TEMPLE OF TOOTH RELIC

The Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha is the most venerated object of worship for Buddhists. Its present house, the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, Sri Lanka is considered the foremost sacred place of worship in the Buddhist world.

The historical value of the Temple of the tooth relic

As recorded in history, the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha was brought to Sri Lanka during the reign of King Kirti Sri Megahavanna (301-328 AD) by Prince Danta and Princess Hemamala from the kingdom of Kalinga, India. Safeguarding the tooth relic had become a responsibility of the monarch, and it was believed that whoever has custody of it would have the right and power to govern the country. Within the ancient capitals, including Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala, Kotte, and Gampola, the remains of the shrines where the tooth relic has been guarded can be seen. So, throughout the ancient monarchs of Sri Lanka, the tooth relic symbolized both religious value and pollical value. During the period of King Wimaladharmasuriya II, another temple of tooth relic was built as a three-storied building instead of the old one at the same location.

With the march of time, this building was decayed and destroyed. Later King Parakrama Narendrasignhe  the successor of King Wimaladharmasuriya II, constructed the temple of Tooth Relic as a two-storied building which we see today. Afterward, the tooth relic was also safeguarded by the South Indian kings called the Nayakkar kings who ruled Sri Lanka within the same shrine. During the time of King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe, the temple was finely renovated and remodeled to its present appearance. The last king of the ancient Sri Lankan monarch named King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe  added the surrounding moat and the famous Paththirippuwa or the Octagonal pavilion to the vicinity of the temple from where the king was supposed to have addressed the people. It was believed to be built by Devendra Mulachari, the skilled Architect at the time.

Conclusion

Protecting of the Sacred Tooth Relic and conducting religious rituals without a break is being carried out to the present day under the strict surveillance of the three chief custodians of the Tooth Relic, the most Venerable Mahanayake theros of Malwatta and Asgiriya chapters and the lay custodian, the Diyawadana Nilame.