooden roof of the audience hall or magul maduwa where the ancient Kandyan kings held their court are reminiscent of the Kandyan era. Surrounding the temple is a brick wall known as the Wall of Water Waves or Cloud wall which is a unique feature of the temple. Holes or windows in the wall used to hold lit oil lamps in earlier days.
Temple complex
The temple complex comprises of the main entrance with the moonstone and two elephants carved in stone guarding the entrance on either side, the paththirippuwa or octagonal pavilion, the drummers’ chamber and main shrine with two storeys and the handun kunama which is the actual chamber in which the tooth relic is preserved. Then there is also the royal palace with the audience hall, and ulpange or the queen’s quarters and bathing pavilion.
The main shrine is enclosed by a golden fence that encircles the temple complex. The inner shrine room comprises of a golden canopy overhead made of gold-plated ceramic tiles, which was done in recent years. The actual tooth relic is preserved inside seven caskets of gold that have been engraved with gemstones. The tooth relic is worshipped amidst much ceremony, ritual and tradition, one of these which includes the popular Kandy Esala perehera which is a procession that takes place during July and August each year to pay homage to the tooth relic.
The Temple of the Tooth has been renovated and rebuilt many times in the past few years to reach its present state today. The National Museum of Kandy can be seen today where the royal palace used to be.
